Australia will come to a virtual standstill when Flemington Racecourse hosts the $8 million Melbourne Cup on November 3. Around 750 million people around the world will watch on as the hardiest stayers in the business slog it out over 3200m. It promises to be a thrilling event, and these are five key developments that have occurred in the build-up to the race that stops a nation:

Victoria Racing Club Push for Spectators

Sources at Victoria Racing Club have said they hope to allow 10,000 to 15,000 spectators into Flemington to watch the action unfold on November 3. Meetings have been held behind closed doors during the opening weeks of the Spring Racing Carnival as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. Victoria is the worst hit state in Australia, but the number of cases consistently decreased throughout September.

VRC has now submitted a proposal to the state government in the hope of allowing spectators into Flemington. “We are in regular discussions with the state government as to how we may be able to safely welcome small crowds to Cup week,” said chief executive Neil Wilson. “No decision on crowds for the Cup week has been made. The decision ultimately lies with the state government and will depend on public health advice.”

Verry Elleegant Wins the Turnbull Stakes

Superstar mare Verry Elleegant produced a fantastic performance to win the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes over 2000m at Flemington on Saturday. She was instantly installed as the favourite to win the 2400m Caulfield Cup on October 17, and she is definitely among the leading contenders for Melbourne Cup glory. “She’s very tough, she’s back on track and looking forward to the Caulfield Cup,” said trainer Chris Waller.

It represented Verry Elleegant’s fifth victory at Group 1 level, and she beat a number of her potential Melbourne Cup rivals in the race. She impressed with her sustained speed and her stamina when winning the Winx Stakes in August, and jockey James McDonald said she was the toughest mare he has ridden. Verry Elleegant will aim to become the first mare to win the Melbourne Cup since Makybe Diva won it three years on the bounce between 2003 and 2005, and she has to be among the leading contenders.

Russian Camelot Wins the Underwood Stakes

Danny O’Brien’s Russian Camelot remains the favourite to win the Melbourne Cup after his success in the Group 1 Underwood Stakes on September 26. He was a popular pick among punters, backed all the way into $1.55, and he lived up to expectations by holding off Humidor and Arcadia to salute. He had already created history by becoming the first northern hemisphere-bred three-year-old to win a derby in Australia

O’Brien won the Melbourne Cup when Vow and Declare saluted last year, and he believes Russian Camelot is even more talented. “I think he’s the best horse I’ve had anything to do with, particularly to do so much so early in his career,” he said. “He’s a magnificent colt and we’re thrilled that he's got this done today and hopefully it's not the end of the spring for him.”

O’Brien Sends Trio of Talented Raiders to Australia

Ballydoyle maestro Aidan O’Brien typically leads the charge when the Irish raiders land in Victoria in a bid to win the Melbourne Cup. Irish stayers picked up an historic 1-2-3 in the Cup back in 2017, when O’Brien’s Johannes Vermeer finished second to his son Joseph’s horse, Rekindling. O’Brien senior will have three key runners in this year’s Melbourne Cup – the lightly raced Tiger Moth, Irish Derby winner Santiago and Anthony Van Dyck, winner of The Derby at Epsom.

Anthony Van Dyck will carry top weight for the Melbourne Cup, so O’Brien might have a better chance at seizing glory with the promising Tiger Moth, who has been assigned 52.5kg. Northern hemisphere-bred three-year-olds have enjoyed great success in the Melbourne Cup, as you can see at Punters, and Tiger Moth will be among the leading contenders on November 3. O’Brien junior will have two key hopes in the Cup: Twilight Payment, and Master Of Reality, who finished second last year and was ultimately demoted to fourth after impeding Aidan O’Brien’s Il Paradiso.

Vow and Declare Handed 57kg Load

Last year’s winner, Vow and Declare, will have to shoulder a heavier burden as he bids to defend his crown in 2020. He carried just 52kg to victory last November, but handicappers hit him with 57kg this this time around. Chief handicapper Greg Carpenter decided to add a kilo to all northern hemisphere contenders after Cross Counter won in 2018 and Rekindling saluted in 2017, so Anthony Van Dyck has top weight of 58.5kg. Russian Camelot has just 53.5kg to carry, while Verry Ellegant was given 55kg and the talented Surprise Baby was allocated 54kg.