As Melbourne Cup festivities begin at Flemington Racecourse, many Aucklanders will enjoy the event in style at Ellerslie Racecourse's celebration of the historic Australian horse race.
But for 24-year-old Cambridge-based jockey Danielle Johnson, it will be another day at work as she competes in all 10 of today's races on 10 different horses.
She has been riding thoroughbreds for seven years, but first got on a pony when she was just a baby.
Working with horses is in her blood. Her father Peter is a former top jockey who once came third at the Melbourne Cup, and her mother Annabel trains thoroughbreds.
Today's event at Ellerslie will feature the course's 10 races plus big screen live coverage of the action at Flemington.
Jockey Danielle Johnson with Silver Rod. Photo / Alan Gibson
Johnson said even the jockeys get an hour-long break to watch the big event in Melbourne.
A fashion event will also take place at Ellerslie, to be judged by TVNZ presenter Renee Wright and others.
They will be picking the best-dressed man and woman from the crowd, and winners will take home a $2000 prize package including a night at the Sofitel, spa treatments and a degustation dinner.
The judges will be on the lookout for style and originality, attention to detail, suitability for the weather conditions and appropriateness of the outfit for the raceday - along with the obligatory headpiece for women and suit and tie for men.
TV presenter Renee Wright. Photo / Greg Bowker
Melbourne Cup
• First run in 1861 for a prize of a gold watch and £170 cash.
• Now the A$6 million Emirates Melbourne Cup is the richest prize in Australian sport, and the world's richest handicap race run over 3200m.
• In the 154 runnings of the Melbourne Cup, New Zealand-bred horses have won 42, of which 16 of were also New Zealand trained.
• The last New Zealand-bred horse to win the Melbourne Cup was Efficient in 2007.
Kiwi jockeys
• Michael Walker rides 2 Criterion ($14)
• James McDonald rides 6 Hartnell ($31)
• Jim Cassidy rides 14 Grand Marshal ($41) - it is Cassidy's last ride in the great race before retirement
NZ bred runners
Criterion ($14)
Bred and owned by expatriate New Zealand businessman and philanthropist Sir Owen Glenn, Criterion is a four-time group 1 winner in Australia (Caulfield Stakes, Queen Elizabeth Stakes, Australian Derby, Rosehill Guineas) and will be ridden by Kiwi jockey Michael Walker.
2014 group 1 Auckland Cup winner owned by the O'Leary brothers - Dan, Michael, Shaun and Humphrey - and trained by expatriate Kiwi Chris Waller. Up to 70 of the O'Leary brothers' family and friends are expected to travel to Melbourne to support Who Shot Thebarman. The 7-year-old was bred by White Robe Lodge's Brian and Lorraine Anderton in North Taieri, Mosgiel. This will be Who Shot Thebarman's second tilt at the Melbourne Cup after finishing third in the 2014 edition of the race.
Preferment ($8)
Sired by the great Zabeel, who died in September, Preferment is bred to stay the 3200m distance and is at good odds to join three of Zabeel's progeny (Efficient 2007, Jezabeel 1998, Might and Power 1997) as a winner of the Melbourne Cup. He is also trained by expatriate New Zealander Chris Waller and was bred in Cambridge by Mrs B M & L J Anselmi, Sir Patrick & Lady Hogan and Mrs H M & M J Moran.
Gust of Wind ($31)
The New Zealand-bred daughter of Darci Brahma is trained by former Matamata trainer John Sargent and is Sir Owen Glenn's second runner in Tuesday's race. She defeated Cox Plate winner Winx in the Australian Oaks in April this year.
Bred in Matamata by Rich Hill Stud, Prince of Penzance is an 80-1 outsider in the big race. Michelle Payne, the only woman jockey in the race, takes the ride on Prince Of Penzance.
Forecast
Mainly fine weather is forecast in Auckland for today's race meeting, with sun and some cloudy periods, and a high of 19C, according to the MetService.
It's also looking good across the Ditch, with Flemington expected to be fine and dry for Melbourne Cup day.
The Bureau of Meteorology expects the mercury to reach 22C come the big race at 3pm local time.
