Racing: Melbourne Cup course to be watered

MELBOURNE - Flemington race track will be watered today ahead of tomorrow's Melbourne Cup, boosting the chances of Makybe Diva starting in the race.

Officials said they would put the equivalent of 3mm of rain on the track today as a follow-up to 4mm they put on it last night.

Fine, warm weather is forecast for the rest of today and tomorrow, with temperatures of around 28C at race time.

Makybe Diva's trainer Lee Freedman has said repeatedly he would not start the mare if the track is too firm, a position echoed by Irish trainer Dermot Weld, who has last year's runner-up Vinnie Roe again representing him.

Makybe Diva, who failed in two races on hard tracks in Japan earlier this year, remains a solid favourite at A$4 to become the first horse to win three Melbourne Cups.

One punter has had a bet of A$1 million on her with bookmaker Michael Sullivan of Sportingbet.

- AAP