While the Melbourne Cup fever has hit Flemington, local punters here in Fiji are queuing at the various Grants Waterhouse branches and agencies to bet on their favorite horses.

With less than 24 hours to go to one of the biggest international events on the racing calendar, people are getting into the festive mood and have already started designing their colorful and fancy hats to cheer on their favorite horses.

The annual event enables people to cheer on their favorite bets and also cash in some money. Those that have their horses in impressive finishes laugh and celebrate all day long while the others just walk away quietly and hope for the best in the coming year.

Last year’s winner of the big race Viewed is currently disputing favoritism with highly-regarded Aussie sensation Alcopop, but the race is as wide open as one would expect from the world’s most prestigious race.

Master trainer Bart Cummings has delved into his bag of tricks in search of a little more magic before tomorrow's $5.5million race over 3200m at Flemington.

Just as captivated audiences marvel at the old tricks, the followers of Bart gained enormous satisfaction when, like producing rabbits out of a hat, he bobbed up at Flemington on Saturday with two horses that weren't even racing.

Cup runners Allez Wonder and Roman Emperor were not there to cheer on Viewed in the Mackinnon Stakes. Their purpose was to experience the tension in the cauldron of Derby Day as a preliminary to what they will endure tomorrow, without having to experience the rigours of a hard race, the Australian reports.

It is an old ploy, but if it results in victory for either horse, it will be seen as a masterstroke as Cummings chases his 13th triumph in the nation's greatest race.

Neither Roman Emperor (second) or Allez Wonder (eighth) have raced since finishing in Viewed's wake in the Caulfield Cup on October 17.

The pair worked together on Saturday morning at Flemington, before returning to the stables and soaking up the sun.

Cummings, a regular at the racing mass at St Francis's Church on the Sunday before the Melbourne Cup, was yesterday asked by a television reporter what he prayed for.

"Another winner," he replied.

No doubt the prayer was for Roman Emperor. It is the only one of the three that Cummings has a share in the ownership of as well.

There was division last night among betting operators regarding favoritism, several still unable to split Viewed, who is chasing successive wins in the Melbourne Cup, and the rising star Alcopop.

Centrebet dramatically slashed the odds of Alcopop, bringing him into $4.40 and making him the shortest-priced favorite since betting opened on the Cup this year. Viewed is at $5.50.

Viewed finished third to Scenic Shot in the Mackinnon Stakes after being galloped on. The lacerations to his hind leg were superficial and the incident was the only real speed bump in a spring that has gone off without too many hitches for the stable of Bart the unbeatable.

Unfairly dubbed "Neville Nobody' by a bookmaker last week, rookie trainer Jake Stephens, has shown great composure and skill to bring a horse from obscurity to being the name on everyone's lips. He arrived at Ballarat yesterday with Alcopop.

The horse they bet $301 about early in Cup betting, has notched four consecutive wins on the way to his shot at racing immortality. Trained at a rural property and used to muster cattle and referee polo matches, the five-year-old gelding has provided a cup fairytale that takes a lot of rivalling. Now all he has to do is win.

Alcopop has two wins over the Mark Kavanagh-trained Shocking this spring and the latter franked the form, while stamping himself as a genuine threat, with a strong victory in Saturday's Lexus Stakes.

Kavanagh was not only impressed by the win, but also delighted with the way the horse came through Saturday's tune-up. He said the horse appeared to be better for the run.

Trainer Danny O'Brien may not have got Vigor into the field, the only horse balloted when the final field was drawn up on Saturday night, but a lack of Vigor does not mean O'Brien is without a runner.

 Master O'Reilly is an undeniable chance at his third attempt at the race.

Well down the track in 2007 behind Efficient when favourite, Master O'Reilly was brave last year, finishing fourth to Viewed. He carries the same weight as he did last year and his lead-up form appears to be stronger.

Trainer Darren Weir was relieved to see Geelong Cup winner Leica Ding draw barrier two. The little mare with a big motor will be able to be smothered away by jockey Craig Williams and Weir hopes he can ride her for luck to snare a top-five finish.

Of the international horses, Mourilyan is seen by most rivals to be the one that should be feared.
Champion jockey Damien Oliver said yesterday that the South African-trained horse with good English credentials this season had "flown under the radar".

In assessing the local runners, Oliver, highlighted Viewed, Alcopop and Roman Emperor as the hardest to beat.

This is the 249th running of the great race, and it seems highly likely according to the Aussie racing experts that the famous trophy will remain at home, following Australian successes in the big lead up races.

Fijilive

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