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Jockey Damien Oliver said Lackeen flew through the gap as soon as one appeared in their race five victory.

“We were three pairs back on the fence. A little jammed to the turn. I was just going to need some brakes to get through,” Oliver told Channel 10.

“As soon as the gaps came, he was flying through them.

“I didn’t have to ask for effort. Point him through the gaps, he did the rest.”

Damien Oliver has steered Lackeen to victory in the Grinders Coffee Roasters Trophy with the superstar jockey claiming yet another winner at Flemington on cup day.

The daughter of Earl Spencer and his first wife, former model Victoria Lockwood, and niece of Princess Diana attended her first Melbourne Cup in 2015.

This was long before her show-stopping appearance in Dolce & Gabbana at Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s wedding and marriage to millionaire sexagenarian Michael Lewis.

Lady Kitty Spencer in 2019.Credit:Getty Images

For her first appearance, Lady Kitty wore Alex Perry with a Stephen Jones headpiece. This year she is a judge for the Fashions On Your Front Lawn millinery category with Jones.

Lady Kitty was rumoured to have struck up a romance with Sunrise weatherman James Tobin during the carnival but flew solo on her return trip in 2019.

A more polished Lady Kitty dazzled in Roland Mouret and a Philip Treacy hat for round two.

As Neale Philippe knows well, a Melbourne Cup picnic is only as good as its set-up.

Groups are gradually arriving at the Royal Botanical Gardens and adjacent Yarra River, where Mr Philippe arrived with five friends at 9.30am.

Neale Philippe works the grill at his Melbourne Cup Day picnic with mates.Credit:Michael Fowler

The former work colleagues were unequivocal that Mr Philippe was the brains behind the operation: he brought both a barbecue and a meat smoker, solar panels connected to an electricity generator, a television and the meat platter of steaks, chicken drumettes and sausages.

“We did this last year when there were restrictions and you could only meet outside, so we decided why not repeat it,” he said.

“Other years we normally go to the Cup or to a mate’s house. I don’t mind this at all though.”

Neale Philippe and his mates enjoy the atmosphere at their Melbourne Cup day picnic.Credit:Michael Fowler

The keen punter said he had already won on a couple of races this morning and will be keeping his eyes locked to the television up to and including the big race about 3pm.

“I’ve got something on pretty much every race,” Mr Philippe said.

Other revellers have chosen to celebrate the day on water, with small powerboats regularly cruising down the Yarra River.

With champagne in hand and the city skyline standing impressively in the background, one suspects the social media feeds are running hot for those who’ve spent their money on boat hire.

Milton Park has won race 4, beating Skyman and Charleise.

Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events Martin Pakula said Victorians had earned the right to celebrate a “majestic and glorious” Melbourne Cup Day after 19 months of restrictions and intermittent lockdowns.

Mr Pakula said it was only fitting that the event coincided with the easing of restrictions and the first day Victoria had recorded less than 1000 COVID-19 cases since September 29.

Sports minister Martin Pakula with VRC Chairman Neil Wilson at a media press conference.Credit:Justin McManus

“I always thought that there’d come a time when our vaccination numbers were high enough that we could operate safely and Victorians could get back to doing the things that they love and that’s what has proven to be the case,” Mr Pakula said.

“Victorians have earned this majestic and glorious Melbourne Cup Day.“

Mr Pakula thanked all the publicans, restaurants and venues putting on events across the state to mark the occasion.

“People all over Victoria are enjoying themselves and looking to find a winner,” he said.

“It’s not just about the 10,000 fans that are here today but the hundreds of thousands â€" if not millions â€" of Victorians in venues right across the state.”

Young jockey Blaike McDougall has made the best possible start to Melbourne Cup Day, riding two of the first three winners.

That should steady any nerves he has before jumping aboard Carif in the big race in a few hours time.

McDougall has spent most of his career based in regional NSW â€" where he rode more winners than any other jockey last season â€" but has shifted to Victoria in a bid to build his career and gain more opportunities.

McDougall has yet to win a group 1 race, but he has won other lower-level group races so a triumph in the Cup aboard Carif, however improbable, would be one of the greatest stories in the Cup’s lengthy history.

The rider landed race 2, The Macca’s Run over 2800 metres aboard the Matthew Cumani-trained Team Captain, and then took the Subzero Stakes over 1400 metres on the Richard Laming-trained Excelman.

The latter event is one of the most popular Cup Day races as it is confined only to grey horses.

McDougall’s Cup mount Carif is one of the outsiders but he is one of the best-bred horses in the race, his father being the champion dual Cox Plate winner So You Think and his mother Norzita, who won the group 1 Flight Stakes and Vinery Stud Stakes during her racing days.

He will be the first ever Cup runner for the father and son training duo of Peter and Paul Snowden: they are two of Sydney’s most successful handlers, but they have made their reputation training two-year-olds and sprinter-milers.

Snowden snr said McDougall deserved his chance. “He is a very hard worker,” he said of the rider. Punters who landed the odds on Team Captain and Excelman will not disagree.

McDougall told 10 he had some recovery work to do before the big race.

“I will jump in the ice bath,” McDougall told 10 after his second win.

“My legs are tingling. We will get there. Obviously, first time riding this in two years, but I’m full of confidence ... so looking forward to it.”

G’day everyone! It’s Roy Ward here and I’m taking over from the excellent Ronny Lerner on this glorious and sunny Melbourne Cup Day!

I hope you are all enjoying your day wherever you are and we have a great day of racing to come.

Enjoy the afternoon to come. The big race is listed for 3pm AEDT.

Jockey Blaike McDougall is already having a day to remember, having completed a double by midday. Perhaps a good omen for him ahead of his Melbourne Cup run on Carif?

Former Miss Universe Australia and mental health advocate Olivia Molly Rogers took inspiration for her halter-neck dress with an exaggerated collar by Melbourne designer Silvana Tedesco from the yellow roses worn in lapels on Melbourne Cup Day.

Olivia Molly Rogers.Credit:Getty Images

“I really love yellow,” she said. “My partner said I look like a big banana. I love bananas, so it’s OK.”

The matching embellished red headband was a bargain pick-up from accessories store Colette.

“As my stylist said, ‘it doesn’t have to be expensive to look good’.”

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