What time is the Melbourne Cup? How to watch and the weather forecast

Rain in Melbourne is set to play a factor in Australia's most famous horse race, with Flemington Racecourse predicted to be rated a Soft 7 or Heavy 8 for Tuesday's Melbourne Cup. Melbourne Cup 2025 field, horses, form guideMakybe Diva's third Melbourne Cup victory, 20 years on Meanwhile, the pre-race favourite is attempting to complete a special feat in Australian racing while its jockey is hoping to be the second female to ever win the Melbourne Cup. From start time to weather forecast, below are some key things to know before the 2025 Melbourne Cup. What time is the Melbourne Cup? Melbourne Cup Day is held on the first Tuesday of November, which is November 4 this year. The Melbourne Cup will be the seventh race of 10 at Flemington Racecourse. Here are the start times for the Melbourne Cup in each state and territory, including New Zealand. 3pm AEDT: Victoria, NSW, Tasmania, ACT2:30pm ACDT: South Australia2pm AEST: Queensland1:30pm ACST: Northern Territory12pm AWST: Western Australia5pm NZDT: New Zealand What is the weather forecast for the Melbourne Cup? There is a plenty of rain expected to fall in the lead up to Tuesday's Melbourne Cup. The Bureau of Meteorology forecasted between 20-40 millimetres to fall in Melbourne on Monday, with up to another 10mm on Tuesday. The amount of rain set to fall in Melbourne will mean Flemington Racecourse will be wet and slow on Cup Day. Flemington is a track that can drain well, but the rain on Monday and Tuesday has track manager Liam O'Keeffe predicting the course will either be rated a Soft 7 or Heavy 8 for the Cup. "I would think if we get 20-40mm [on Monday] we would be on a heavy track at the end of that rainfall," O'Keeffe told Racing.com on Sunday. "If we don't get any rain on the day [Tuesday] I would be confident we would get back into the soft range. "But if we just get continuous showers throughout the day, which is forecast, it won't get a chance to improve." How to watch and follow the Melbourne Cup The Nine Network has the television rights to broadcast the 2025 Melbourne Cup. All 10 races at Flemington will be broadcast on Channel Nine, and streamed on Nine Now. ABC Sport will have live digital coverage of Melbourne Cup day with a live blog. You can also listen to the live call of the Melbourne Cup on the radio, online, or via the ABC Listen app. Who is the favourite to win the Melbourne Cup? There will be a field of 24 for the Melbourne Cup. The favourite to win the Cup is number 14, Half Yours. Half Yours is trained by Tony and Calvin McEvoy, and will be ridden by jockey Jamie Melham. Half Yours won the Caulfield Cup last month and is attempting to become the 13th horse to win the Melbourne-Caulfield Cup double. Melham would be the second female jockey ever, after Michelle Payne in 2015, to win the Melbourne Cup.