SuperRacing's Ray Thomas and TAB's Adam Hamilton discuss the major betting moves heading into the Melbourne Cup.
MELBOURNE Cup favourite Americain came behind rival Dunaden in the Melbourne Cup parade but owner Kevin Bamford wasn't worried.
"We can live with it today," he said as the parade got underway in Melbourne today.
Dunaden took out last year's Cup while Americain, winner in 2010, finished fourth.
Mr Bamford knows the defending Cup champion is his biggest threat, but he also has his eyes on competitors who have crossed the seas to race.
"All the imports we don't know about," he said when asked who he saw as the biggest threat.
Trainer Peter Moody remains optimistic his two Melbourne Cup runners, Voila Ici and Lights Of Heaven, can figure prominently.
"I can't think of any threats," he said.
Mr Bamford and Mr Cummings were among the dozens of members of racing royalty who turned out for the parade that stops a city ahead of the race that stops a nation.
Joining them were tens and thousands of people who had come from all over Australia.
Jockey Glen Boss looks to claim his fourth Melbourne Cup, this time on the back of Kelinni.
Ros Dodd and Jane Savage came from Adelaide to attend the Cup.
Bess and Bryn Savage staked out a front-row spot on the corner of Bourke and Swanston streets just after 10am.
They travelled from Western Australia as part of a group of 16 to watch the 2012 Melbourne Cup.
"We love it and we love Melbourne," Mrs Savage said.
Connections of Dunaden are bullish about his Melbourne Cup chances with David Redvers declaring the French stayer the one to beat.
"We came about five years ago," Mr Savage said.
"We really enjoyed it."
Every year the parade, a prelude to Australia's biggest race, draws tens of thousands of people to the CBD for the chance to see the jockeys, trainers and owners.
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Writer Matt Stewart and leading jockey Michelle Payne pick the horses with the best chance to win the Melbourne Cup
Huge crowds braved the gathering rain clouds to catch a glimpse of racing icons past and present during the parade down Swanston Street that finished at Federation Square.
Trainers and jockeys from the 2012 Melbourne Cup were joined by former champions Saintly, Doriemus and Rogan Josh.
Victoria Racing Club spokesman Marcus Williams said the parade, rivalled only by the AFL Grand Final parade, was becoming a Spring Carnival staple.
"Obviously a lot of people come to Flemington, but not everyone does, so this is a crucial event to let all of the public connect to the Cup," Mr Williams said.
Former Melbourne Cup champion Might And Power at today's parade. Picture: Tim Carrafa
"The international trainers and jockeys are blown away that we close the streets of a capital city to have a parade the day before a horse race. You don't get anything like this anywhere around the world."
A punting frenzy has seen Americain, piloted by champion jockey Damien Oliver, shorten to less than $5 favouritism after the French-trained horse drew barrier 12 - similar to what helped steer him to Melbourne Cup victory in 2010.
TAB's Adam Hamilton said punters were attracted to the six-year-old stayer after renowned French jockey Gerald Mosse was dumped in favour of the two-time Cup winner Oliver.
"Since Damien Oliver got the ride Americain's shortened from $10 into $5. The punters seem to love that they've taken an overseas jockey off and put Oliver on it," he said.
Police horses lead the parade through Melbourne's CBD. Picture: Tim Carrafa
"He's got an incredible record, Oliver, riding international horses in this race."
For Oliver, winner of Saturday's AAMI Victoria Derby on Fiveandahalfstar, Cup Day will mark the 10-year anniversary since his emotion-charged victory on Irish import Media Puzzle.
Hamilton predicted that this year's total TAB betting pool would exceed last year's, which included $91 million on the main race alone.
He said the TAB would process about 1600 bets a second during the peak splurge.
Subzero, a favourite during the Melbourne Cup parade, passes Flinders St Station. Picture: Jason Edwards
One punter splashed $1000 on Mount Athos when it was $71 in June.
The "best weighted horse" is now third favourite as short as $7.50.
Mini jockeys during the parade. Picture: Jason Edwards
Bart Cummings waves to the crowd. Picture: Jason Edwards
Americain has been backed into favouritism for the 2012 Melbourne Cup since Damien Oliver was announced as the six-year-old's new jockey. Picture: Wayne Ludbey
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