Ireland horse Mourayan scratched from the Melbourne Cup

We are just hours away as 23 horses go to post in a bid to win the richest prize in Australian sport as one horse has been scratched.

Ireland horse Mourayan has just been scratched from the Melbourne cup.

This is due to a sore in the horses toe.

Last year’s “race that stops a nation” was won by French raider Americain, with the mighty So You Think back in third, in what was a fascinating renewal of the Melbourne showpiece.

Today’s feature race should yet again live up to its billing as one of the most exciting races on the racing calendar and it has a real international flavor about it, with eleven of the runners going to post hailing from overseas.

The Melbourne Cup has developed a reputation for demanding passion on the course and fashion in the stands and the meeting remains Australia=s biggest social gathering of the year.

This report from ABC: