Three New Zealand bred horses will lineup in today's 6.4 million dollar Melbourne Cup at Flemington.
2014 Auckland Cup winner Who Shot Thebarman and is lining up for the third time having finished third in 2014.
Pentathlon is the only New Zealand trained, bred and owned starter, prepared by New Zealand training legend John Wheeler.
There are three New Zealand jockeys riding with James McDonald riding the favourite Hartnell, Michael Walker on Almoonqith and Mark Du Plessis on Pentathlon.
The last New Zealand bred horse to win was Prince of Penzance last year.
Meanwhile, Katelyn Mallyon will be the only female jockey racing in today’s Melbourne Cup race, hoping to take home the same top spot as last year’s historic victor, Michelle Payne.
Payne's 2015 win on Prince of Penzance was a ground‑breaking moment for not only Australian racing, but women in sport.
And while she would probably love the chance to back up her win, Payne is not competing in the famous race this year.
The 31‑year‑old suffered a serious fall earlier in the year and even though she is back in the saddle her victorious Cup winner, Prince of Penzance is out with an injury of his own.
The Melbourne Cup race will be at 4pm today.
