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All form guides and handicaps aside, the track condition on Melbourne Cup day is critical to the outcome of the race. To have such a decisive factor virtually uncontrollable, it remains a key talking point in the lead up to the race.
More 2017 Melbourne Cup
» Race report: Rekindling wins
» Who came last
» Complete finishing order
» Watch video highlights replay
» Re-live the race with our live blog
» Regal Monarch’s horror fall
» Winning trifecta and quinella
» Winning exact and first four
The most recent Flemington track report, from Saturday, November 4, rates the majority of the track as good, (3). This is a highly desirable rating as it means it has good grass coverage and a little cushion which makes it softer underfoot, but still firm.
In the final straight before the finish post, the outside line of the track is rated as good (4) which is softer than the rest of the track. This should create a tight finish with racers hugged to the inside rail, keeping to the firmer turf.
There is another stretch of softer turf on the outside of the straight at the start of the race, which might affect horses starting from the outside gates.
With such a long distance race, this softer outside turf will unlikely have a large effect on the event. That being said, it is generally thought that European horses perform better on softer turf, as they frequently run on tracks that are subject to more rain.
The Flemington track has had 27mm of rain in the week before Melbourne Cup.
There is a mixed forecast for the day, with early showers and then cloud cover clearing in the afternoon. Most notably, the temperature is forecast to hit a maximum of just 16 C. Winds will be southerly 15 to 25 km/h and increase to 25 to 40 km/h later in the morning. They will then turn southwesterly, 15 to 20 km/h in the late evening.
Min: 10 C
Max: 16 C
Chance of rain: 40%
Rainfall: 0 – 1 mm
Wind: southerly 15 to 25 km/h and increase to 25 to 40 km/h
UV Index: 9 (Very high)
Humidity: 62%
Pollen Index: low
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