Stewards have ordered the last-minute scratching of Asterix from the 2026 Melbourne Cup, reducing the field to 23 horses and delivering a bitter blow to New Zealand cricket cult hero Mark Greatbatch, who had flown to Melbourne specifically to watch the Chris Waller-trained stayer run at Flemington on Tuesday.

The order came on the morning of the 166th edition of the race that stops the nation, with stewards yet to give any public reasons for the withdrawal. Asterix, considered an outsider in the field, had been set to be ridden by jockey Jye McNeil. Greatbatch races the horse with a group of Kiwi friends, making the scratching all the more deflating for the travelling party.

The move also leaves trainer Waller with a single Cup runner, Soul Of Spain, after entering the day with two chances. For Melbourne Cup sweep participants, Asterix had been drawn as barrier number nine.

British favourite heads a 23-horse Melbourne Cup field

Despite the morning drama, the rest of the field is set for a 3200-metre contest with Hopewell Rock, a four-year-old British colt, beginning Cup Day as the race favourite. Close attention will also fall on Point Of Law, a horse purchased from King Charles only months ago, who is considered the punters' pick and will be having just his sixth career start.

Point Of Law is one of a record seven runners for leading trainer Ciaron Maher, an extraordinary share of the field for a single stable.

Flemington's track has been rated a Soft 5 after rain swept through Melbourne in the previous 24 hours, though conditions are expected to improve across the day with a top temperature of around 18 degrees Celsius forecast.

Amelia's Affair wins the first race of Cup Day

While the scratching grabbed early headlines, racing got under way on a positive note when Amelia's Affair, a $700,000 two-year-old filly, saluted in the opening event of the day, the Maribyrnong Plate, a 1000-metre sprint down the Flemington straight.

Ridden by Damien Lane from barrier one, Amelia's Affair took the lead early and was never seriously challenged, with the entire field gravitating to the grandstand-side rail.

"She relaxed beautifully and never really looked lost," trainer Annabel Archibald said after the win. "She is going to take us on a fun ride, she's very talented. That was a massive thrill."

Celebrities and colour fill the Birdcage

Off the track, the famous Birdcage precinct at Flemington was buzzing with its customary Cup Day energy as guests streamed through the gates. The Birdcage, which traces its origins to a time when racegoers gathered to watch horses being saddled, has evolved over the decades into one of Australian sport's most recognisable social spectacles, a place that has hosted everything from surprise marriage proposals to champagne house swimming pools.

Rugby league great Billy Slater, working as a trackside reporter for television coverage and drawing praise for his broadcasting turn, provided one of the lighter moments of the morning when his horse Sammy began eating from Flemington's celebrated rose garden mid-interview.

"I don't know if the gardener is going to be too happy with Sammy after he touched into these roses," Slater quipped on air. Slater trained as a jockey in his youth before his decorated rugby league career, giving him a natural ease in the saddle.

A race day with deep entertainment history

The Cup has long attracted some of the world's biggest entertainment names to Flemington, and this year is no exception. It is worth noting that while Robbie Williams is considered the biggest entertainer yet to perform at the Melbourne Cup, the largest name ever booked for the event is arguably an even bigger global star. Taylor Swift was contracted to perform two songs before the race in 2019, with her booking fee rumoured to be in the vicinity of $1 million, though racing officials disputed that figure without confirming a lower one. Swift ultimately did not perform, but her booking alone was said to have had an immediate and significant impact on ticket sales at the time.

With the field finalised at 23 runners following the Asterix scratching, attention now shifts firmly to the main event. Hopewell Rock carries the weight of favouritism for connections based in Britain, while Point Of Law, with royal provenance and a compact race record, has captured the imagination of Australian punters. The race is scheduled to be run this afternoon, with all eyes on whether the Soft 5 track will play a decisive role in the outcome.

Full coverage of all 10 races at Flemington continues throughout the day as Melbourne marks another chapter in its most famous racing tradition.