This 2014 Group one Melbourne Cup is an example of a truly global contest, the race touching many countries through all facets of the race.

One talking point for this afternoon's 2014 Melbourne Cup run over 3200m is the absence of Australian bred stayers.

However the race nowadays is a global phenomenon - and deliberately so - boasting horses bred in several different countries, owners from around the world as well as several well-known international trainers and jockeys - very few races on the global racing calendar can boast such a diverse mix.

With so many form lines from several countries to assess, the task of finding the winner is just that much more difficult for punters.

We have already seen crack Japanese stayer Admire Rakti take the G1 2014 Caulfield Cup and Irish three-year-old Adelaide the G1 2014 W S Cox Plate and the odds are shortening for an overseas trained galloper to complete the trifecta of three Melbourne Spring majors.

Read the complete article in the Racing & Sports Melbourne Cup mini-site.