Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou could have up to eight runners at Hawkesbury.

The Victoria Racing Club expects to increase prize money for the Melbourne Cup and has signed a new principal sponsor.

Trainer Joseph O'Brien has celebrated a Melbourne Cup win with Rekindling who has beaten Johannes Vermeer prepared by his father Aidan.

Rekindling has beaten Johannes Vermeer in an all-Irish finish to the Melbourne Cup.

Last year's winner Almandin is the favourite to defend the Melbourne Cup for leviathan owner Lloyd Williams who has six horses in the race.