The line-up for the ‘race that stops’ a nation is set to be released this afternoon live from Flemington Racecourse with the capacity 24-starter 2015 Melbourne Cup field, run next Tuesday November 3, known after the racing action of Victoria Derby Day is done and dusted.

Snow Sky is the 2015 Melbourne Cup top weight sitting No. 1 on the ballot for next Tuesday’s famous Flemington Race 7. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.

The four-day Melbourne Cup Carnival kicks off with an all-Group race Derby Day program today followed by the official announcement of the 24 local and international stayers who face off in the famous Flemington Race 7 on Tuesday in the $6.2 million Group 1 Emirates Melbourne Cup (3200m).

2015 Melbourne Cup Field

• Capacity: 24 starters – no emergencies
• Last Time Run at Capacity: 2013 – won by Fiorente
• Final Acceptances: Close at 4:30pm (AEST)
• Ballot Exemption: On offer to Mackinnon Stakes & Lexus Stakes winners on Derby Day
• Barrier Draw: Conducted live from Flemington Racecourse post-Derby Day racing

There are officially 40 runners still in the mix for this year’s Melbourne Cup field with Sir Michael Stoute’s British raider Snow Sky sitting number one on the ballot with the 58kg top weight that was last carried to victory by Makybe Diva for her historical third win in the world’s richest handicap in 2005.

A host of hopefuls are right on the cusp of a start in the Melbourne Cup field this year and two races on the Derby Day line-up offer a ballot exemption into the two mile classic.

The winners of both the $1 million Group 1 Mackinnon Stakes (2000m) and the $300,000 Group 3 Lexus Stakes (2500m) have the chance to make it to the first Tuesday of November, which could push out the likes of Sertorious (23^rd), The United States (24^th) and the Saeed Bin Suroor-trained Secret Number (25^th) from the starting line-up.

Leading the latest Melbourne Cup odds at Ladbrokes.com.au, who are running Best Tote or SP + 20% on all Derby Day races just before jump, is Japan’s Fame Game ($3.80).

Sixth in the Caulfield Cup over the mile and a half in his Australian race debut, the Heart’s Cry stallion carries 57kg in the Melbourne Cup next week and is out to emulate Delta Blues (2006) who is to date the sole Japanese-trained Melbourne Cup winner.

Also well fancied in the pre-field Melbourne Cup betting markets are Ed Dunlop’s Caulfield Cup runner-up from the UK Trip To Paris ($8) and the Chris Waller-trained Preferment ($10) who won the Victoria Derby 12 months ago and drops from 57.5kg he carried to ninth in the Cox Plate to 53.5kg for his big distance test.

2015 Melbourne Cup final acceptances close at 4:30pm (AEST) attracting a fee of $49,500 to be paid by connections.

The Victorian Racing Club (VRC) will then do the official 2015 Melbourne Cup barrier draw soon after from Flemington revealing which galloper will receive the coveted barrier 11, which has produced more Melbourne Cup winners than any other gate with 7 wins.

Now is your last chance to lock in futures prices on your Melbourne Cup selections so visit Ladbrokes.com.au now and enjoy a punt on the great race to go in the draw to win a 2015 Ford Ranger!