Melbourne Cup live updates: Knight’s Choice wins in a stunning photo finish from Warp Speed

Okita Soushi fills out the podium at the race that stops a nation.

He’s telling Billy Slater that Knight’s Choice ‘proved everybody wrong’ today, then brands the Cup the ‘biggest race in the world’ before sending a message to his family back in Ireland.

Knight’s Choice takes it from Warp Speed! But only just!

Just Fine, then Circle of Fire, Land Legend, Okita Soushi.

Land Legend is up there too…

The early leader is Just Fine…

We’re getting to the sharp end of the countdown now…

Onesmoothoperator is now equal $7 favourite with Buckaroo, according to the TAB, as former outright favourite Vauban drifts out to $8. Manzoice remains the backmarker in terms of odds, paying an astounding $101.

The mounting yard is where it’s at right now, with the crowd swamping the area as they try to pick up clues about how the horses are feeling heading into the biggest race of the year.

A few months back champion jockey Jamie Kah told Daily Mail Australia a good bet is to look for the nags that seem composed rather than skittish just before they head out onto the track. Hope that helps…

…but the singer of Boomtown Rats and Feed the World fame does like the first Tuesday in November, if his smile outside the Crown marquee at Flemington today is anything to go by.

High-profile businessman Nick Russian and his model wife Rozalia were snapped at the Lexus marquee, while Carlton AFL great turned Melbourne mayoral candidate Anthony Koutoufides and wife Susie were all smiles as she added to the list of celebs in… (checks thesaurus) a ruby get-up.

Chelsea Becirevic and her man, Port Adelaide AFL ruckman Ivan Soldo, turned heads at Derby Day last weekend and they’re doing so again at the Flemington marquees…

He’s kicking off with his hit When You Say Nothing At All, which was his debut solo single. He’s joined by Aussie songstress Ricki-Lee Coulter.

Uncle Colin Hunter Junior – who is a veteran of many high-profile Welcome ceremonies, especially in the AFL – is saying a few words to the crowd.

We’re less than an hour away from the main event and many of the 90,000-odd racegoers are getting right into the spirit of the occasion on a beautiful day in Melbourne.

The American socialite is sporting an incredible necklace that looks like it’s worth more than Australia’s national debt as she soaks up race day with her Aussie fashion designer pal after the pair recently announced they’re launching a new collection together.

There isn’t a trace of red on Nadia’s frock by designer Lillian Khallouf after she opted for a touch of black teamed with an elegant white dress with conservative sleeves and a tall collar when she stepped out at Derby Day last weekend.

Collingwood star Josh Daicos popped the question to Annalise Dalins when they were on a luxurious holiday in Greece in September and their wedding is shaping as one of the highlights of the AFL social calendar.

She teamed a stunning yellow number with an Yves Saint Laurent bag at the Penfolds marquee at Flemington.

The former MasterChef Australia star’s outfit for the Derby Day race was a fizzer and it looks like she’s continued in that vein with today’s effort…

The top interior designer – who recently helped Nadia Bartel achieve the look of her second Henne location in Sydney – went for a striking look coupled with a pair of boots that managed to look elegant and dangerous at the same time.

The 2800-metre Australian Heritage Cup has gone to Garachico – which was paying $61 – from jockey Jamie Kah’s Newfoundland in second and Whisky on the Hill in third.

NFL great Marshawn Lynch is out and about at Flemington and it looks like he’s keen to have a flutter with one of the trackside bookies, judging by this pic below. Someone might want to tell him that the huge brick of greenbacks he’s carrying isn’t legal tender down under…

Yep, we’re onto rouge after already using scarlet and crimson as we desperately search for more words to avoid repeating ‘red’ for the 36th time today. And we’re still two hours away from the race.

If we call another celeb’s dress ‘vermilion’ you’ll know for sure that we are running out of options.

The Schweppervescence Plate – the first race purely down the straight on today’s card – has been taken out by Manolo Bling, with Hedonist second and Overfull in third.

The famed Irish musician and wife Storm are moving down under in a few months and he’ll be performing at Flemington today.

A former part-owner of a few racehorses, Keating – pictured with Storm and Michelle Payne – is a big fan of Australia’s biggest race.

‘The sheer scale of the Melbourne Cup is something that’s hard to understand until you’ve experienced it. I’d heard them say it’s the race that stops a nation and it truly is,’ he said.

Hannah Dal Sasso (top) and fashion designer Lana Wilkinson (bottom) obviously got the ‘wear red’ memo that seems to have been distributed to 70 per cent of the celebs attending the Cup today.

The Channel Nine star – who is reporting from Flemington today – has rebelled against the red tsunami in a pink ensemble by Rebecca Vallance, with milliner Nerida Winter also chipping in.

This is the second year in a row Murphy has gone with a shade of scarlet after donning a futuristic red mini dress last November. She’s chosen a darker, more crimson outfit this time around.

Cloudland has taken out race 3 on today’s car, with Riot and Rose second, followed by Chattahoochee in the Mss Security Subzero Handicap over 1400 metres.

If you ever wondered how a Matrix-like machine intelligence would go picking a winner in a race that’s notoriously hard to predict, wonder no more – the answer is just a click away. A variation of ChatGPT picked last year’s victor, so there might just be something to this…

One of the biggest names at this year’s Cup, Hurley has bucked the red trend by opting for a bright yellow outfit that teams well with the yellow roses that have become a tradition at the race – as sported by Damian on the lapel of his suit.

Kristian, Mimi, Courtney and Grant from Nine’s home renovation reality show have stepped out at Flemington…

The former Channel Seven star (pictured, bottom) – who has now jumped ship to Channel Nine – added to the growing list of stars kitted out in rouge, as did Olympics gold medallist Fox, who is pictured below with groundbreaking former jockey Michelle Payne.

Olivia Molly Rogers, Kate Waterhouse and Abi Titmus have all opted for high-glamour red outfits today, and they’re not the only ones…

Trainer James Cummings’ horse Zardozi (pictured below) has shot up the bookies’ leaderboard today, firming from $17 to just $12 (Ladbrokes) or $13 (TAB) after punters had a plunge on the horse.

On the other hand, Vauban has blown out to $7 – now equal favourite with Buckaroo.

Other horses that have firmed in the betting include Saint George, Sharp ‘N’ Smart and Mostly Cloudy.

The celebrity DJ is pictured flying to Flemington in a helicopter as he celebrates his birthday with his wife Chloe Fisher and some friends.

The Channel Nine star, 70, and Mia, 47, have been an item since May. She’s the go-to makeup artist for the likes of Sonia Kruger – who introduced them – and Rachael Finch, Jessica Rowe and Kate Waterhouse.

Actress and model Laura Dundovic (pictured) is among the crowd at Randwick for the Big Dance on Cup day, looking resplendent in a simple but stunning white ensemble.

The TAB Trophy has been won by Opening Address, with Statuario second and Cecchetti third.

Abi Titmus, Kate Waterhouse – and now the former Miss Universe Australia – have all arrived decked out in red in what looks like a developing theme for the fashion stakes today. Her hat is by Ezara/J

The legendary horse trainer has just posted a video showing off her outfit, which may or may not have been inspired by the Tin Man from the Wizard of Oz.

She told her followers that she’s wearing ‘comfort shoes for running up the straight’ – and she’ll be running up to the podium to get the trophy if her horse, Just Fine, salutes from barrier 13 today.

The aspiring fashion designer has gone for a very bold, metallic look coupled with a striking headpiece designed by milliner Rebecca Share.

Hats off to Deborah Quinn for shaking things up with an outfit you can guarantee nobody else at Flemington will come anywhere near replicating.

Here’s the crowd during the running of race one just a few minutes ago, and the stands and trackside areas are already as full as Twiggy Forrest’s wallet.

The Darley Maribyrnong Plate has been run and done, and the first winner for the day is Tycoon Star – paying $18 – with Bacash second and Shining Smile rounding out the placings.

The TV presenter and journalist, like Titmus, opted for an eye-catching shade of red. When she posted her outfit on Instagram she gave shout-outs to Versace, Bvlgari and Louboutin – meaning she’s wearing a who’s who of the cream of the fashion world.

The Aussie pool queen has stunned by arriving clad in a vibrant red ensemble. She’ll be carrying the trophy into the mounting yard in a special ceremony not long before the race begins this afternoon.

Chris Waller (pictured) is famed for training the all-conquering Winx and won the Cup with Verry Elleegant in 2021. He reckons Valiant King – which is paying a staggering $101 – is a chance at 3pm today.

‘Every year in the Cup there is always a horse with a big price that runs top three,’ he said.

Karis Teetan is on Mostly Cloudy today and he looked sharp as a pin when he arrived at Flemington just a few minutes ago with his wife, Xaviere Coutterau.

The Melbourne Storm NRL icon – who was a trackwork jockey before making it in footy – is interviewing jockeys from the saddle at the finish of today’s races.

‘It’s really hard to believe that I’m here and I’m going to do that,’ he told Channel Nine this morning.

The first AFL big names through the gates today include St Kilda legend Nicky Winmar (pictured, top, with Bernie Reddington) and towering Collingwood ruckman Mason Cox (pictured, bottom). They’ll be joined by a host of big names from the world of Aussie Rules as the day wears on…

The first female jockey to take the biggest prize in Australian racing was sighted appearing on Nine’s Today show this morning, sporting a very vibrant outfit complete with an elaborate metallic headpiece. Her dress comes courtesy of designer Jason Grech, her milliner is Wendy Scully and the jewellery is the work of Adoria Jewels.

A huge trend that’s taking Australia by storm hasn’t made it past the turnstiles at Flemington, where racegoers who want to have a flutter with the bookies might find themselves very unprepared today…

It’s a very, very small sample to draw any conclusions from, but if we had to pick out an early trend, it’d be very bright and bold colours, with women sporting a lot of eye-cartching pink outfits…

Some good turns of speed were sighted when the gates were thrown open a few minutes ago…

In addition to regulars like Bec Judd and Nadia Bartel (pictured below), some of the big names in attendance today will include Liz Hurley and her son Damian, Sir Bob Geldof, Nicky Hilton Rothschild, Sophie Ellis-Bextor – who’ll be performing with Ronan Keating – plus footy star Josh Daicos and his girlfriend Annalise Dalins.

Thankfully we won’t see many politicians hobnobbing this year because federal parliament is sitting today in a decision that left a few MPs less than impressed.

The best-connected racegoers are found in the high-end marquees at Flemington every year. Here’s a sneak peek at what awaits them when they rock up today… (pictured top to bottom: The Crown Marquee; the Lucky Birdcage Marquee; the Furphy Marquee; another angle of the Lucky facility;

The first race of the day just got underway as the turnstiles were activated at Flemington, sending punters rushing for the best positions at the track… or possibly the bathrooms, if they’ve been queueing up for hours, like some punters who were interviewed on TV earlier this morning.

These two gents are in pole position at Flemington this morning, just waiting for the nod so they can charge out and secure a prime spot for the biggest race of the year.

A crowd of more than 90,000 is expected today…

‘Great styles for day or evening wear,’ says the announcer on this piece of ’80s nostalgia from the Echuca Bargain Centre, which appears to no longer be in business in a major blow to the wardrobe options for all the influencers who will be in attendance at Flemington today.

Racegoers are already queueing up at some entry points at the famous track – but the punter who made the below post enjoyed a rails run on their way in.

Good news: the Bureau of Meteorology’s forecast is predicting sunny skies with a top of 26, with the closest thing to rain being a chance of fog this morning. Although we are talking about Melbourne’s notoriously fickle weather, so this isn’t exactly what you’d call a sure thing.

Lloyd Williams-owned horses have won the Cup seven times. He doesn’t have a runner in the field this year but he’s very confident about one of the favourites…

The 2024 Cup will feature a record four female jockeys: Jamie Kah (pictured below), Rachel King, Hollie Doyle and Winona Costin.

‘It’s a childhood dream come true,’ Costin said on Monday.

‘I was born around Melbourne Cup time and sometimes it [my birthday] fell on Cup day.

‘I’ve got a lot of family history in it as well … it’s just a very important day to me.’

The development comes after Michelle Payne became the first woman jockey to win the race back in 2015 on Prince of Penzance.

If you were thinking of having a flutter on Athabascan, we’ve got some bad news for you…

Daily Mail Australia’s resident racing guru Chris Lines was on the money when he picked the winner in 2022 and 2023. He’s gunning for a hat-trick this year – and here’s which horse he went with…

Welcome to Daily Mail Australia’s live blog for the 2024 Melbourne Cup.

We’ll be here with you all day to keep you up to date with all the action both on and off the track as we build up to the running of the famous race at 3pm.