King's former horse wins Melbourne Cup as Robbie Williams wows 90,000 fans

The "race that stops a nation" lived up to its billing on Tuesday, with around 90,000 punters descending on a sun-drenched Flemington Racecourse. According to the Mirror ^[1], the 166th edition of the Melbourne Cup saw jockey Ethan Brown guide Point of Law, a horse previously owned by King Charles and Queen Camilla, to the finish line first. The win earned trainer Ciaron Maher a substantial £5.3m ($10.2m) prize. The Daily Star reported ^[2] that the atmosphere was electric, with bright outfits and sunshine setting the scene for a day of high-stakes betting and celebrity appearances.

Robbie Williams served as the entertainment anchor for the day. The Mirror noted ^[1] that the Take That legend wowed fans at the opening ceremony by playing hits like Angels, Rock DJ, and Let Me Entertain You, with the crowd serenading him back. He returned later for an extended 75-minute performance to close out the festival. The Daily Star confirmed ^[2] that hundreds claimed their spots hours in advance to see the Mancunian star perform against the Melbourne cityscape backdrop.

For the punters, the day was defined by the thrill of the wager. Cash machines were reportedly limited to $200 withdrawals, reflecting the high volume of transactions. One 19-year-old Melbourne local, Stephanie Artuso, was left beaming after correctly predicting the top three horses, winning hundreds of dollars. Another visitor, Virginia Purdey, celebrated an $80 win, stating the weather had cleared up just in time for her success.

Not everyone walked away with a profit. Sam Mannion, from Leigh, admitted to losing $500 but maintained a cheerful demeanour, insisting he would win in the next race. Birthday boy Alex Lee and his friend Brady Tipping, who flew in from Sydney for their first Cup, noted that losses could reach tens of thousands for those with deeper pockets. Meanwhile, backpackers Kieran Roddy, Joseph Simmons, and Janec Woito chose to splurge their $10 winnings on a bottle of limoncello rather than chase further losses.

The event blended sporting history with pop culture spectacle. As the ten races concluded, the focus shifted firmly to the specially constructed stage at the first turn. With the sun setting, Williams delivered his final set, leaving many attendees, like Alice Dowdall, satisfied with the experience despite small betting losses. The day underscored the Melbourne Cup's unique status as both a major sporting event and a massive social gathering.