The pre-race ceremony will begin with a Welcome to Country from Uncle Colin Hunter before Melbourne Cup Carnival Ambassador and Olympic champion Ariarne Titmus OAM walks the $275,000 Lexus Melbourne Cup trophy to the Mounting Yard and into the hands of VRC Chairman Neil Wilson.
Legendary Scottish-Australian musician Colin Hay, front man for Men at Work, will then perform a special rendition of the nationally adored track Down Under live in the Mounting Yard.
The 24 Lexus Melbourne Cup jockeys, flag bearers and owners will also join the celebrations and be present in the Mounting Yard for the iconic performance.
The pre-race ceremony will conclude with Australian singer-songwriter and swimming sensation Cody Simpson performing the Australian National Anthem.
After the exhilarating racing action concludes and the winner of the 162nd Lexus Melbourne Cup is crowned, Australian indie pop powerhouse Sheppard, whose second single, “Geronimo” spent three weeks at No. 1 on the ARIA Singles Chart and was certified five times platinum, will take to the stage in The Park and be a feature performance in the post Cup telecast on Network 10.
The internationally recognised band is no stranger to Australian sporting events, having previously dazzled fans at the 2019 AFL Grand Final and 2020 State of Origin Series.
VRC Chairman Neil Wilson said the club was delighted to welcome Australian music legends and chart-toppers Colin Hay, Cody Simpson and Sheppard to the stage on Lexus Melbourne Cup Day.
“Lexus Melbourne Cup Day is one of the most celebrated days on Australia’s event calendar, so to have local names like Colin, Cody and Sheppard bringing the day to life and uniting people together over music we all know and love couldn’t be more fitting,” Mr Wilson said.
“The Lexus Melbourne Cup is watched by an audience of more than 750 million people across the globe, showcasing Melbourne as the undisputed major events capital of Australia.”
Colin Hay said he was excited to be part of the celebrations on the first Tuesday in November.
“I am so looking forward to coming down to tour in Australia, kicking it off with playing my party piece at the great Melbourne Cup.”
Sheppard also shared Colin’s enthusiasm, saying they are looking forward to performing at Flemington on Lexus Melbourne Cup Day.
“We are honoured to be part of the 2022 Lexus Melbourne Cup and join a great line-up of Australian music talent. It’s great to be back on stage and we look forward to performing for the Flemington crowd and those watching around the world!”
The Melbourne Cup Carnival is proudly one of Victoria’s biggest sporting and cultural events, attracting up to 300,000 racegoers to Flemington Racecourse and generating over $430 million for the Victorian economy each year.
Cup Week commences with Penfolds Victoria Derby Day on Saturday 29 October, followed by Lexus Melbourne Cup Day on Tuesday 1 November, Kennedy Oaks Day on Thursday 3 November and TAB Champions Stakes Day on Saturday 5 November.
Melbourne Cup Carnival tickets can be purchased via www.vrc.com.au. All the action from the 2022 Melbourne Cup Carnival can be seen free to air on Network 10.
