The 2010 Melbourne Cup Carnival which kicks off tomorrow is facing a soggy start.

Heavy rain has been predicted for the multi-million dollar Derby Day program.

Denica Gorman reports.

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TRANSCRIPT

The Victoria Racing club has admitted ticket sales have slowed following forecasts of about fifty millimetres of rain for the Melbourne Metropolitan area.

This is expected cause a big drop from the average one hundred and ten thousand racegoers who attend Derby Day.

However it’s not just the rain that could cause some famous track faces from making an appearance.

Twelve time cup winning trainer Bart Cummings was admitted to hospital Wednesday with a chest infection and has a fifty-fifty chance of being at Tuesday’s race.

The “Cup’s King” could have four horses running in Tuesday’s race.

Last year’s Melbourne Cup champion Shocking is currently the favourite to take the cup again this year, with some punters labelling him “unbeatable”.

Shocking’s jockey in the “ace that stops the nation” says the five year old won’t be phased by the wet weather.

Michael Rodd, Jockey: “The wet track won’t bother him at all you know, he’s proven in the past that he’s quite strong in those sorts of conditions.”

Apart from the rain, spectators can expect cold conditions and are advised not to throw sensibility to the wind in favour of fashion.

Showers and a top of 17 degrees are forecast for Tuesday.

Denica Gorman, QUT News.