Punters across Australia are studying the form guides and starting to lay their bets for tomorrow’s Melbourne Cup.

Sonya Harris reports.

TRANSCRIPT

The bid to make horse-racing history is over for jockey Craig Williams.

He could have been the first person to ride winners on the Cox Plate, the Caulfield Cup and the Melbourne Cup.

But late today, the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal decided he was guilty of careless riding at Bendigo last week.

Williams has suspended for 10 meetings and won’t ride in tomorrow’s Melbourne Cup.

Meanwhile, the Australian Diamonds have won the Holden Netball Test Series and regained their world number one ranking.

The Diamonds defeated arch rivals the New Zealand Silver Ferns by three goals winning 44 to 41 in Melbourne yesterday.

Erin Bell, Diamonds Shooter: “To be out there in a game like that is just amazing. But it all comes down to the determination of the girls on the court and on the bench. It’s something amazing to be part of.”

It wasn’t always looking likely. The Diamonds weren’t able to break the Silver Fern’s five goal lead until the third quarter.

Twenty-two-year-old wing attack Madison Browne was named Player of the Match.

The game attracted a crowd of nearly 10,000 people.

In soccer, Brisbane Roar is being described as the best Australian soccer team of all time after their win against Adelaide United last Friday.

The Roar are preparing for their next game against Melbourne Victory this Saturday.

The captain Matt Smith said the team are optimistic about the challenge.

Matt Smith, Roar Captain: “Ultimately it’s going to end at some point and I think there’s going to be a big travesty when it does but for us its ok if we lose one. so what. we’ve worked excessively hard over the last six to eight months so we might be beaten in one game.”

The Roar haven’t been beaten for 32 games and they’re scoring more goals than any other team in the league.

Sonya Harris, QUT News.