Chris Waller fined $50,000 over substance scandal that saw Melbourne Cup hopeful Asterix controversially scratchedChris Waller’s stable has been thrust into the Melbourne Cup spotlight for the wrong reason, with Asterix sensationally scratched after medication was administered to both its forelegs on race morning.The intervention came just after 10.30am, ending the horse’s Cup campaign hours before the race and leaving jockey Jye McNeil without his ride.Giving a horse medication on race day without permission is considered a ‘major breach’ of Racing Victoria’s regulations.The scratching siren sounded at Flemington before Channel 9’s James Bracey confirmed the news.‘Number nine Asterix on stewards’ orders is gone,’ Bracey said.Racing Victoria stewards revealed they had interviewed Waller following a report from their Compliance Assurance Team.Their statement said Asterix ‘was found to have had the medication Penetrene administered to both forelegs in its stable on race morning’.Penetrene is used to relieve sprains and stimulate blood circulation to muscles, ligaments and tendons.The episode raises questions for one of Australia’s most powerful racing operations on its biggest day. The statement did not identify who administered the treatment.For McNeil, the fallout is immediate: his opportunity to chase a second Melbourne Cup victory, following his 2020 success aboard Twilight Payment, is gone.Waller, who has since been fined $50,000 over the incident, said that it was the result of an honest mistake.’The horse gets the same treatment every day, it’s a very basic liniment most stables use and I guess the pressure of race day, the person that looks after the horse, put it on his legs right in front of the security guard, nothing to hide,’ he told News Corp.’The pressure of race day, a very simple mistake.’Nothing was hidden, the security guard was right there, as soon as it happened we knew there was a problem.’It’s not her fault, I’ve got to wear the responsibility, it’s my team. It’s rare for us to make mistakes but the pressure of race day, you can’t explain how it affects everybody, everyone is on edge on Melbourne Cup Day and you think a little bit differently.’ A new favourite has emerged on Melbourne Cup dayOvernight Hopewell Rock (pictured) has firmed into outright favourite for the Melbourne Cup.After being $10 on Monday, it has come right into $7 to salute.Point of Law and Trustyourinstinct are second and third favourites at $8.50 and $9 respectively.Billionaire backs Cup rival with $1million bet despite owning TWO runnersIrish billionaire JP McManus (pictured below with US golf legend Tiger Woods) has two horses chasing Melbourne Cup glory, but his biggest bet has landed on a rival.McManus put $1million on Hopewell Rock at Monday’s Call of the Card, with three bookmakers sharing a wager that would return him $9.6million if the overseas raider wins.The plunge helped shake up the market ahead of today’s 3200m feature, in which McManus owns Goodie Two Shoes ($21) and Trustyourinstinct ($9).He also backed Goodie Two Shoes, Soul Of Spain, Zakouma, So You Are and Point Of Law. But there was no bet on his own Trustyourinstinct, despite champion jockey James McDonald taking the ride.McManus’ representative Paul Byrne explained why Hopewell Rock had attracted such strong support.‘We think he’s got the best European form,’ Byrne said.‘Coming out of the York and the Ebor is a good trial you’ll get. He has a great trainer (George Boughey).‘But we were keen to give the bookmakers a fair chance with spreading it out across a number of horses.’Flower power! Julie Bishop’s Cup look comes with a $12,000 accessoryJulie Bishop has brought a garden’s worth of florals to Flemington, with a matching handbag carrying a price tag that could overshadow a winning bet.Australia’s unofficial ‘Minister for Fashion’ arrived in a voluminous, full-length floral dress, pairing the button-up design with a straw boater hat.But the standout accessory was her floral Lady Dior handbag, worth a reported $12,000.The former foreign minister added more sparkle with diamond drop earrings and two diamond-encrusted rings as she posed for photographs at the Lexus marquee.It’s a bold departure from her more understated looks.Jules Neale makes a statement in red as celebrities descend on FlemingtonJules Neale has claimed her share of the Cup Day spotlight, stepping out in a striking red ensemble after ex-husband Lachie attended Derby Day with his new girlfriend Emma Field.Jules wore a cherry-red By Johnny gown with feather detailing at the hem, teamed with matching opera gloves, a padded headband and pointed heels.A red top-handle bag, diamond tennis bracelets worn over her gloves and a gold ‘J’ necklace completed the look.She had plenty of competition in the fashion stakes, with Pip Edwards embracing turquoise in an oversized crystal-trimmed hat and matching J’Aton Couture gown.Kate Waterhouse opted for a plunging maroon Steven Khalil dress with white gloves, while Jessie Murphy chose an off-the-shoulder cream gown with a lantern skirt.Bright colours the order of the day in Cup fashion‘We just beat the world’: Melham’s emotional reflection on 2025 Cup glory after horror fall nearly ended it allJamie Melham has opened up about the childhood obsession and painful comeback behind her Melbourne Cup triumph, describing her victory aboard Half Yours as the best day of her life.Speaking in a Channel 9 feature, Melham recalled her mother finding her asleep on a Shetland pony after she had disappeared into the paddock.‘I was hooked from a very young age,’ she said.‘All I remember was I just knew whatever I did in life, it’d be with horses.’That passion took her to a nearby racing stable, where trainer John Macmillan spotted her potential on her first day aboard a racehorse.But her journey to Cup glory included a horrific Flemington fall in 2023, with Melham revealing the recovery stretched well beyond getting permission to ride again.‘I don’t remember anything, but I remember being in hospital,’ she said.‘It took a good year for me to feel myself.’Reflecting on last year’s Melbourne Cup win, Melham said the moment that stayed with her was crossing the line and sharing the achievement with Half Yours.‘Just crossing the line and patting the horse and just talking to him like we just did it. We just beat the world.’Now preparing to ride Future History in pursuit of consecutive Cup wins, Melham still struggles to describe what that breakthrough meant.‘I still can’t even get the words out to describe how this day felt.’‘Best day of my life.’‘I’ve been in worse places’: Coffey plays down pain after miracle Melbourne Cup surgeryHarry Coffey has brushed aside talk of being a ‘miracle man’ as he prepares to ride on Melbourne Cup Day just two days after collarbone surgery.Speaking to Channel 9’s Tony Jones, the jockey credited his medical team for his rapid return, while acknowledging the real test was still ahead.‘I don’t know if I’m the miracle man,’ Coffey said.‘We’ve got to get through the day, but we’ll be right. We’re very confident.‘The collarbone’s working fine, and there’s a slight bit of pain, but I’ve been in worse places and ridden, so I’m pretty confident we’ll be able to get on with it.’Coffey, who partners Shockletz in the Cup, underwent surgery on Sunday morning and said his recovery had progressed quickly, with good muscle movement helping build his confidence.He then demonstrated his fitness on a mechanical horse during Monday’s assessment with Racing Victoria’s chief medical officer.‘He had a look at me, watched me ride a mechanical horse and thought I looked better than what I did before the operation. So we’re good to go.’His approach to the day is straightforward.‘We felt like the best way to handle today was come and compete as normal. And I can do that. So I’ll do that.’Morning showers on the radar as Flemington starts Cup Day on a Soft 5Keep the umbrella handy, but there is some encouragement for racegoers hoping for a dry Melbourne Cup.Rain around Melbourne over the past 24 hours has left Flemington rated a Soft 5 to begin the day.The Bureau of Meteorology forecasts cloudy conditions with a medium chance of morning showers and southerly winds of 15 to 25km/h. Temperatures are expected to reach around 18 to 19C across Melbourne.The outlook improves into the afternoon, with Weatherzone forecasting dry conditions by then, offering hope the umbrellas can be packed away before the big race.Cup jockey cleared to ride just 48 hours after collarbone surgeryHarry Coffey faces an extraordinary Melbourne Cup assignment after receiving medical clearance to ride Shockletz just two days after surgery on a fractured collarbone.The 31-year-old was injured in a fall at Flemington on Saturday and underwent surgery on Sunday to stabilise the fracture.Orthopaedic surgeon Dr Andrew Oppy and Racing Victoria chief medical officer Dr Ben Barresi subsequently cleared him to return for Cup Day, Racenet reports.Trainer Ciaron Maher and owner-breeder Laurence Eales gave Coffey every opportunity to retain the ride, with the jockey assuring Eales he was fully fit.‘He said he’s 100 per cent and there’s no problem,’ Eales said.Maher expects adrenaline to help Coffey through any discomfort and believes Shockletz has plenty in her favour, particularly if rain affects the track.‘She’s weighted to win the race, she’s got good soft track form and weight comes into it more when the track is affected by rain,’ Maher said.Coffey has four rides scheduled at Flemington, including three before the Cup.Celebrities roll in – and go big on Cup fashionThe horses aren’t the only ones worth keeping an eye on today.Pip Edwards has offered an early glimpse of her Melbourne Cup outfit, with an oversized turquoise hat bringing a touch of Boy George to the Flemington fashion stakes.The Embellish Atelier creation features a band of large crystals, with Edwards sharing Instagram snaps while getting ready for her day at the races.And she’s committing to the colour scheme, pairing the statement headwear with a turquoise J’Aton Couture gown and matching Valentino heels.Meanwhile, Kate Waterhouse has unveiled a plunging maroon Steven Khalil gown with a matching hatinator and stilettos, adding white gloves to complete her race-day look.Still searching for a Cup winner? Here’s our guide to every runnerAn overseas raider, a proven Cup performer or a lightweight outsider ready to spring a surprise?This year’s Melbourne Cup presents plenty of tempting options. Point Of Law brings a Geelong Cup victory, Hopewell Rock boasts strong European form and Trustyourinstinct has James McDonald aboard.But can last year’s runner-up Goodie Two Shoes go one better? And does 2024 winner Knight’s Choice have another upset in him?We’ve assessed all 24 runners, outlining why each can win, what could bring them undone and which deserve your attention.Read our full runner-by-runner guide before making your pick.Key Updates‘We just beat the world’: Melham’s emotional reflection on 2025 Cup glory after horror fall nearly ended it all‘I’ve been in worse places’: Coffey plays down pain after miracle Melbourne Cup surgeryChris Waller fined $50,000 over substance scandal that saw Melbourne Cup hopeful Asterix controversially scratchedMorning showers on the radar as Flemington starts Cup Day on a Soft 5Cup jockey cleared to ride just 48 hours after collarbone surgeryCelebrities roll in – and go big on Cup fashionA new favourite has emerged on Melbourne Cup dayStill searching for a Cup winner? Here’s our guide to every runnerJockey Robbie Dolan believes Knight’s Choice can shock once againBillionaire backs Cup rival with $1million bet despite owning TWO runnersCumani’s $10 tip surges to Melbourne Cup favouritismTOP STORIES