On Tuesday 5 November, the Melbourne Cup Carnival topped the ranks as Aussies across the country tuned in to watch the race that stops the nation.
Nine‘s airing of the Melbourne Cup Carnival Presentation raked in a Total TV National Reach of 2,218,000 and a Total TV National Average Audience of 1,586,000.
The Race and Late edition of the Melbourne Cup raked in similarly high numbers, with Aussies keen in to catch every minute of the race.
Knight’s Choice won the Melbourne Cup, stunning many.
Not fancied by many before the race, jockey Robbie Dolan guided Knight’s Choice through the field to beat Warp Speed by a nose at the finish.
“Pinch me, I’m dreaming. I watched every Melbourne Cup for the last 40 years,” said Dolan after the race.
“I thought my best chance was to get him to stay the trip, and hopefully he can run home and do the quick sectionals. He can on a good track and he proved everybody wrong,” he added.
Knight’s Choice is only the sixth Australian-bred horse to win since 1993, and the first since Vow and Declare in 2019.
The win gave New Zealand trainer Sheila Laxon her second Melbourne Cup triumph, after Ethereal’s win in 2001.
Over on Seven, Home and Away raked in a Total TV National Reach of 1,383,000 and a Total TV National Average Audience of 867,000.
On Channel 10, The Cheap Seats raked in a Total TV National Reach of 808,000 as Monty Python legend Eric Idle joined Melanie Bracewell and Tim McDonald.
