2016 Ballarat Cup | live coverage

4.50PM:​ Pilote D'essal has stormed home to convincingly win the 2016 Ballarat Cup. Read more about it here.

​4.30PM: Just ten minutes to go! If you haven’t had a flutter yet, here’s some analysis from Ladbrokes’ Tom Hackett:

BALLARAT CUP: This is an extremely open edition of the Ballarat Cup.

The majority of the main chances come through the Eclipse Stakes that was held at Ladbrokes Park this weekend.

That is not the best preparation for a race like the Ballarat Cup and I am keen to bet around that form reference.

One horse that is a huge price in the Ballarat Cup is Taiyoo.

He is a proven stayer and will have no problems running out the trip strongly.

He returned to winning form with a good win in the Kyneton Cup.

Auvray gets out to his right trip for the first time this preparation and it would not surprise to see him run a big race at juicy odds.

You can make a case for almost every horse in his field and most punters will be going extremely wide in the quaddie.

​4.20PM: As we wait for the cup (it’s 20 minutes away), let’s have a look at our stories in the lead up to the main event.

​4.05PM: And the good thing of the day has lobbed.

Darren Weir's highly-talented youngster Speedeor ($2.10fav) claimed his third win in succession with a strong victory in the Magic Millions 3&4YO Classic, 1100m.

The success gave Luke Nolen a winning double.

Now comes the big one - the 2016 Ballarat Cup!

​3.45PM: And the fashions on the field is done and dusted!

Lady of the day

Local lady of the day

​3.30PM: Ballarat Swans speedster Nick O'Farrell powered backwards to win the 100-metre SportsBet $5000 reverse footrace.

Read all about it here.

3.20PM: RACE SIX: A good front-running ride by Mark Zahra ($5.60) helped Danuki score in the Thomas Jewellers BM70 Handicap, 1100m.

The Clinton McDonald-trained sprinter led from a wide barrier and kicked strongly in the straight to beat Chapel Road and Stride Out.

3PM: And we have a couple of winners in the fashions on the fields competition!

Millinery Award

Gent of the day

​2.50PM: RACE FIVE: South Australian trainer Tony McEvoy has done it again.

McEvoy, who is absent from the track because of illness, claimed a narrow victory in the Suez McKellar Mile, 1600m, with Dollar For Dollar ($3).

Partnered by jockey Luke Currie, the horse just held off Galaxy Raider, who charged home from the back of the field for second.

​2.40PM: The famous backwards sprint isn’t far off.

This year, like every year, there’s quite a bit of money up for grabs.

2.25PM: South Australian trainer Tony McEvoy's stunning season with two-year-old horses has rolled on with a quinella in the Magic Millions 2YO Clockwise Classic, 1000m.

Despatch ($8.20) won the race for jockey Luke Nolen, just ahead of the fast-finishing stablemate Nistaan.

Garrard was a late scratching at the gates. The quinella paid $20 on SuperTab.

​2.15PM: A bit like royalty is how Hal Salter suggests we dress for Ballarat Cup day.

His suit may be 40 years old, but is still in style.

"Always buy classic and tailored because it never dates," Mr Salter said. "Oxford stripe shirt, double cuffs and beautiful old cuff links is how I've dressed today."

Mr Salter, from South Yarra, said it was always important to dress for the occasion.

He matched a red tie with a red rose from his garden, which he said all the ladies love.

"As you get older, Cup day is about enjoying life's joys and sorrows," Mr Salter said.

"I come to Ballarat every year. It enables me to catch up with all my friends."

​2.10PM: Lady of the Day heats are wrapped up to finish off the Fashions on the Fields heats.

1.55PM: At the fashions on the field we have our reporter Siobhan Calafiore, who caught up with one of the finalists. 

You can listen to that interview here.

​1.45PM: Green Patina ($22.80) made it back-to-back victories with a narrow success in the Eureka Concrete Vobis Gold Stockade, 1400m.

Bred, trained and owned by the O'Sullivan family of Stawell and riden by Linda Meech, the horse pipped Valliano to win the $100,000 race.

Green Patina won her last start at Horsham in late October.

1.40PM: Remember before when we said there’s not many people here yet. How quickly things change!

1.30PM: For those keen for fashions on the field, here is the full rundown for the day.

​1.25PM: Horses, fun and flair were the draw cards for these teenage race goers (below).

This year's Ballarat Cup is the second for sisters Poppy, 14, and Verity Ball, 12. 

"The horses, I love horses, I ride horses," Verity said.

Her older sister Poppy just loves the "fun atmosphere and ambiance". 

Today is Tiana Baxter's first race day. 

"It's really amazing with ll the amazing costumes and all the amazing outfits people put together," Tania, 12, said.

​1.15PM: We already have more than 60 photos in our gallery of people at the cup! Check it out by clicking on the photo below.

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1.10PM: John Sadler is successful in race two, the City of Ballarat Tonks Plate, 1200m.

Gallant Harmony ($7.30) led from start to finish for apprentice jockey Michael Dee to win the first of the day's feature races.

In the post-race interview, Sadler declared his runner Observational a good chance in the Ballarat Cup later in the afternoon.

12.55pm: What can we expect for race two?

Believe Yourself is the X-factor in this race.

She finished fourth behind Mossfun in the 2014 edition of the Golden Slipper before she was sent to Singapore, where she was competitive at group 1 level. 

Believe Yourself does run well fresh but there are plenty of question marks.

This is a step-up in class for Schneller but this looks a nice race for him.

He has always threatened to develop into a nice horse and Linda Meech will have him travelling nicely right on the speed.

12.45PM: And now for some fashion.

Mother and daughter Demetra Diorietes and Deborah Gunther came up from Melbourne, it’s about their sixth Ballarat Cup.

They said they like coming to these events for a nice day out and to dress up.

“This is Mum’s dress, I asked if I could borrow it for the day. It’s a designer called Dion Lee and it’s an art dress,” Demetra said.

“I don’t follow trends but try to create my own and go with my own style.”

​12.35PM: That’s race one done and dusted.

Adelaide trainer Phillip Stokes has landed the opening event on Ballarat Cup day.

Stokes' galloper Entrancing ($3.30) was brilliantly rated in front by apprentice jockey Emily Finnegan and raced away to score a comfortable win in the Sam Miranda Mares BM78 Handicap over 1200m.

​12.30PM: Would you believe there was a convoy of helicopters arrive at the races all for a bucks day?!

We caught up with them upon touching down – read all about it here.

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11.55am: Just half an hour to the first race now.

Fairfax Media’s racing contributor Tom Hackett has analysed the form and we will be bringing you his tips throughout the day. 

Let’s get started.

RACE 1: Cheeky Babe and Entrancing fought out the finish at Moonee Valley last start and the market suggests they will do the same this weekend.

They both look to have found their right price. 

One mare that does look a touch of value at her current price is Sea Spray. She does not win out of turn, but this is the easiest race she has contested for some time and her first-up run at Sale was strong.

Diamond Baroness, Go Down and Raven's Fire can all run well without surprising.

11.45am: This weather - it’s what dreams are made of! This promises to be one of the great days!

11.35am: While we’re waiting for the whips to start cracking, let’s have a look at what you need to make your money today.

Sport reporter and racing enthusiast David Brehaut has knocked together his best bets for the day here, plus the all-important tips for the Ballarat Cup itself.

Check it out here.

11.30am: Our team has just hit the track and we are ready to roll. Most of the crowd is still yet to arrive but it won’t be long now.