Each October the cream of Australia’s racing drivers stop the nation when they tackle 1000km around the iconic Mount Panorama circuit at Bathurst.

But long before the motor car was invented, the Melbourne Cup first run in 1861, has stopped a nation.

The first Tuesday in November sees one of the great handicap staying races of the world staged at Flemington.

Speedcafe.com has obtained tips from some of the best throttle jockeys in the country for the Melbourne Cup.

Champion driver Jamie Whincup has opted for Hawkspur using the scientific form analysis of word association because of his devotion to the Hawthorn footy club.

Hawkspur is showing $17 for the win with Ladbrokes.com.au and is being ridden by Jim Cassidy who rose to fame when he rode Kiwi home from near the tail of the field to win the Melbourne Cup in 1983.

Erebus Mercedes driver Maro Engel admits he is being exposed to Australia’s greatest horse race for the first time but offers a simple reason as to why he thinks Brown Panther ($19) is a decent bet.

“This is my first Melbourne Cup in Australia and I was aware of the race from living in Europe,” Engel said.

“I’m a huge football fan and my tip is Brown Panther and the fact that Michael Owen (former England striker) owns this horse I think is pretty cool.

Rick Kelly has by co-incidence selected Mount Athos ($9.50), which will be carrying saddle-cloth #15, the same as Kelly’s race number.

“For the podium (second and third) I like Dunaden and Fiorente because I was reading the paper this morning and an expert was telling me that they were the goods,” Kelly said.

Kelly’s Nissan Motorsport team-mate Michael Caruso has opted for the Gai Waterhouse-trained Fiorente which is the early favourite at $7.

“Fiorente is carrying some good colours – black and purple – it’s really in trend this season,” Caruso said of his selection.

“And the horse is trained by Gai Waterhouse. She’s never won the Melbourne Cup but I think that spell is about to end.

“I reckon Seaman will run a close second and I like Ruscello for third. He’s only carrying 50kg and he’s a good horse and will go all day.”

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Jamie Whincup (Red Bull Racing Australia)
1 Hawkspur
2 Dear Demi
3 Sea Moon

Maro Engel (Erebus Motorsport)
1 Brown Panther
2 Fiorente
3 Ibicenco

Rick Kelly (Nissan Motorsport)
1 Mount Ethos
2 Dunaden
3 Fiorente

Michael Caruso (Nissan Motorsport)
1 Fiorente
2 Sea Moon
3 Ruscello