'It's the euphoria of the Melbourne Cup from the minute you get off the plane'

Of all the paeans paid to the Melbourne Cup by visiting British trainers, Ian Williams comes closest to capturing its vibrantly beating heart.

Yes, there are lavish lunches and dinners to die for. There’s Cup-related bunting in every downtown shop window and the parade of former winners through the city centre will always reduce grown men to tears.

But Melbourne Cup week is about far more than that. Its pure, distilled essence has eluded precise description despite the best efforts of eloquent owners and trainers. But when Williams addresses the subject, he finds exactly the right words.