Melbourne Cup crowd plans hinge on progress of Victoria vaccination programme

Victoria officials remain hopeful they will be able to welcome crowds back to the racecourse in time for the Melbourne Cup, despite confirming the Caulfield Cup Carnival will go ahead without spectators for the second year in a row.

The indicative dates specified in the government's roadmap announced on Sunday do not allow for public events to be held in metropolitan Melbourne prior to October 26, well after the running of the Carnival (October 9-16).

However, that leaves the door open for the possibility of crowds returning in time for 'the race that stops a nation' on November 2, although attendance hinges on the progress made in vaccinations, with the state government requiring 80 per cent of the eligible population to be vaccinated before reopening.

Victoria is on track to hit the 80 per cent mark by November 5, and Victoria premier Daniel Andrews is determined to reach that target in time for Australia's showpiece racing event.

'It would be a great signal to the world'

He said on Sunday: "70 per cent and 80 per cent are incredibly important markers. We can't be certain when we're going to meet them.

"It would be great to think we could get it done before then and perhaps we can have a crowd of double-vaccinated people. But it's too early for us to say that today.

"It's the race that stops the nation. I want it to be held in as normal circumstances as possible, but 80 per cent is the marker that opens our state.

"I can't say there will be crowds there. We are working with all sorts of different partners on all sorts of different things."

Andrews added: "If we deliver 80 per cent by Cup day or it's really clear we are going to, then we will have options to have a crowd there. I can't say how big or all of that though.

"It would be a great signal to the world and the rest of the country that Victoria is open, we are back in the leading role. The major events capital, the sporting capital, racing capital for those that are taken by the sport of kings."

Read more on the Melbourne Cup:

Sonnyboyliston set to miss Melbourne Cup as Twilight Payment handed top weight

Melbourne Cup the aim for rising star Rodrigo Diaz after Australian investment

Fellowes warns controversial vet checks are deterring Melbourne Cup raiders (Members' Club)

No Aidan O'Brien runners for the Melbourne Cup as international entries halve

The Front Runner is our latest email newsletter available exclusively to Members' Club Ultimate subscribers. Chris Cook, a three-time Racing Reporter of the Year award winner, provides his take on the day's biggest stories and tips for the upcoming racing every morning from Monday to Friday