In the great Australian tradition, Teizo Kageyama from Japan ditched work to go to the pub and watch the Cup, winning a sweepstake between workmates at the Royal Hotel.

Mr Kageyama, whose company Associated British Foods Japan imports wheat from Agrigrain to make noodles, said it was his third time watching the Cup in Australia and he loved the atmosphere.

“It is really fantastic, people gather at the hotel and everyone is here,” he said.

“Good culture in the bush.”

At the Narromine Golf Club American Tracey Filipovits was enjoying her first Melbourne Cup after travelling here to celebrate her grandmother’s 80th birthday.

Ms Filipovits, who was lunching with her mother Suzanne and grandmother Ilene Johnson, managed second place when she chose Crime Scene in a sweepstake.

“It’s wonderful, really great,” she said.

“Crime Scene I picked it out of a hat, that’s perfect for me, I’m a crime buff so that’s one I’ll be backing,” she said before the race.

While not from overseas, Kerry Kent did make the trip from the Gold Coast to spend the day with her aunty and uncle, Ann and Jeff Briggs, who run the Royal Hotel.

Ms Kent said she was struggling in the heat but Narromine had been “unreal, really good friendly people.”