The coldest Melbourne Cup day in more than a decade. At 11 degrees before the strong breeze, the wind tunnels of Flemington's Birdcage enclosure felt like a heatwave in Dublin, brutalising the ladies in their summer frocks and goosebumps.

The crowd at Boags came tearing out of the blocks, the first stop for federal Labor leader Bill Shorten and his entourage. Given Malcolm Turnbull had the grand fortune to watch the big race from Tamworth, we know which pollie won the day. Thanks, Barnaby. "If you're here we know it's an A-list event," said Shorten. He said the same thing to us, verbatim, in Jerusalem a week ago, so he must say that to all the B-listers.