‘On the champs early’: Channel 10 star’s golden live Melbourne Cup cross

Channel 10 star Natasha Exelby was in fine form when she fronted the camera for a live TV cross from Flemington on Cup Day.

Natasha Exelby was in fine form. Photo: Channel 10/ABC.

It’s tough to pick a winner on Melbourne Cup day but anyone who bet on Natasha Exelby delivering a cracker of a live cross to start things off would have received a healthy payout.

The Channel 10 presenter was in fine form as she chatted to the Studio 10 crew this morning from Flemington, where she’s covering the race that stops the nation.

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From the moment she greeted co-hosts Sarah Harris and Tristan MacManus with “Good morning, my little delicatessens of delight”, you knew viewers were in for a treat.

After last year’s race took place in front of empty stands, a total of 10,000 fully vaccinated spectators are in attendance for the 2021 edition of the race that stops the nation.

Lockdown may have impacted Exelby’s fitness levels, because she joked she was out of breath trying to bustle past people and get into position for her TV spot — happy to leave the 3200m race up to the horses this afternoon.

“I can remember doing this live cross with you guys this time last year and there wasn’t a soul in sight apart from my cameraman,” Exelby said.

“I’ve got to say because there are so many people and I’m not used to it because of lockdown, I’m pretty glad I’m not running the Cup today — because I had to run about 1km in six-inch heels to get to this cross and I’m still a little out of breath.”

Natasha Exelby celebrating The Project’s 10th birthday party with James Mathison in 2019. Picture: Ch10

Exelby was backing red-hot favourite Incentivise to get the job done come 3pm but tripped over her words a bit as she gave an analysis of the Australian thoroughbred’s chances. That's the nature of live TV but she — and Harris — were happy to have a chuckle about the slight slip-up.

“Apart from fumbling a few words there can you tell I am a horse racing tragic?” Exelby said.

Harris joked: “You’re just on the champs early, Tash.”

Exelby swore she was on her best behaviour in the morning, even if other punters were starting the festivities early, saying she “wouldn’t be surprised if a few people have already cracked a bottle of champers, myself not included”. She also revealed she was “so excited that I am bursting out of my Spanx” at the prospect of celebrating a Melbourne Cup with fans again after last year’s hollow atmosphere.

Now, Exelby may have been on assignment on Flemington but with the races getting underway at 10.45am AEDT, she was honest enough to admit “I’m not sure I will be looking at horses at that point”. She also downplayed her racing expertise, pointing to her brother — a racing journalist — as the source behind most of her tips for the day.

Encouraging her Channel 10 colleagues to follow her sibling on Twitter, Exelby added: “He is more informed and less unhinged than me.”

.@NatashaExelby joins us trackside from Flemington, ahead of the race that stops a nation! #Studio10pic.twitter.com/qnoXSs3Fqw

— Studio 10 (@Studio10au) November 1, 2021

You might remember Exelby from her hilarious blooper on live TV in 2017, when she was caught out while presenting on the ABC.

The newsreader was caught daydreaming and playing with a pen before looking shocked when she found herself back on air, generating headlines across the world.

There were no similar blunders this time around, but Exelby was just as entertaining.

Originally published as ‘On the champs early’: Channel 10 star’s golden live Melbourne Cup cross