Billy Slater Melbourne Cup caption raises eyebrows on Channel 9

NRL legend Billy Slater has been all class in his debut as a Melbourne Cup on-horse interviewer, but one detail has got tongues wagging.

Billy Slater has made a classy start to his Melbourne Cup debut as an on-horse interviewer.

The NRL legend wowed fans on Saturday as he hit the ground running at the Victoria Derby in his new career as a horse-riding, post-race jockey interviewer.

The Melbourne Storm icon and Queensland State of Origin coach has shifted gears seamlessly since joining Nine’s coverage of the Melbourne Cup carnival.

Slater, a trackwork jockey as a teenager, remains active in the racing industry as a horse owner and through the breeding stable operation he manages with wife Nicole — Slater Thoroughbreds.

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His knowledge showed early on Tuesday when speaking with Channel 9 racing host Eddie McGuire — and when interviewing winning jockey Michael Dee after the opening race at Flemington.

Billy Slater in the saddle on Channel 9.

Despite his prowess in the saddle with the microphone in hand, plenty of eyebrows were raised when the Channel 9 broadcast used a blunt tag line when Slater appeared on the telecast for the first time.

The title of “horseback reporter” didn’t quite do justice to the 41-year-old’s stature - in the eyes of fans on social media.

A photoshopped picture shared by SportsBet on Twitter summed it up.

Great to see Nine roll out ALL the big guns for #MelbourneCup Day pic.twitter.com/CYkO0P6RWL

— Sportsbet.com.au (@sportsbetcomau) November 5, 2024

Slater’s appearance on the racing coverage also had plenty of fans remembering the appearances of former Aussie Test cricket captain Mark Taylor during the diving at the Paris Olympics and former Fremantle Dockers captain Matthew Pavlich commentating the dressage in France.

One Twitter user posted: “Hard to fault @Channel9 for consistency. Tubby special comments at the diving. Pav at the equestrian. And now Billy Slater on a horse at the cup providing special insight”.

Other fans were much more on-board.

James McDonald riding Atishu is interviewed by Billy Slater. Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images.

“Loving Billy Slater,” one Twitter user wrote.

Slater said on Tuesday morning it was an honour to be part of the biggest day in Australian racing.

“It’s really hard to believe that I’m here and I’m going to do that,” he said when asked about his job of interviewing the winning jockey after the Cup is run.

Slater’s return to the saddle comes 25 years since he was last a trackwork jockey for racing icon Gai Waterhouse.

Slater absolutely nailed it on his first day in the saddle as the network’s “horseback reporter”, interviewing victorious jockeys after they went past the post.

“I feel really honoured, I feel like I’ve got the best seat in the house here in Flemington,” Slater said on Nine’s coverage of Derby Day on Saturday.

Billy Slater, horseback reporter. Photo: X.

“This is Sammy, he’ll be looking after me today,” he said holding a horse in the stables.

“He’s just having a little nibble on the roses, I don’t know if the groundsmen will be too happy about that.

“It’s a real surreal moment for myself actually. I get the opportunity to grab and talk to the jockeys directly after they win some of the biggest races of their career.

“We just had Damien Oliver, the legendary jockey himself, walk past and say g’day. Really pinching myself at the moment.”

Slater was riding horseback at Flemington when he interviewed star jockey Jamie Kah after she won the Victoria Derby riding Goldrush Guru.

Kah had earlier suffered a suspected broken nose after being struck by her horse Hurry Curry in the gates before the Wakeful Stakes, ruling her out of that race.

After her win in the Derby, Slater said: “That’s one way to get over a broken nose is win a Group 1.”

James McDonald riding Atishu is interviewed by Billy Slater after winning the TAB Empire Rose Stakes. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

Slater nailed it as Nine’s horseback reporter. (Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)

Kah replied: “Yeah, the owner said ‘You know what fixes broken noses? Champagne. I’ll have plenty waiting for you when you cross the line’. So I’ll hold him for that.”

It was a rollercoaster day for Kah, who was handed a 10-meeting ban for interference, but will be allowed to race in the Melbourne Cup on board Okita Soushi.

Viewers were full of praise for Slater, with many learning of the former star Melbourne Storm fullback’s love of horse racing for the first time.

Jo McKinnon wrote on X: “Loving the Channel 9 coverage of derby day! Great team all working so well together. Billy Slater is an absolute superstar! Proper horseman knows his stuff and such a genuine good bloke.”

Melbourne Cup Carnival TV rights through to the end of 2029 on a deal reported to be worth $50 million.