Iconic callers pick the Melbourne Cup they'd love to call

As we count down to the 166th edition of the ‘race that stops the nation;’, Bryan Martin, Greg Miles and Matt Hill join Sam Edmund on ‘This is your Journey - thanks to Tobin Brothers’ to discuss all things Melbourne Cup.

The trio have called 74 cups and some of the biggest moments in the entirety of horse racing history in Australia.

At one stage the legendary callers were asked:

If you could call one Melbourne Cup from history again knowing the result, but getting to experience that moment one more time what would you choose?

Greg Miles

“I mucked up my first one (to the on-course audience), so I’d love to have another go at that one,” Miles said.

“It was the first call I had kind of done on the public address.

“I’d moved into a new broadcast box … right near the line, it was a great place to broadcast.

“Right to my right-hand side was a little balcony, which had remained empty all of those months (of the Spring).

“But just before the Melbourne Cup these two ladies with huge brimmed hats carrying their champagne glasses wandered out onto the balcony.

“And I realised just as they were about to jump, if they stay there, they will obscure my view.

“I was nervous enough calling the Cup to the on-course audience for the first time.

“As they were coming down the straight, I am thinking … what am I going to do here.

“So I switch my racebook from one hand to another and as they got to the post with a lap to go, I go whack to my right and it connected.

“I don’t know how I connected but I did.

“I wanted to say 'can you please get out of my way' … but obviously I had other things to say at the time.”

Matt Hill

The one he wishes he called?

“I love Let’s Elope’s win (1991), and probably would have liked to have called that one,” Hill said.

“It was quite a dramatic race."

Would he like to redo any of his own calls?

“Would I redo any of the Melbourne Cups I’ve done? No,” Hill said.

“Mainly because you don’t get another go at it, that is the art of it I suppose.

“You are left with it once you have done it.”

Famously Matt Hill has said there is no liquid paper in race-calling.

Bryan Martin

“Yes, 1997 Might and Power and Doriemus,” said Martin.

“They were stride for stride right down to the line … and then I said maybe Doriemus a nose.

“It was just one of those bobbing heads finishes.

“That was the one I’d like to have a crack at again.

“Outside of the third of Makybe Divas, I think that 2002 Cup win of Media Puzzle, Damien Oliver, the emotion and camaraderie of the riders getting around Damien.

“I don’t think I will ever forget that, probably the most moving moment I’ve seen on a racecourse.”

To hear more from the voices of the great race, listen to the full episode of This is Your Journey with Matt Hill, Greg Miles and Bryan Martin – Melbourne Cup edition here.