SITTING in the classroom as a 10-year-old student at Dennington's St John's Primary School in 1991 is the first memory Ciaron Maher has of the Melbourne Cup.
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Maher and his classmates, under the guidance of teacher Colleen Fawkes, took part in a sweep on the Melbourne Cup while watching the Bart Cummings-trained Let's Elope win the race that stops a nation.
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Fast forward to 2020, Maher now one of Australia's leading horse trainers who has three runners in Tuesday's $8 million Melbourne Cup, has fond memories of that day back in 1991.
"I never knew a thing about horse racing back then," Maher told The Standard.
"My family had no interest in racing but I got caught up in the occasion in 1991.
"I can remember Colleen organised a sweep and all the kids got a horse each.
"She put up balloons and streamers in the classroom.
"I thought to myself this is a big event. The winner and place-getters all got chocolate Mars Bars.
"The old television was wheeled into the classroom on a trolley. Colleen was a great teacher.
"I ended up training a horse called Royal Hawaiian for Colleen to win a race with Michelle Payne in the saddle at the 2013 Warrnambool May Carnival."
Maher, who trains in partnership with David Eustace, saddles up the last start Cox Plate winner Sir Dragonet plus lightweight hopes Etah James and Persan in the 3200-metre group one race.
"I'm really happy with the progress of our three runners leading into the cup," he said.
"Sir Dragonet has not put a foot wrong since his Cox Plate win.
"Etah James ran well in the Moonee Valley Cup and Persan is a light-weight chance.
"Etah James and Persan are rough place hopes at big odds in a tough race while Sir Dragonet looks a real chance of winning going on his effort in the Cox Plate."
Bookmakers rate Sir Dragonet as a $10 chance in the early betting markets.
Persan is a $31 hope and Etah James a $81 chance.
The Melbourne Cup which will be run with no patrons on-course is scheduled to start at 3pm.
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