The eyes of the nation will be on Adam Litchfield, of Willalo, between Booborowie and Hallett, as he carries the Melbourne Cup down the straight and hands it to the Victorian Racing Club chairman before the big race.

“The Victorian Racing Club called David Brooks who is the president of the Stockman’s Hall of Fame in Longreach and they asked who would be a suitable stockman for the job and David put them on to me,” Adam said.

“David rang me and told me about it last Thursday, and a day later the Victoria Racing Club called me to confirm all the details, it was all a bit of a shock.”

Adam will ride his own Australian Stock Horse stallion ‘Green Gully Mynstral’.

“It’s been a bit crazy around here at the moment, Kate (Adam’s wife) is busy getting Mynstral ready for me while I am working,” he said.

Although Adam was willing to borrow a horse in Melbourne, Racing Victoria insisted Adam use his own horse and have paid for all expenses including horse transport to Melbourne.

Both Adam and Kate will fly to Melbourne on Sunday, there will be a rehearsal of the ride on Monday and the ride will take place on Tuesday just before the race.

Adam has been involved with several cattle drives throughout his life, has played a role with horses in ‘Australia’ the movie and has also been part of a series on the Geography Channel.

Adam originally hails from Wilpoorinna Station near Marree where he lived and worked with his parents.