CBD to stage Melbourne Cup parade Gai Waterhouse's Fiorente is favourite for the Melbourne Cup. THE race that stops a nation will stop traffic with the Melbourne Cup parade to take over the city's streets. The iconic Melbourne Cup will be paraded through Melbourne's packed CBD on Monday alongside jockeys, trainers and racing royalty from noon until 2pm. Thousands will line Swanston St for the 30th annual Cup parade from Bourke St to Federation Square ahead of Tuesday's race - which is expected to attract more than 100,000 people to Flemington. The Gai Waterhouse-trained Fiorente is $7 favourite, and victory would give Waterhouse the first Melbourne Cup of her stellar career. But in her path is a bevy of international raiders and an incredible six horses from the stable of millionaire businessman Lloyd Williams, who is aiming to win it for a fifth time. Melbourne Lord Mayor Robert Doyle said the Melbourne Cup was an "iconic" event and tipped the Williams stallion Seville for glory. "It is an iconic event not just for Australia but around the world," he said. It's one of the most important dates in the sporting calendar around the world. In recent years the arrival of the internationals has helped generate even more interest. Racegoers are advised to leave cars at home to avoid gridlock around Flemington. Metro Trains and Yarra Trams will run extra services between Flinders St, Southern Cross and North Melbourne train stations and Flemington. A bus shuttle will operate between the racecourse and Footscray after the race, and trains and trams will run to a Saturday timetable because of the public holiday. The parade culminates in entertainment and interviews with trainers and jockeys on stage at Federation Square. The countdown to the $6 million Cup also heralds a final dash in the fashion stakes. Melbourne retailers estimate they sell a hat or fascinator every minute during Cup Week trading hours.