Melbourne Cup tops two million viewers IT might have been the race that stopped the nation in countless pubs, clubs and workplaces, but according to the ratings figures little more than two million people tuned in to watch Fiorente win the Melbourne Cup on Tuesday. The three-and-a-half minute race was watched by 2.168 million viewers with about half of the audience made up of Melbournians, according to OzTAM ratings. Of those 2.168 million viewers, there were 1.060 million in Melbourne where it was a public holiday. There were 470,000 from Sydney, 304,000 living in Brisbane and 168,000 and 166,000 from Adelaide and Perth, respectively, watching the Seven Network's coverage. However, for a race that stops the nation, it was not the most popular local sporting event this year on TV. Hawthorn's AFL grand final win over Fremantle drew 2.717 million viewers and the Sydney Roosters win over the Manly Sea Eagles had an audience of 2.237 million viewers. The Presentation segment was second with 1.784 million viewers and the Mounting Yard rated third with 1.406 million. Besides the Melbourne Cup ratings, Seven News was the best of the regular Tuesday night shows, finishing fourth with 1.284 million viewers. The elimination of former Miss Universe Australia Jesinta Campbell on Dancing With The Stars was fifth with an audience of 1.134 million.