Bart Cummings and his superstar So You Think were the talk of the annual Melbourne Cup parade - and they weren't even in it.The Cups king scratched himself from the parade to rest up for the 150th Melbourne Cup on Tuesday.The 82-year-old trainer's recent ill health endeared him even more to Perth resident Peg Glasson, who is being treated to her first trip to the Cup as an 85th birthday present from her family."I'd like Bart to (win)," said Ms Glasson, standing with her daughter Veronica Margeti

Bart Cummings and his superstar So You Think were the talk of the annual Melbourne Cup parade - and they weren't even in it.

The Cups king scratched himself from the parade to rest up for the 150th Melbourne Cup on Tuesday.

The 82-year-old trainer's recent ill health endeared him even more to Perth resident Peg Glasson, who is being treated to her first trip to the Cup as an 85th birthday present from her family.

"I'd like Bart to (win)," said Ms Glasson, standing with her daughter Veronica Margetic in the throng on Swanston Street.

"He's had a lot of ill health recently, so it would be nice if he could win it and go out on a winning note.

"I've seen the Cup now so I can go out on a winning note."

Sydney sisters Louise and Meredith Beatton were also enjoying their first Cup parade before heading to Flemington on Tuesday with their parents.

"It's our dad's 60th birthday so we thought we may as well come down, and it's the 150th anniversary of the Cup," Louise said.

The sisters survived the "bucketing" on Derby Day on Saturday and were looking forward to a better weather forecast for Tuesday.

Up to 50,000 people turned out on Monday despite the threat of showers.

Cup-winning jockeys Greg Hall and John Marshall said they wouldn't miss the annual parade for anything.

Behind them in the procession came a string of champion horses, including Subzero which Hall rode to victory in 1992.

"It's the people's cup so we're here every year for it," Hall said.

Hall fancies So You Think and Maluckyday in the Cup but he will also be keeping a close eye on Zipping, to be ridden by his son Nick Hall.

"I'll be a very proud father if he wins. I'm thinking I might jump the fence if he does."

So You Think's jockey Steven Arnold, who brought sons Marli and Indi along for the parade, is happy to be riding the favourite in the great race.

"It's a good time, obviously a big build-up to the Melbourne Cup," he said.

While Cummings missed the parade, the 12-time Cup winner is expected to be trackside at Flemington on Tuesday, two days after being released from hospital after a four-night stay due to the recurrence of a respiratory problem.

Victoria Racing Club chairman Rod Fitzroy has been backing Shocking to make it back-to-back Melbourne Cups, but he concedes the happiest ending would be a lucky 13th win for Cummings on the occasion of the 150th running of the great race.

"I perhaps didn't pay enough regard once again to the genius of Bart and the way the horse won on Saturday.

"Obviously, it would be a fairytale."