Former jockey John Letts says winning the Melbourne Cup is a life changing experience.Letts won the Cup with his first ride in the race on Piping Lane in 1972 and again eight years later on Beldale Ball.He said that he had never met trainer George Hanlon or the owners before Piping Lane gave him a moment he would cherish forever."He changed my life," Letts said.Letts said he went into the 1972 Cup cold without knowing any of the landmarks on the track and without much idea of how Piping Lane was

Former jockey John Letts says winning the Melbourne Cup is a life changing experience.

Letts won the Cup with his first ride in the race on Piping Lane in 1972 and again eight years later on Beldale Ball.

He said that he had never met trainer George Hanlon or the owners before Piping Lane gave him a moment he would cherish forever.

"He changed my life," Letts said.

Letts said he went into the 1972 Cup cold without knowing any of the landmarks on the track and without much idea of how Piping Lane was best ridden, but his feel for the horse paid dividends.

He said it was a similar story with Beldale Ball when trainer Colin Hayes gave him a free rein to ride him where he felt comfortable.

There are 10 jockeys having their first ride in the Melbourne Cup on Tuesday and Letts' advice to them is to keep cool in the early stages of the race.

"The secret is getting your horse to relax," Letts said.

He said jockeys could fall into the trap of focusing too much on trying to get into the best position in the race, rather than taking care of their mount.

"When they jump out in a Melbourne Cup you don't ever want to fight for a position," Letts said.

"You get into a position when you have got your horse relaxed and travelling nicely."

Letts said that in the 1980 Melbourne Cup he led on Beldale Ball from the 2000 metres but it didn't worry him because he had the horse rolling without any pressure.

"I felt happy because he was a five-year-old stallion, he hadn't spent a penny, and I knew if he was left alone with a light weight he could keep going," Letts said.

He said it was important for jockeys to have their mounts in a winning position rounding the home turn.

"It is always hard for horses to make a run at the top of the straight and win the Melbourne Cup but if you are up there, you can dictate when you are going to go and they have to catch you," Letts said.

He said Bart Cummings always made a point of telling his jockeys to get clear galloping room in the straight, and would no doubt impress that on Brad Rawiller, Hugh Bowman and Michelle Payne who are all having their first Melbourne Cup rides on Cummings-trained horses Viewed, Roman Emperor and Allez Wonder respectively.

Other first timers are Dom Tourneur (Alcopop), Chris Symons (Kibbutz), Glyn Schofield (Mourilyan), Zac Purton (Munsef), Mark Zahra (Zavite), Peter Wells (Newport) and Mark Du Plessis (Spin Around).

"Bart would always say bring them to the outside because your horse will lengthen and stride out there without getting any obstructions," Letts said.

He said Piping Lane was an exception as he was 12th on the home turn but weaved his way through the pack to hit the front at the 200 metres.

He said at the Flemington clock tower, just inside the 200 metres, the Cup winner would be in top flight.

"That is where the race is won," Letts said.