Valets are not as common in the jockeys' room in Australia as they are in Europe and Asia.

Former Melbourne jockey Chris Barrett is one valet that keeps an interest in racing by working in the role in Sydney.

On Melbourne Cup day Barrett will be working at Flemington where three of the Sydney jockeys he looks after - Hugh Bowman, James Macdonald and Kerrin McEvoy - have rides in the Melbourne Cup.

Valets are responsible for a jockey's gear on raceday - preparing the saddles for races, keeping the gear, including silks, clean.

Barrett had two rides in the Melbourne Cup - 1981 and 1984 - the years Peter Cook won on Just A Dash and Black Knight and the excitement of the day is still vivid.

"Someone said it would be like a footballer running out on the field before a grand final," Barrett said.

"It's not, it's bigger, in that the whole nation stops for the race.

"To ride in the race, it's very exciting.

"It's the ultimate."

Barrett, who retired from race riding in the mid 1990s, returns home for Melbourne Cup week each year, catching up with former colleagues.

"I'm from Melbourne and enjoy catching up with everybody, but this year the boys have conned me into working for them," he said.

With three of his "boys" having rides in the Cup, Barrett thinks McEvoy's ride Lucia Valentina is best placed but concedes Caulfield Cup winner Admire Rakti is still the one to beat.