Dwayne Dunn has tried nine times to win the Melbourne Cup, only to be disappointed.

He's hoping it's 10th time lucky on Tuesday when he rides Geelong Cup winner Almoonqith, a $15 chance in Tuesday's race with Japanese horse Fame Game the dominant favourite.

The closest Dunn has come is seventh on Skybeau in 1997 and Araldo last year.

"This would be the icing on the cake if I could get this horse over the line. It's every jockey's dream to be able to win one," Dunn said.

"I'm just really happy to be involved and be able to ride in a Melbourne Cup. I've sat on the other side of the fence and you're disappointed when you haven't got a ride in the race."

Dunn also knows what it's like to go to Australia's most famous race on a favourite.

He was on Tawqeet in 2006 but things went pear-shaped and the horse finished 19th as Delta Blues and Pop Rock created Cup history with a quinella for Japan.

The David Hayes and Tom Dabernig-trained Almoonqith is raced by Sheikh Hamdan's Shadwell operation and carries the same blue and white colours as Tawqeet.

"Tawqeet won the Metropolitan, won the Caulfield Cup and was then favourite in the Melbourne Cup which was for Shadwell," Dunn said.

"Obviously he had an issue and he couldn't fulfil the dream for us that year. So hopefully this is payback."

Dunn believes Almoonqith might be flying under the radar after his impressive victory at Geelong with James McDonald board.

"The horse is in a really good place. He's very happy and he's improved since the run the other day," Dunn said.

"He's a little bit of a forgotten horse because everyone starts talking about the internationals. But I'm really pleased to be on him. I reckon he's going to run a great race."