Chad Schofield has joined fellow Hong Kong-based Australian jockey Zac Purton as an early winner on Melbourne Cup day.

Schofield, who is in town to ride Gust Of Wind in Tuesday's Melbourne Cup, got on the board when he teamed with Flemington trainer Danny O'Brien and stayer De Little Engine to win the J.B. Cummings AM Tribute Plate (2800m).

"It's great to be back home in front of a big crowd," Schofield said.

Purton won the opening race on Concealer with Schofield successful two races later.

Schofield and O'Brien most memorably combined to win the Cox Plate with Shamus Award two years ago and O'Brien has great faith in the young jockey's ability.

That talent was on display as Schofield weaved through the field in the straight and angled into the clear to make his winning run on De Little Engine.

"We did need a few breaks in the straight but we had the right guy on board," O'Brien said.

"He won a Cox Plate for us, Chad, so we've all got plenty of confidence when he rides."

The race was named in honour of 12-time Melbourne Cup winner Bart Cummings who died two months ago, aged 87.

O'Brien worked for Cummings for three years before taking out a training licence in his own right.

"He was my first boss and a great influence on my training career," O'Brien said.

De Little Engine closed strongly to defeat Jim's Journey by three quarters of a length with a short neck to Tremec third.

Tremec is trained by John Thompson who was a long-time Sydney foreman for Bart Cummings.

"It's a shame. It would have been nice to win the race named for Bart but the horse has run well," Thompson said.