Size simply does not matter to dwarf horse Koda, who yesterday jumped at the chance to sniff and snort at Australian horse racing's Holy Grail: the Melbourne Cup.

The rare invitation to the littlest gee-gee in town was part novelty and part reward for his good work: helping cheer up sick children when he visits Melbourne's Royal Children's Hospital - there are smiles all round as the little horse with lots of character wanders the wards meeting and greeting little patients.

But it was Koda's turn to smile yesterday where his dream came true - a look and lick of Australian horseracing's most coveted trophy.

And everyone who saw the pint-sized pony at Flemington, a mere 35kg compared with a 500kg Melbourne Cup champion, laughed with delight and stopped to take the little star's photograph.

Koda is fast becoming a big star in Australia's animal world, having surprised experts for living as long as he has - his tiny stature means he has a number of ongoing health problems.

The Melbourne Cup is the near-equivalent to Britain's Grand National - but even more so. It is generally considered a public holiday and, on the afternoon of the first Tuesday in November, the whole country stops for at least five minutes in order, hopefully, to see their backed horse be first across the finish line.

MUST CREDIT PICTURES BY:

Newspix / Rex Features Ltd.