First acceptances for the $ 8 million Melbourne Cup have been taken with 80 horses, including defending titleholder Cross Counter, still in contention.

Defending titleholder Cross Counter headlines 80 first acceptors for this year's $8 million Melbourne Cup which includes 18 other internationally trained horses.

First acceptances for the 3200m race at Flemington on November 5 closed on Tuesday, with Cross Counter and his Charlie Appleby-trained stablemate Ispolini among the acceptors while champion Irish trainer Aidan O'Brien has three horses still entered.

They are Hunting Horn, Il Paradiso and Magic Wand.

The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained Just Thinkin' is the only southern hemisphere three-year-old entered.

Cross Counter and Avilius are the highest weighted horses still entered with 57.5kg.

Meanwhile, quality three-year-old filly Loving Gaby has been paid up as a late entry for the weight-for-age Group One Manikato Stakes and Group One Darley Sprint Classic.

Loving Gaby made an impressive return to racing last Friday night, winning the Group Three Scarborough Stakes at The Valley.

Three-year-olds Eric The Eel, Piscean and Rokara are late entries for the Victoria Derby (2500m) on November 2 while no late entries have been received for the VRC Oaks.