Leading trainer Gai Waterhouse took time out from her Melbourne Cup preparations to offer some advice to Opposition Leader Tony Abbott today - focus on the positives.

Waterhouse and Mr Abbott were both at Flemington's Breakfast With The Stars this morning as the trainer's racehorses Older Than Time and Niagara were put through their paces in the early morning chill.

The mystified look on Mr Abbott's face as his binoculars panned across the track gave some of the game away - horse racing is clearly not his thing.

But where there is a picture opportunity, the political lure is irresistible.

Mr Abbott looked as pleased as Punch standing next to Ms Waterhouse as she extolled the virtues of her mare Older Than Time, which she thinks can win the Melbourne Cup in a fortnight.

"I think she is a real two-miler, right down to the knickers," Ms Waterhouse said.

"You look at what she did in the Sydney Cup. The jockey didn't think she had any chance at all and she was only just beaten and that was the first time over two miles."

Turning to Mr Abbott, she proceeded to give him some political advice with a none-too-subtle dig at what his government opponents describe as "relentless negativity".

"See, you should have me on side - look how positive I am. This is what you need, Tony, you need some real positive stuff, the Liberals."

The racing press were there in force with questions about the thoroughbreds rather than politics so it was a while before Mr Abbott could roll out his customary "toxic tax" line. But, of course, he did.

"You don't need a poll to show this is a toxic tax. People don't like socialism masquerading as environmentalism," he said.

On politics, Ms Waterhouse said: "I gave him a few tips on the side" but to the question, "What has Gai taught you about politics today?" he was shy: "What goes on the course stays on the course."