Lexus Melbourne Cup (Group 1)

THE French-bred Gold Trip became just the second top-weight – Rising Fast in 1954 – to win the Group 1 Melbourne Cup, claiming a two-length win in the coveted 3,200-metre A$7.75 million handicap for co-trainers Ciaron Maher and David Eustace, jockey Mark Zahra and syndicate managing owners Australian Bloodstock.

It was the five-year-old Outstrip horse’s second race win, breaking an 878-day drought, having narrowly ran second in the Caulfield Cup before finishing a three-length ninth in the Cox Plate 10 days ago. In Europe, he has finished fourth in Sottsass’ Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.

“I don’t think it’s really sunk in yet,” said a Maher, initially lost for words. “Everyone’s had a lot to do with this horse, (farrier) John Bunting - he’s had this horse in very good order all the way along. He’s a great mate, great bloke and he’s very good at what he does. Dave (Eustace) and my brother, everyone, it’s just huge.

“Dave and I are lucky enough to stand up here. Most of our staff are here today and friends and family, it’s just fantastic.

“To run in three of the big ones and have him present in the Cup like that - fantastic. It opened up beautifully and we had a plan going out with Mark (Zahra).

“He was very good on him in the Caulfield Cup, and we just wanted to wait, wait, wait and we knew he’s got that good turn-of-foot and he was fantastic.”

No problem

Top-weight of 57.5 kgs on a slow track that threatened to worsen at any stage of the day was no problem for Gold Trip, again highlighting the need for class in this race.

Group 1-placed in France when trained by Fabrice Chappet, and fourth in the 2020 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, Gold Trip was unhurried out of the gates with Zahra content to drift back and save his pennies. Three-wide out of the straight the first time with just four of the 20 behind him, Zahra would have been pleased to see Serpentine travel to the front, establishing a good tempo.

As the field compressed approaching the 800 metre mark, Knights Order lit the fuse with Tim Clark taking off to lead round the turn with a two-length advantage, a position that’s very rare to win from at Flemington.

Ominously

Gold Trip tracked into the race eight-wide as Deauville Legend loomed ominously. Rounding the bend, Patrick Moloney angled Emissary under the neck of Duais, interfering with her and three others in a desperate search for galloping room. Knights Order was brave but handed up the lead at the 200-metre mark as Gold Trip swept past Deauville Legend with only the post in sight.

Emissary chased hard, the British-bred Kingman gelding claiming second with Moloney later suspended and fined A$20,000 for the ride as the Bendigo Cup winner, High Emocean, a New Zealand-bred Ocean Park mare, flashed home for third making it first and third for the winning stable with Deaville Legend fourth.

“He got a nice trip around and he travelled really well. He might not stay past a “mile and six” but he ran a good race,” said Kerrin McEvoy of James Fergerson’s race favourite whilst Without A Fight struggled into 13th.

“He didn’t get through that ground. He’s a fast-ground horse,” said William Buick.

Maher-Eustace scale their ‘Everest’

THE Lexus Melbourne Cup caps the ascension of the Maher-Eustace combination as one of the top outfits in the country.

“Obviously you know the race, that it exists, a bit later in my life, I suppose from English racing,” said Eustace. “But ever since I’ve been here, this is the race you want to be contesting and just getting the chance to do that, and to win it, is quite extraordinary.”

The leading stable in Victoria for the past three seasons has now mood to slow either. “Trainers don’t retire, they die,” quipped 41-year-old Maher with the three-handled ‘Loving Cup’ in his hand.

Premier stable

The state’s premier stable, which also has a chief operating officer, has five bases in Victoria; at Ballarat, Balnarring, Cranbourne, Fingal and Pakenham, and is 18 months from opening a new base in country New South Wales to support the 80 boxes they maintain at Rosehill.

“You are always refining the systems to become more efficient,” added Maher, “The thing is to replicate the same environments we have here so we can move horses between the states and have them in similar environments to where they are happiest.”

In the short term it’s a spell for Gold Trip with Sydney’s Autumn not ruled out.

“I would assume he will target The Championships in Sydney. I would say we will head towards races like the Tancred Stakes and Queen Elizabeth Stakes,” said Jamie Lovett of Australian Bloodstock.

“He is still very lightly raced for a six-year-old so hopefully he will continue to race for a while yet.”

Cup welcomes back Crowds

THE weather had every shade Melbourne has to offer, sunshine through to driving hail, with a top of 13.3°C marking Tuesday as the coldest Cup day since 1913.

Importantly this 162nd edition was a welcome back to crowds following no spectators on-course in 2020 and a crowd capped at 10,000 last year, making the attendance of 73,000 a great result considering the forecast.

What’s important to remember though is that the Melbourne Cup is not a race, it’s an event.

“It is the mitred Metropolitan of the Horse-Racing Cult,” said Mark Twain on witnessing the 1895 Cup.

A public holiday and first run in 1861, it pre-dates the formation of the Victoria Racing Club by three years and holds a unique hold over Melbourne, an effect not lost on David Eustace.

“The reason I came down here initially and ended up staying was because of what the Cup means, and the build up and how much it captures the nation. So to win it really is a dream come true,” reflected Eustace Wednesday morning while still completing media requests.