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REKINDLING led home an amazing Irish 1-2-3 in the Emirates Melbourne Cup on Tuesday.
The Joseph O'Brien-trained horse edged past Johannes Vermeer - trained by Joseph's father Aidan - in the closing strides for a sensation win. The Willie Mullins-trained Max Dynamite finished third and they were comfortably clear of the chasing pack.
The three-year-old Rekindling, who was last seen when finishing fourth in the St Leger at Doncaster, was settled in behind through the early stages by jockey Corey Brown as Boom Time, Gallante and Cismontane were among the first to show, with the latter eventually setting the pace.
Hughie Morrison's Marmelo also raced prominently in fourth, while Mullins' Thomas Hobson and the winner's stablemate US Army Ranger were towards the back of the field.
As the pace turned up a notch approaching the home turn, Marmelo threw down his challenge, but Johannes Vermeer appeared to be travelling well on his heels and he kicked on with around a furlong-and-a half to run.
Max Dynamite tried to go with him on the inside but Corey Brown was really just getting to work on Rekindling and the colt found an extra gear on the outside to get up on the line.
O'Brien said: "I can't quite believe it yet. I'm so delighted for Lloyd and Nick (Williams, owners). They suggested to bring him down and that he would have a good chance in the race.
"His prep went really well. Corey gave him an unbelievable ride and I'm just so delighted for everyone - all the lads at home and the lads that have been down here have done an unbelievable job. It hasn't really sunk in yet to be honest.
"He had a very light weight and Corey gave him a great ride. It's not often in a big race like that the whole run goes so well. I'm over the moon."
Aidan O'Brien was not at the races - he is on holiday in Barbados - but congratulated his son by telephone. "I spoke to my dad and he's delighted," reported the winning trainer. "I'm so delighted for Lloyd and Nick, they have been big supporters of mine and sent me some lovely horses. There's some nice two-year-olds at home and I'm so delighted to have won this race for them.
"I'm going to enjoy today and hopefully we'll have a horse good enough to come back."
Lloyd Williams, who was winning the race for the sixth time, told Channel 7: "I'm so proud of this young man - he's a star. I've been telling people the father needs to watch out!"
Brown was riding his second Melbourne Cup winner after Shocking in 2009 and said :"I'm speechless. It's a dream to even ride in the race, but to come out and win it again, I'm lost for words.
"I always thought I was going to get Johannes Vermeer, especially with the light weight. I had a great run in transit. I was a bit slow away but after speaking to Joseph, I didn't want to rev him up and get him too keen. He had a perfect run and deserved to win."
MULLINS HAPPY
Willie Mullins was delighted with the effort of Max Dynamite in third spot.
Second in the race two years ago, things have not always gone to plan for the seven-year-old having had just four runs since, but he kept on well for third on his return to the Australian circuit behind fellow Irish runners, winner Rekindling and second Johannes Vermeer.
In addition, Mullins' other runners fared well, both making the top 10.
He told racing.com: "I'm delighted with him. I thought about halfway up the stretch that if he could get room, he might get out and do it, but I think his age maybe caught up with him.
"We're delighted with him and Thomas Hobson, who eventually got into sixth, and Wicklow Brave who was 10th, what more can you ask for?
"We'll just have to get a new group of horses probably (to come back). These guys are probably at the end of their career at this level, but I'll be back."
Max Dynamite's jockey Zac Purton added: "It was an excellent run, he was very brave. He took a tight run when I asked him to and I thought when we got through there he would fight, but he's a bit old now and it was a terrific run anyway."
Ben Melham pointed to the heavier weight of Johannes Vermeer, who was beaten a long neck in second, as the probable reason for defeat.
He said: "He had a great run throughout. I thought we were home, but probably the weight was the difference."
Iain Jardine's Ebor winner Nakeeta kept on well to finish fifth and rider Glyn Schofield said: "It was a super run. He just kept coming strongly, it was a good run."
Ben Allen was a late replacement on Thomas Hobson after intended rider Joao Moreira was stood down following a fall earlier on the Flemington card.
He said of sixth-placed Thomas Hobson: "He possibly switched off a bit too well, he didn't pick up the bridle at all. Once I set him up, they kind of sprinted away but I thought he ran really well."
Marmelo was among the favourites for the race and jockey Hugh Bowman had anticipated a better effort from his mount, who eventually finished ninth.
He said: "I expected a bit more. I had to make a little bit of use of him early, but I was in a nice position and he relaxed well.
"The pressure built a bit earlier than I would have liked, I must admit, but I thought he would have taken me a bit further."
Morrison also felt Marmelo had not given his best performance and is keen to have another attempt in 2018.
He said: "You'd have to say he ran a bit flat. He's had a run recently and he's had a long season, he didn't disgrace himself but I think the form book says he's better than that.
"He's only a young and inexperienced horse and hopefully we'll be back next year with a bigger, stronger horse. He's got it in him to go very close in a race like this.
"There's no reason to think (he bounced from the Caulfield Cup), I just know his best runs have been with a good break all year.
"There's advantages of running him in the Caulfield Cup, but we can all be clever with hindsight. Maybe it wouldn't have made a difference, he's been over here long enough and just lost his edge.
"I will certainly be trying to persuade everyone to come back next year as we've had a fantastic time and with regards to the result, we've gone back with an experience we'll be telling everyone about at home."
Stephen Baster was full of praise for 10th-placed Wicklow Brave, adding: "He ran well, he just didn't have any early speed so ended up last and just didn't really get going until the 650 (metre mark). He ran home good."
Hugo Palmer's Wall Of Fire had also been well fancied for the race, but he trailed home 16th with jockey Craig Williams believing he had just not shown his best.
He said: "It was a bit of a muddling stop-start race and I thought my horse responded really well under those conditions. He came off the bridle at the 700 (metre mark) which is normally to his liking.
"Once I cut the corner and balanced him up, I expected him to start staying on and if he'd stayed on strongly he might have been back a little bit far back, but he just didn't stay on at all.
"Hopefully he comes through the race well, he just didn't run up to his European form."
US Army Ranger came home 18th and Jamie Spencer: "He passed a few beaten ones, never got hold of him."
Frankie Dettori teamed up with last year's winner Almandin but he reported the Robert Hickmott-trained runner had failed to fire in 12th.
He said: "I was stuck three wide and the horse was flat, he never carried me today. He ran like a flat horse."
FULL MELBOURNE CUP REPORT, REACTION & MORE PHOTOS IN THE IRISH FIELD NEXT WEEKEND
THE FULL FINISHING ORDER FOR THE 2017 MELBOURNE CUP
1. Rekindling (22) $17.10 win, $5.90 place (S’TAB)
2. Johannes Vermeer (7) $4.20
3. Max Dynamite (9) $5.20
4. Big Duke (13)
5. Nakeeta (18)
6. Thomas Hobson (21)
7. Tiberian (4)
8. Libran (17)
9. Marmelo (5)
10. Wicklow Brave (12)
11. Red Cardinal (6)
12. Almandin (2)
13. Cismontane (24)
14. Amelie’s Star (23)
15. Boom Time (15)
16. Wall of Fire (20)
17. Single Gaze (19)
18. US Army Ranger (14)
19. Humidor (3)
20. Hartnell (1)
21. Ventura Storm (10)
22. Bondi Beach (8)
23. Gallante (16)
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