Updates from Melbourne Cup Day at Flemington
ALL good things must come to an end. Here’s what the epic effort in cleaning up after the biggest day in racing entails.
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- ‘I’m looking forward to a beer’
- Owner hospitalised
- Almandin wins Melbourne Cup
- Bruce’s surprise prediction
Live Melbourne Cup coverage
WELCOME to our coverage of the 2016 Melbourne Cup at Flemington Racecourse.
Almandin has created history for jockey Kerrin McEvoy and owner Lloyd Williams in yet another famous running of the great race.
Heartbreak City finished second ahead of Hartnell, Qewy and Who Shot Thebarman.
Here’s how the race that stops the nation played out.
THE race that stops a nation once again created a famous moment in Australian sport as Almandin caused a giant upset to win the 2016 Melbourne Cup.
9:00pm
Workers reveal the clean-up involved after the Melbourne Cup
All good things must come to an end, and in this case, a messy one.
The scenes following the country’s biggest day in racing represent more of a rubbish tip than a prestigious racetrack — and now the time for cleaning up is at hand.
“If you go into the toilets you find all sorts of things,” one worker said in an interview with The Age.
“You find drugs, you find ladies underwear everywhere. Some days you think it’s going to be easy, but it turns into a nightmare.”
Another worker revealed the massive number of cleaning staff hired to clean the Flemington Racecourse every November.
“In the case of Flemington, we’ve deployed 675 people (to clean) each race day,” Craig Lovett, a professional cleaner, told 3AW Radio on Monday.
7:30pm
PUNTER’S MIC GRAB
Channel Seven’s live coverage was briefly interruped by a punter leaving the Flemington Racecourse in the aftermath of today’s Melbourne Cup. In a fleeting attempt to wrestle the microphone out of a reporter’s hand in the middle of a live cross. In one swift move, the reporter was able to shrug off her sudden co-host and recover from the incident. “We’re sorry about that,” she said.
We’re not sure what this boistrous punter was trying to say, only she looked very passionate.
This is spectacular. Some random outside Flemington trying to rip the microphone out of the Seven reporter's hand. #threesheetstothewind pic.twitter.com/c3BSM1KukN
— Jon Ralph (@RalphyHeraldSun) November 1, 2016
It wasn’t the only instance a live cross was interrupted by a rowdy punter, either.
A good samaritan approached a Channel Nine reporter live on air to announce someone had lost three dollars.
6:00pm
WHAT THE JOCKEYS HAD TO SAY
1. (17) ALMANDIN
Kerrin McEvoy: “Gee, he travelled well. How lucky am I?, the elation’s unreal. He’s been well prepared by (owner) Lloyd (Williams), he knows what to do with these staying races. It’s just a dream, it’s great to be a part of it again. I’d like to thank Lloyd and (trainer) Rob Hickmott for giving me the chance.”
2. (13) HEARTBREAK CITY
Joao Moreira: “It was a fantastic run, unfortunately we didn’t win the race. Turning for home, I thought I was going to win as I went past Hartnell easily, but when I looked on my outside, Kerrin McEvoy had his horse full of himself as well and we went for a battle. My horse is much smaller than his and he gave 120 per cent of himself but at the end, I wasn’t able to succeed. I’ll be back and I’ll win this.”
3. (6) HARTNELL
James McDonald: “He ran superb. He got into a nice enough rhythm down the back. He just trucks a little bit hard for that two-mile race but he’s a good galloper and he had a good crack.”
4. (23) QEWY
Craig Williams: “He was very gallant. The stable summed him up really well when they said he’s just an out-and-out stayer.”
5. (7) WHO SHOT THEBARMAN
Hugh Bowman: “I was delighted with my horse. With a better draw, he may have travelled a bit closer and finished a bit closer, but no excuses, he had a beautiful run.”
6. (9) ALMOONQITH
Michael Walker: “He ran out of his skin. I was on the back of the first two and I’d had a better run. They just had a better turn of foot.”
7. (16) BEAUTIFUL ROMANCE
Damian Lane: “She ran super. She nearly fell on her head out of the barriers. If she could have held a positive spot, she might have been right in it.”
8. (5) EXOSPHERIC
Damien Oliver: “He ran really well. Moved into it nicely on the turn but probably didn’t have the sprint.”
9. (22) PENTATHLON
Mark Du Plessis: “I just got back a bit far but he was relaxed. I couldn’t cut the corner and had to go around them but I think they (the owners) may have got their money back so it’s good.”
10. (1) BIG ORANGE
Jamie Spencer: “(The) pace and (his) weight (beat him).”
11. (11) GRAND MARSHAL
Ben Melham: “He ran as good as he can go on that surface. He probably needs it wetter to be more competitive in this grade.”
12. (20) OCEANOGRAPHER
Chad Schofield: “He just didn’t back up. I had the first two horses around me in the run but he was very one-paced up the straight.”
13. (4) BONDI BEACH
Ryan Moore: “He was a bit disappointing. He never really travelled.”
14. (19) GREY LION
Glen Boss: “He give me a great ride. He just didn’t run the distance.”
15. (12) JAMEKA
Nicholas Hall: “Just didn’t stay the trip this year. She’s still a young mare and probably needs a bit of grounding. I knew at the 600 metres she was out of petrol.”
16. (15) EXCESS KNOWLEDGE
Vlad Duric: “I decided to go forward from the barrier and got across nicely, but you’re running into a stiff head breeze basically for 1100 metres coming down the straight so I think that probably told on him at the finish. He straightened up in front then he was a beaten horse.”
17. (2) OUR IVANHOWE
Dwayne Dunn: “Had a super run but the track’s too firm for him.”
18. (14) SIR JOHN HAWKWOOD
Blake Spriggs: “He just really felt the track. We got a bit further back than what we wanted to but we had to ride him quiet to make sure he’d get the trip. From the 1000 he travelled really well, but inside the 600 he started to feel his legs a little bit but I’m very proud of him.”
19. (18) ASSIGN
Katelyn Mallyon: “He didn’t go too bad. I sort of came in to the race nicely at the half-mile but he’s probably come to the end of his prep.”
20. (10) GALLANTE
Blake Shinn: “He was disappointing. He was gone a long way out.”
21. (21) SECRET NUMBER
Stephen Baster: “He ran OK. I thought he felt the ground.”
22. (8) WICKLOW BRAVE
Frankie Dettori: “He was flat.”
23. (3) CURREN MIROTIC
Tommy Berry: “Had a beautiful run in the race, he didn’t put in today.”
24 and last: (24) ROSE OF VIRGINIA
Ben Thompson: “I had a nice run on the back of Big Orange and then Qewy from the 1800 (metres). Hartnell was there on the outside for me to get on the back of but there must be something (wrong) there. I’m sure it’s the end of her prep.”
— Darren Prendergast, News Corp Australia
5.45pm
Horse suffers internal bleeding
ROSE of Virginia suffered internal bleeding during the running of the 2016 Melbourne Cup, but has been cleared of any serious injury.
The horse, which finished last of the 24 runners, suffered minor bruising after making contact with another horse.
There was no stewards inquiry surrounding the incident.
4.45pm
THE HORSE THAT SHOULDN’T HAVE BEEN THERE
OWNER Lloyd Williams has opened up about the serious injuries that could easily have ended Melbourne Cup winner Almandin’s racing career two years ago.
The seven-year-old bay gelding did not race between June 2014 and June this year after suffering a series of serious tendon injuries.
When Williams purchased Almandin and brought him to Australia from Germany, he must have doubted he would ever see a return on his investment.
Then trainer Robert Hickmott produced a miracle at the Mt Macedon stables to transform the horse from the scrap heap into a Melbourne Cup winner.
“He was broken down after we brought him from Germany,” Williams said.
“He had a tendon injury but they rehabilitated him and it’s an amazing staff performance
“(We) would not be successful unless we had the team we’ve had.
“We’ve got a very good property but it’s the human resource that we have that has taken us to this level today.
“We’ve got a very brave horse. This horse is been set for this race since far back as July. But he’s gone through all the various pain barriers and I’m very proud of him. I’m very proud of the team.”
On top of that, jockey Kerrin McEvoy had never ridden Almandin until today.
“I’m particularly proud of Kerrin McEvoy today because he’s hopped on this horse, he has not had a ride-on him before,” Williams said.
“He begged me to give me a ride-on him. I’m superstitious about jockeys riding horses at track work. I didn’t let him. He rode him magnificently today.”
4.05pm
VET REPORT
ALL runners in the Melbourne Cup have come through without serious injury, according to reports.
The 24 runners have all been cleared of injury after a fiercely contested 3200m.
3.55pm
‘I’M LOOKING FORWARD TO A BEER’
KERRIN McEvoy reckons he’s ready for a beer.
He’s earned it too.
Having ridden Almandin to another famous Melbourne Cup win, McEvoy said he is ready to party.
“I think I’m more nervous now than I was in the race actually,” he said.
“First off I’d like to thank Lloyd Williams. What a man to link up with. We’ve had some success over the last year. I’ve pretty pleased be able to secure this horse Almandin in the Melbourne Cup this year. I like to thank Lloyd for having faith in me on this horse and it’s just a great buzz to be able to get the job done.
“I feel very privileged to have won my second Melbourne Cup. A dream come true. I’d like to thank Nick Williams and the rest of the owners in the horse. The horse himself Almandin just a great little horse, obviously had his troubles along the way but he’s been very well handled by Lloyd.
“Melbourne Cup, just gets better every year. Well done to the VRC. And I’m looking forward to a beer after the last race I know that.”
3.45pm
OWNER’S EMOTIONAL TRIBUTE
WINNING owner Lloyd Williams has admitted he showed up in person to Flemington Racecourse for today’s Melbourne Cup for the first time in more than 20 years because he had a sneaky suspicion Almandin was going to win.
The other reason he showed up — his son Nick Williams was hobbling around Flemington Racecourse on crutches after dislocating his knee in a freak accident on Monday.
However, the five-time Melbourne Cup winner chose to shine the spotlight on winning jockey Kerrin McEvoy when he gave his speech during the official Cup presentation ceremony.
“I’m particularly proud of Kerrin McEvoy today because he’s hopped on this horse, he has not had a ride-on him before,” he said.
“He begged me to give me a ride-on him. I’m superstitious about jockeys riding horses at track word. I didn’t let him. He rode him magnificently today and, Kerrin, I thank you so much.
“He’s been with me for probably 15 years now. There is no better person as an employee of a racing stable and I’m a very, very difficult boss, I have to tell you. So he’s gone through thick and thin with me. He’s got this result today.
“To all his staff, Joel whose looked after the horse superb job. So thank you all.”
3.10pm
ALMANDIN WINS FIERCE MELBOURNE CUP AFTER OWNER’S FREAK ACCIDENT
ALMANDIN has won the 2016 Melbourne Cup in a thrilling finish.
In a fiercely run race the seven-year-old gelding held off a fast field to give owner Lloyd Williams a record fifth Melbourne Cup.
Ridden by Kerrin McEvoy, the incredible horse raced down the home straight side by side with Heartbreak City and only nudged ahead in the final 25m to hit the line in front by a short head.
Williams announced earlier on Tuesday he planned to attend the race in person at Flemington for the first time in more than 20 years. It was a smart decision. The Almandin ownership group is now $3.6 million richer.
Lloyd Williams told Channel 7 he only turned up because his son and co-owner Nick Williams suffered a freak dislocated knee yesterday and attended Flemington still wearing crutches after being treated in hospital on Monday.
Nick Williams said he was never going to miss today’s meet.
“I dislocated my knee yesterday taking a bad step,” he said.
“It wasn’t touch and go whether I’d turn up today.”
He also immediately gave thanks to trainer Robert Hickmott for his work in returning Almandin to racing after the horse was forced to stop racing on and off for more than two years because of tendon injuries.
“I’m pretty emotional about this one,” Williams said.
Robert Hickmott celebrates Almandin's #EmiratesMelbourneCup victory with family at #Flemington. pic.twitter.com/xHgxswpguA
— FlemingtonRacecourse (@FlemingtonVRC) November 1, 2016
Melburnians collectively held their breath as Almandin crossed the finish line. #champion #MelbourneCup #melbmoment pic.twitter.com/yrqYYWhPpW
— FlemingtonRacecourse (@FlemingtonVRC) November 1, 2016
Here is the finishing order for the 2016 #MelbourneCup pic.twitter.com/402yuXDFWX
— 7HorseRacing (@7horseracing) November 1, 2016
“They’ve just done such a great job with him. It was a super effort from everyone.”
The win was McEvoy’s second Cup win — coming more than 16 years after he first won it.
McEvoy, who also won on Brew 2000, created a new record for the biggest gap in between Melbourne Cup wins by a jockey.
“How lucky am I,” he said immediately after the race.
“The elation is unbelievable right now.”
Favourite Hartnell finished third with Qewy finishing fourth.
Almandin began the day an $11 shot with the TAB.
The TAB announced just a few punters were prepared to back Almandin to the hilt.
The biggest bet on the German horse was a $5000 wager at $14 on October 9.
2.15pm
RACE SIX — LEXUS HYBRID PLATE
BLAKE Shinn has ridden Jennifer Lynn to a win in the 1400m Lexus Hybrid Plate.
Jennifer Lynn came from deep in the field with 100m to go and only raced ahead of Prompt Response in the final 20m to win by a nose.
Jennifer Lynn scores the win! #winner #MelbourneCup pic.twitter.com/QBH8r9ldSD
— FlemingtonRacecourse (@FlemingtonVRC) November 1, 2016
1.40pm
BRUCE’S SHOCK TIP
CHANNEL 7 commentator Bruce McAvaney has tipped an outsider to win the Melbourne Cup.
The voice of Aussie Rules football has ignored the top six favourites to select $16 shot Wicklow Brave as the horse to beat at Flemington.
The eight-year-old British gelding won last start on September 11 over 2816m in a Group 1 race.
“I’m going for Number 8 Wicklow Brave,” Bruce told FIVEaa Radio.
“He’s pretty good odds, he’s got the bad barrier, he’s got Frankie Dettori who’s ridden in the race 14 times and never won — he’s probably the most famous jockey in the world.
“But he’s got a genius who trains him called Willie Mullins. He’s brought three horses to Australia, but the last two years his horses have run fourth and second.
“So I’m going No. 8 to beat No. 20 Oceanographer, No. 12 Jameka, No. 6 Hartnell and No. 1 Big Orange — they’re my five.”
1.30pm
RACE FIVE — SCHWEPPES FLEMINGTON FLING
LUKE Nolan has ridden Speedeor to a win in the 1000m Flemington Fling.
$4.80 Favourite Almanaat finished outside the top four behind Silent Witness, Hellbound and Manuel.
12.40pm
‘PUNTERS ARE JUMPING OFF FAVOURITES’
PUNTERS are turning away from the early race favourites on Melbourne Cup Day.
With favourites Hartnell ($6) and Jameka ($8.50) both drifting on the day of the great race, punters have come late for previously unfancied chances in Big Orange ($16 into $12), Almandin ($16 into $10), Qewy ($31 into $26), Wicklow Brave ($21 into $16), Grand Marshall (Steady at 31 on Cup Day) and Who Shot Thebarman ($35 into $26).
The TAB has taken a bet of $6500 on Grand Marshall to win the Melbourne Cup.
The punter stands to collect $201,500 if the Ben Melham-ridden gelding is able to salute.
“Grand Marshal was super impressive winning the Moonee Valley Cup only a few weeks ago,” TAB’s Shaun Anderson said.
“Punters are jumping off the favourites and looking for some value and Grand Marshal looks amongst some of the best hopes.”
Hartnell has drifted from $5 on Saturday out to $6 at 9.30am today with the TAB.
Jameka drifted from $7 on Saturday to $8 on Tuesday morning.
Oceanographer has also drifted from $5.50 out to $9.
Jameka has been the best backed with the TAB from Hartnell and Big Orange.
“After Prince of Penzance last year, punters haven’t been scared by the long odds for some horses with some good money coming this morning for Grey Lion, Qewy and Who Shot Thebarman,” TAB’s Dylan Atkinson said.
The TAB has also taken a bet of $5000 each way on Qewy with a potential collect of $67,500.
12.20pm
BETTING AGENCY DOWN
BETTING agency Betfair Australia has broken down on Melbourne Cup Day.
Customers looking to place a wager have registered their dissatisfaction with the corporate bookmaker after a technical issue stopped punters from betting for more than two hours on Tuesday morning.
The betting agency’s online wagering system was made operational again after noon.
We are currently experiencing a full outage. We will report back as soon as we have an update. We apologise for the inconvenience
— Betfair Australia (@Betfair_Aus) October 31, 2016
We are currently experiencing a technical issue preventing bet placement. We apologise for the inconvenience and are working to rectify ASAP
— Betfair Australia (@Betfair_Aus) November 1, 2016
Happy to report we are back in business. A bad start to Melbourne Cup Day. Apologies again for the inconvenience.
— Betfair Australia (@Betfair_Aus) November 1, 2016
12.05pm
RACE THREE — PRINCE OF PENZANCE PLATE
INTERNATIONAL star jockey Ryan Moore has begun his Melbourne Cup day with a win on Kinema in the 2800m Prince of Penzance Plate.
Moore, who has the ride on Bondi Beach in the Melbourne Cup, was given the ride on Kinema to tune up for today’s Cup and judged the race to perfection to nudge in front by a short head ahead of Firenze and Four Carat just before the line.
11.25am
RACE TWO — TAB.COM.AU TROPHY
GAI Waterhouse has won the opening two races at Flemington on Melbourne Cup Day.
Waterhouse’s Sort After took out the 1700m TAB.com.au Trophy after the Waterhouse-trained Invincible Star took out the Ottawa Stakes.
Sort After, ridden by Stephen Baster, cruised to the line on the rails ahead of Metaphorical and Amarela to win the four-year-old and upwards handicapped race.
The two wins give Gai a prizemoney haul of $145,000 over the first two races at Flemington.
10.55am
RACE ONE — OTTAWA STAKES
GAI Waterhouse has begun Melbourne Cup day with a win in race one at Flemington today.
Waterhouse’s Invincible Star finished ahead of Lucky Louie, Madeenaty and Arctic Angel.
“I knew I had magic on my side,” Waterhouse said.
“Did you see how she bounced out of the barriers? She has been down here for quite some time. Wasn’t she beautiful? Muscle tone and everything.”
11am
WEATHER WARNING
RACEGOERS heading to the Melbourne Cup are advised to pack an umbrella and extra clothing.
The Bureau of Meteorology expects there will be “on and off” showers in Melbourne on Tuesday afternoon, with a top temperature of 17C. Senior forecaster Stephen King says the showers are due to reach Melbourne from the west about noon.
“There’ll certainly be showers around the Melbourne area this afternoon but as to whether they’re exactly at Flemington right on Cup time (3pm) is impossible to say,” the forecaster said.
Mr King says there’s a 50/50 chance of rain falling during the race. But it’s also possible the Cup could be run during a brief spell of sunshine. Tuesday’s showers will be slightly heavier than those that fell on Monday, with up to three millimetres forecast for Melbourne.
It will be windy at the races: “But not enough to blow hats away and ruin hairdos or anything like that”, Mr King said.
The BOM says the winds will be northwesterly at 20-30km/h before turning west to southwesterly during the afternoon.
— AAP
10.40am
CUP FAVOURITES DRIFT
FAVOURITES Hartnell and Jameka have lost some popularity with punters on Cup Day, drifting in the betting markets just hours from the great race.
Hartnell has drifted from $5 on Saturday out to $6 at 9.30am today with the TAB.
Jameka has also drifted from $7 on Saturday to $8 on Tuesday morning.
Oceanographer has also drifted from $5.50 out to $9.
Big Orange has been popular on Cup day, coming in from $16 on Saturday into $12 this morning.
Almandin has also been a big mover with the TAB, coming in from $16 on Saturday into $10 today.
Jameka has been the best backed with the TAB from Hartnell and Big Orange.
10am
MIXED OMENS STRIKE FANCIED RUNNER
OWNER Nick Williams broke his knee yesterday in a shock incident on the eve of Australia’s greatest horse race.
The son of Melbourne businessman Lloyd Williams, Nick Williams has an ownership stake in four Melbourne Cup runners, including fancied runner Almandin.
Sky Sports Radio reported Nick Williams received treatment at hospital on Monday, but the injury will not stop him from attending Flemington today.
Nick Williams told the racing network he will be carrying crutches to support his injury throughout the day.
It came as 3AW Radio reported Lloyd Williams plans to attend today’s Melbourne Cup in person for the first time in 20 years.
The revelation Williams will be trackside for the first time in 20 years has sparked speculation it could be a very special day for the family after the $6.2 Melbourne Cup is run.
The Williams family also has stakes in Gallante, Assign and Bondi Beach.
9.30am
BILLIONAIRE RAIDER
HE’S bonafide racing royalty — and Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum has never been better placed to add a Melbourne Cup to his bulging trophy cabinet.
The Dubai ruler’s Godolphin Stables has won more than 3500 races worldwide, including the world’s richest race, the $10 million Dubai World Cup, on eight occasions.
But the race that stops a nation has so far eluded the 67-year-old. He has been runner-up on three occasions, including most recently Crime Scene in 2009.
This year promises to be different. Godolphin has five runners in today’s race, including $5.50 race favourite Hartnell.
“He’s the right horse to run really well in a Melbourne Cup,” said jockey James McDonald, who has the ride on the John O’Shea-trained Hartnell. “His form has been fantastic so there’s no reason why he shouldn’t be in the finish.”
Oceanographer is the most highly-rated of the Sheikh’s other runners — which include Geelong Cup winner Qewy and British horses Beautiful Romance and Secret Number.
More than 100,000 people are expected to come through the turnstiles at Flemington Racecourse for the $6.2 million race — the richest handicap race in the world and the biggest sporting prize in Australia which will be run for the 156th time.
The race will also welcome some of Australia’s biggest celebrities to the exclusive Birdcage enclosure.
Elsa Pataky, Chris Hemsworth’s wife and a successful actress and model in her own right, will be one of the biggest stars at the marquees. American entertainment personality Maria Menounos will also make her final Cup carnival appearance.
Australia’s 2016 Eurovision entry Dami Im will perform the national anthem ahead of the big race at 3pm.
The Melbourne Cup is also one of the biggest for the fashion stakes, with bold looks and colours expected to take out fashions on the field. Unfortunately Melbourne’s unpredictable weather shows no sign of letting up for the Cup, with a 50 per cent chance of rain expected during the big race.
— with AAP
We are giving four lucky winners and a guest the Ultimate Ladies Day package. Flights, accommodation and entry to Emirates Marquee at Crown Oaks day. Closes at 5pm today.
#CelebrateTheMoment #Emirates
Originally published as Updates from Melbourne Cup Day at Flemington
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