‘Unbelievable’: What the 2023 Melbourne Cup jockeys said

Without A Fight has romped home for victory in the 2023 Melbourne Cup after the pre-race favourite spectacularly flamed out.

Mark Zahra has come clean on his two-fingered salute. Photo: Getty Images

Mark Zahra has ridden Without A Fight to a famous Melbourne Cup victory at the 163rd running of the great race.

While the winners were grinners, there were a lot of disappointed runners after the 2023 Melbourne Cup.

With pre-race favourite Vauban finishing back in 14th, it was a stunning race that threw up an unexpected result.

Here’s what the jockeys had to say after the running of the 2023 Melbourne Cup.

Winning jockey: Mark Zahra (Without A Fight)

During the run: “Unbelievable. If I could’ve thought I’d have that run from (barrier) 16 I’d have said he was unbeatable but to the trainer’s credit, Sam and Lee and all their team, he was just an absolute gentleman today, went to the rails, switched off, I probably got to the front earlier than last year but I’d just had that soft a run.”

Getting to the rails: “I was following Alenquer, probably not the best chance but D Oliver, in front of him was Gold Trip, in front of him was Vauban so I thought I’m just going to stay here, they all made their moves, which opened up for me and I was on a horse you can just sit on, he’s got an electric turn of foot and he just pulled me all the way to the line and it was all over, I stood up in the irons and gave them the two fingers for two winners, I don’t know what I was thinking — idiot.”

Picking Without A Fight over Gold Trip: “Mark Hunter is a good friend and I rate him as one of the best judges in Australia, spoke to him at length with it and he said ‘you know, there’s not much in it, but if you can get him to settle, he’ll run it’, we went through the race, the weather forecast, the stars aligned for Gold Trip last year and they aligned for this horse this year.

“I don’t get to pick the result, I have to pick them before then. Just a few things, weight and the way he won the Caulfield Cup, I was confident he’d run it out today.”

“Poor old Gold Trip, he was going up on the inside and it was opening up. I thought there’s no way anything is coming up from behind me.

Compared to last year: “Your first Melbourne Cup you can never compare to that ever. You don’t believe that it is every going to happen.

“I always said winning one helps you a lot because I came into the race putting aside all the choosing and I knew I was on a good horse.

“When you win one, a lot of jockeys try all their life to win one. You keep thinking this might be my chance, but when you win one you think ‘if I stuff it up there’s one home in the cabinet anyway.

“You are afforded that bit of luxury.

“But to change horses, I got a little bit of flack about my choice, even at the races here today, for it to pay off it is justified.”

Two fingers, two winners. Picture: Mark Stewart

That is sweet. Photo by Vince Caligiuri/Getty Images

Joao Moreira (Soulcombe, 2nd): “Obviously very proud of him putting on a good performance. Things didn’t really go his way. Not jumping that well made it a little bit difficult for him, as well as getting into a bit of traffic at the 600, 700 metres also counted against him winning the race but I’m very proud of how he ran.”

Beau Mertens (Sheraz, 3rd): “Amazing run, as you would have seen. We got into a lovely spot, he relaxed really nicely for me once everything settled and Chris and the team came up with the plan just to have him tucked away for as long as possible and once we produced him in the straight he let down with a nice turn of foot and stayed the trip terrifically. Couldn’t be happier, the team had him in great order and it’s just fantastic.”

Kerrin McEvoy (Ashrun, 4th): “He ran great, he’s run fourth, and testament to Ciaron Maher and Dave Eustace and their veterinary team to get him back racing great. He had a nice trip around and gave me a good ride. I just had to wait and ease out a bit at the top of the lane but he’s finished off really well.”

Daniel Stackhouse (Daqiansweet Junior, 5th): “He’s run enormous I thought. He travelled well, he just stepped a bit slow, but travelled well into the corner, made a bit of ground and tried his heart out, so I’m very proud of him.”

Teo Nugent (Interpretation, 6th): “Super effort to back up off six days after the Bendigo Cup and to come here and run a super race. Unfortunately got baulked at the top of the straight but got outside horses with 350 to go and he really relished the line. Best work was his last 50 and really with the performance.”

What a win. Photo by Brett Holburt/Racing Photos via Getty Images

Zac Purton (Absurde, 7th): “He travelled nicely, he presented at the right time, he just didn’t run through the line. Anyway, he run well, but not what we wanted.”

Ben Thompson (True Marvel, 8th): “Brilliant run. He’s finished eighth, he stayed, as he’s done well in the past and he had to cover ground out wide but he just found such a nice rhythm that he got to fifth up the straight but just the class of those that beat him home came to the fore late. Great run.”

Billy Egan (Vow And Declare, 9th): “He had a lovely run from the gate, probably just the tempo didn’t come back out of it and have that midrace break he needed at that distance, but I thought he ran really well.”

Rachel King (Military Mission, 10th): “Super run, he just got a bit tired the last 200.”

Dylan Gibbons (Okita Soushi, 11th): “He probably got too far back to win, but I thought the way he maintained himself through the line was a good effort. That was pretty fun.”

Jamie Kah (More Felons, 12th): “He ran really good. On the turn he gave me a bit of a scare, I thought we were going to be right in the finish but he probably just saw it out that last 200, he had a really good blow but he ran well though.”

Craig Williams (Lastotchka, 13th): “We didn’t have any luck from the barrier, three wide, had cover, lost cover, and under the circumstances she’s run a gallant race for her first race start in Australia but we were beaten on straightening.”

Ryan Moore (Vauban, 14th): “Obviously a disappointing run from him. Maybe he didn’t fire today, the winner was very good, and we didn’t get home today unfortunately.”

Vauban came in with a lot of high hopes, and punters’ money. Photo by Vince Caligiuri/Getty Images

Hollie Doyle (Future History, 15th): “He ran really well, got a nice pitch and got into a beautiful rhythm, I just think it tested his stamina late.”

Kohei Matsuyama (Breakup, 16th): “He couldn’t break well from the gate and couldn’t get into a nice rhythm.”

James McDonald (Gold Trip, 17th): “He travelled into it lovely just the effort told late.”

Craig Newitt (Virtuous Circle, 18th): “He was a bit disappointing. He was a fair way out of the race and just never run on.”

Jye McNeil (Serpentine, 19th): “He went forward and found a nice rhythm, just found it a bit hard when the pressure went on today.”

Zac Lloyd (Kalapour, 20th): “The horse didn’t really experience much of an economical run and it just told late. He tried hard, but just (had to do) too much work.”

Damien Oliver (Alenquer, 21st): “I had a good run, I just would have liked him to relax a little bit better. Probably just for mine at this stage didn’t run out a strong two miles.”

Mark Du Plessis (Magical Lagoon, 22nd): “Maybe just a bit too aggressive and probably too far.”

John Allen (Right You Are, DNF): “We settled in a nice spot but we were struggling from a long way out and I pulled him up because he lost his action turning into the straight. I felt he may have just choked down. He was struggling to breathe but I jumped off him and once he got his breath back he walked off OK so hopefully he’s OK.”

This story first appeared on Punters.com.au and was republished with permission.

Originally published as ‘Unbelievable’: What the 2023 Melbourne Cup jockeys said