Melbourne Cup analysis: Find out what the jockeys said and Michael Manley’s Cup review
English stayer Cross Counter belied his inexperience to score a stunning win in the Melbourne Cup. Find out what the jockeys said, plus Herald Sun form analyst Micheal Manley’s Cup review.
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English stayer Cross Counter belied his inexperience to score a stunning win in the Melbourne Cup. Find out what the jockeys said about their runners.
1ST CROSS COUNTER (GB) 51kg
Prizemoney: $4,000,000
Odds: $9
Jockey: Kerrin McEvoy
“We were lucky, on the first turn, with that horse breaking down. We were lucky to get through. What a thrill. To do it for Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Charlie Appleby who has been a huge supporter of mine. What a thrill to do it in the blue colours and win a Melbourne Cup. Well done to Charlie, well done to this little horse.
“I was back a bit further than I wanted. I knew that I was full of running – I was on the back of Yucatan. He seemed to be empty, Yucatan. At the 400 (metre mark) I said that I had to go my own way, and I was full of running. At the furlong I thought ‘mate, is this happening again?’
“I’m just the lucky recipient. I can ride light. And to get on these lovely staying horses, so well prepared, unbelievably well by Godolphin and Charlie Appleby.
Manley says: One of the great Melbourne Cup rides. McEvoy acted swiftly when the stricken The Cliffsofmoher fell back in his path at the winning post the first time. He bided his time and wanted to follow Yucatan into the race but had to get going when he wasn’t going anywhere.
2nd MARMELO (GB) 55kg
Prizemoney: $1,000,000
Odds: $12
Jockey: Hugh Bowman
“Thought he had the race. Disappointed but proud of the horse and congratulations to Hughy for bringing him over in such good order.”
Manley says: Hugh Bowman channelled Glen Boss as he rode Marmelo in the same manner when he won the three consecutive Cups on Makybe Diva. He bided his time, took the runs on straightening and dashed up on the fence in what could only be assessed as the perfect ride.
3rd A PRINCE OF ARRAN (GB) 53kg
Prizemoney: $500,000
Odds: $21
Jockey: Michael Walker
“He’s all heart, the horse. I couldn’t have wished for a better run. I gave him a good run. Tell you, at least I’ve got a top chance for next year and I believe if he didn’t run Saturday, he would have won today. He gave it his all, had a nice run, but couldn’t stay two miles.”
Manley says: Walker pushed forward and was able to slot into fifth place where he bided his time. Went to the middle of the track on straightening and hit the front for a few metres at the 250m mark before being outsprinted.
4th FINCHE (GB) 54kg
Prizemoney: $300,000
Odds: $26
Jockey: Zac Purton
“Excellent run. I think if it was a firmer track, he might have gone closer.”
Manley says: Brave on speed effort. After 1200m he sat behind Runaway in second place for most of the race. Surged to the front on turning and kept on fighting to hold down fourth.
5th ROSTROPOVICH (IRE) 51kg
Prizemoney: $200,000
Odds: $21
Jockey: Wayne Lordan
“He ran very well. I’m very pleased with him so it’s a good day.”
Manley says: Given a nice run behind the speed. Hooked to the outside on turning and looked a chance but didn’t help himself by hanging in.
6th YOUNGSTAR 51.5kg
Prizemoney: $150,000
Odds: $11
Jockey: Craig Williams
“I was delighted with her performance. The only female in the field, she had a lot of girl power today. We had a great run throughout and all I can say is I wouldn’t change anything bar the result. She’s a fair horse and ran (for) Australasia really proudly.”
Manley says: Williams had her perfectly placed in the run. Got her to the outside to sprint home over the top of them but Cross Counter sailed on past her.
7th SIR CHARLES ROAD 53kg
Prizemoney: $150,000
Odds: $101
Jockey: Dwayne Dunn
“Super effort. Had a splendid run in transit. Probably just missing the Caulfield Cup, just lacked a little bit of fitness, but great run.”
Manley says: The ultimate cheeky Melbourne Cup run. He was given a perfect ride by Dwayne Dunn and then ducked through early in the straight and hit the front with 350m to go but was outsprinted in the run home.
8th BEST SOLUTION (IRE) 57.5kg
Prizemoney: $150,000
Odds: $16
Jockey: Pat Cosgrave
“Slow away and just playing catch-up after that. Just too far back.”
Manley says: Walked out of the barriers giving away five lengths. Caught up but then lost ground in the scrimmage at the winning post. Came through on the fence and looked to be a threat early in the straight but he then whacked away over the concluding stages.
9th MUNTAHAA (IRE) 55.5kg
Prizemoney: $150,000
Odds: $17
Jockey: Jim Crowley
“He didn’t really travel. The ground had maybe gone a bit soft for him as well. Turned in, I thought he’d be there or thereabouts and he just plugged on one pace.”
Manley says: Settled well back and never looked a chance. Kept battling away and passed a few horses to pick up ninth prizemoney.
10th VENTURA STORM (IRE) 54kg
Prizemoney: $150,000
Odds: $31
Jockey: Mark Zahra
“He gave it his all. I had a nice run, but he just doesn’t stay two miles.”
Manley says: Given a perfect ride by Zahra. He had him midfield and then brought him into the race on straightening. He got within a length of first placing at the 250m mark but tired in the run home.
11th YUCATAN (IRE) 54.5kg
Prizemoney: $150,000
Odds: $6 fav
Jockey: James McDonald
“He worked into a nice spot from the gate. He travelled really nicely. I just felt he didn’t stay the two miles.”
Manley says: Had to cover ground but seemed to travel well three wide worse than midfield. Looked poised to be in the finish before the turn especially if he could replicate his Herbert Power finish but soon after it was apparent he was gone.
12th NAKEETA (GB) 53kg
Prizemoney: $150,000
Odds: $81
Jockey: Regan Bayliss
“He gave me a lovely run throughout. I was still sort of travelling at the 600m right through to the 400m. It was a gallant effort.”
Manley says: Bayliss positioned him on the fence and then brought him into the race soon after straightening. He was travelling and he looked a chance but he was flat over the last 300m.
13th ZACADA (NZ) 53kg
Odds: $81
Jockey: Damian Lane
“He ran great. The slow speed worked against him, but he worked home really well.”
Manley says: Always well back and was wide but travelled well. Went to the outside on straightening and made up some ground.
14th CHESTNUT COAT (JPN) 55.5kg
Odds: $71
Jockey: Yuga Kawada
“He had an ideal run through the race and he tried hard.”
Manley says: Always well back. Suffered interference soon after straightening. He stuck his neck out but couldn’t make any ground.
15th VENGEUR MASQUE (IRE) 54kg
Odds: $51
Jockey: Patrick Moloney
“I reckon the soft track sort of saw him out today on 3200m. Don’t know whether he ran out the trip. He had a lovely run, had every opportunity. But in this sort of going I think it just found him out. “
Manley says: Patrick Moloney should be proud of his first Melbourne Cup ride. Had Vengeur Masque perfectly placed behind the leaders on the fence but he tired in the straight.
16th MAGIC CIRCLE (IRE) 56kg
Odds: $7
Jockey: Corey Brown
“I was disappointed. I had a great run from the barrier but he never gave me a kick at all.”
Manley says: Out the back throughout and never was a threat.
17th WHO SHOT THEBARMAN (NZ) 55.5kg
Odds: $31
Jockey: Ben Melham
“He’s getting on now and he probably didn’t let down to the best of his ability.”
Manley says: Always out the back and wide. He was the first horse beaten.
18th SOUND CHECK (GER) 55.5kg
Odds: $41
Jockey: Jordan Childs
“I thought he ran well considering. He got caught wide going out of the first corner and I had to do a lot of work in the run but he was pretty honest to the line.”
Manley says: Raced on the speed but had to cover ground. Got to sixth before the turn but was beaten soon after.
19th RUNAWAY 52kg
Odds: $41
Jockey: Stephen Baster
“He gave us a great thrill winning the Geelong Cup but two miles was just too far for him today.”
Manley says: Not surprisingly he led from the outset and remained in that spot until the 425m when he was gone.
20th ACE HIGH 55kg
Odds: $71
Jockey: Tye Angland
“I just had to make him work form the widegate. He was comfortable but he struggled with he trip.”
Manley says: Worked forward early and sat second out of the straight the first time. Like the Caulfield Cup he was gone a long way out.
21st AUVRAY (FR) 54kg
Odds: $81
Jockey: Tommy Berry
“He just wasn’t good enough.”
Manley says: Given a good ride on the fence throughout but was gone a long way out.
22nd AVILIUS (GB) 54.5kg
Odds: $16
Jockey: Glyn Schofield
“We were behind the horse who had an accident in the run (The Cliffsofmoher) and it put paid to our chances.”
Manley says: It was a non-event for Avilius as he almost fell at the post the first time. He also pulled up lame.
23rd RED CARDINAL (IRE) 54kg
Odds: $31
Jockey: Damien Oliver
“He just raced a little bit keen on the slow pace. When it was time to go, he just didn’t have enough air to finish the race off.”
Manley says: Ollie gave him a good ride but he started to push him along 800m out.
FAILED TO FINISH
THE CLIFFSOFMOHER (IRE)
Originally published as Melbourne Cup analysis: Find out what the jockeys said and Michael Manley’s Cup review