Trainer Gai Waterhouse says Michelle Payne’s win displays all that is good about Australia racing

GAI Waterhouse has described Michelle Payne’s Melbourne Cup win as an example of everything that is good about Australian racing.

GAI Waterhouse has described Michelle Payne’s Melbourne Cup win as an example of everything that is good about Australian racing.

“It was fabulous theatre,’’ Waterhouse said of Payne’s winning ride on Prince Of Penzance in the race that stops a nation.

“Her win on a horse that didn’t cost a lot of money and is raced by a big group of owners just shows that every man and woman can race a horse and possibly win a Melbourne Cup.

“This sort of thing doesn’t happen anywhere else in the world. You can go to Europe, America, Asia, you won’t see it.

“But in Australia, it is possible for every man or woman to experience what Michelle and the owners of Prince of Penzance did on Tuesday. It showed everything that is good about Australian racing.’’

Waterhouse got to experience that Melbourne Cup-winning feeling two years ago with Fiorente.

“It is a magical feeling and Michelle will be on cloud nine for days,’’ Waterhouse said.

“The Melbourne Cup is such a hard race to win and Michelle has done it despite having limited opportunities compared to most of the jockeys in the race.’’

Waterhouse’s two Cup runners, Excess Knowledge and The Offer, both ran competitively, finishing seventh and eight respectively and earning $125,000 prizemoney each.

“Excess Knowledge was having his first run at Group 1 level and first time at 3200m, perhaps he wasn’t quite seasoned enough but he still ran a very good race,’’ she said. “He will be back for the Melbourne Cup next year.

“The Offer also ran super. Damien (Oliver) said if it had been a truly run race and the was a bit of ground in the ground, he wins the Cup.’’

Waterhouse said Excess Knowledge has been spelled but The Offer will remain in training for the $150,000 Sandown Cup (3200m) on November 14.

Racing’s first lady has been thereabouts in the majors without winning this spring but hopes to end the Melbourne Cup Carnival with a Group 1 success from Ecuador in the $1 million Emirates Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on Saturday.

Ecuador, runner-up in the Epsom to champion mare Winx earlier this spring, goes into the Emirates after a close sixth, less than two lengths behind Gailo Chop in the Mackinnon Stakes last Saturday.

“I wanted to book Jim Cassidy to ride Ecuador but he retires (after today’s Oaks) so I can’t get him,’’ she said.

“I’ve got Vlad Duric, he wills suit the horse, and they are going to be hard to beat.

“Ecuador has pulled up really well, I was so impressed with his run in the Mackinnon, and will take a power of beating in the Emirates.’’

Waterhouse also has enigmatic Bonfire in the Group 3 $300,000 Queen’s Cup (2600m).

Bonfire is testing Waterhouse’s considerable skills as a trainer after an indifferent effort when only 13th to Almoonqith in the Geelong Cup.

“I can’t work him out, I’m going to need a psychiatrist to act on Bonfire,’’ Waterhouse said.

“He has been a bit of a pain in the butt but if we are working hard on the horse. He has the ability and his work is good enough to win this race.’’