Flemington races: Winners and losers on Melbourne Cup Day

After an 896-day drought was finally broken, the name of the winner has never been more appropriate as Flemington heats up despite empty lawns and stands.

Horses jump from the barriers in race four with Sin To Win the widest runner.

We’re building to the main event, but the Flemington support card cannot be ignored as we cover all the winners on Melbourne Cup Day.

RACE 1: TYCOON POWER MOVE

The addition of blinkers proved key to Finance Tycoon turning over race favourite Ingratiating in the Group 3 Darley Maribyrnong Plate (1000m) — the first of 10 races on Melbourne Cup day.

The Tom Dabernig and Ben Hayes-trained son of Written Tycoon had chased home the Godolphin colt when the pair debuted in the Maribyrnong trial a month ago but this time Ingratiating was unable to run down Finance Tycoon.

“He got a bit lost the first time down the straight,” Ben Hayes said. “We jumped him out at the farm with the blinkers on and he went well and we thought why not try it. Obviously it worked.”

Finance Tycoon, a $150,000 yearling purchase from the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale will now have a break and be targeted at the $2 million Magic Millions 2YO Classic (1200m) on the Gold Coast in January.

An upset in the first on Lexus #MelbourneCup Day.

Blinkers worked a treat for Finance Tycoon who beats home short-priced favourite Ingratiating. @lindsayparkrace pic.twitter.com/6zCbGvqeQt

— Racing.com (@Racing) November 2, 2020

RACE 2: NO RESTRICTION ON WINNINGS

Favourite punters got a short back and sides when Joviality was the best of good things beaten in the Listed Desirable Stakes (1400m).

While Joviality was pocketed until after the post, the Archie Alexander-trained No Restriction delivered a double blow to punters, scoring at $41 while Joviality was the 10th horse to cross the line at $3.50.

No Restriction, ridden by Declan Bates, wins the World Horse Racing Desirable Stakes.

“We thought the blinkers were too much, the winkers are halfway and the faster they went, the better they went,” Alexander said. “It was a great ride by Dec (Declan Bates) and it warms him up for the Cup and it’s a big day for the stable.”

Under Declan Bates, the filly ran on strongly to finish a length in front of Pride Of Jenni, with Ripper Rita in third. No Restriction is most likely to the paddock, but Alexander said he would not make any decisions today.

No Restriction at big odds nabs Pride Of Jenni and Ripper Rita on the line in the @WHR Desirable Stakes. Well done to Declan Bates and @archi3alexander. pic.twitter.com/nYqPFLRtjC

— Racing.com (@Racing) November 3, 2020

RACE 3: BOOM TIMES

South Australian raider Alleboom helped trainers Richard and Chantelle Jolly complete another Flemington smash-and-grab in Tuesday’s Schweppervescence Plate (1000m) on Melbourne Cup Day.

On the back of Kemalpasa’s success in the Group 2 Linlithgow on Derby day three days earlier, the father-daughter training duo struck again when Alleboom sprinted best late.

“He was running around in races in weaker races (in Adelaide) paying $1.50 so we thought we’d try for something harder and it came off,” Chantelle Jolly said.

Alleboom ($3.70 fav) overpowered the Tom Dabernig and Ben Hayes-trained Hard Landing ($4.60) over the final 50m to score by a half length with Phil Sweeney’s Mr Moppett ($7.50) 1-1/2 lengths back in third.

Alleboom and Hard Landing battled throughout the Schweppervescence Plate but it's Richard and Chantelle Jolly to the fore again. 👌 @TheRacesSA @RJollyRacing pic.twitter.com/yDBbOBLOhR

— Racing.com (@Racing) November 3, 2020

RACE 4: DROUGHT-BREAKER

Veteran stayer Sin To Win ended an 896-day run of outs when outstaying his opponents in The Macca’s Run Benchmark 96 (2800m) at Flemington on Tuesday.

Sin to Win’s first victory since May 2018 gave training partners Tom Dabernig and Ben Hayes a winning double after the earlier success of Finance Tycoon in the Group 3 Maribyrnong Plate.

Sin to Win, ridden by Luke Currie, salutes after a drought of almost three years.

“There’s been a lot of good, solid performances but we just haven’t been able to find races long enough for him,” Dabernig said. “He’s a real two-miler.

“Today he loved the 2800 metres.”

Dabernig said Sin To Win’s next assignment would be the $150,000 Listed Sandown Cup over 3200m on Saturday, November 14 at the Sandown Hillside course.

Sin To Win has broken the drought, his first win since 2018.

From near last he wins superbly to give @lindsayparkrace a double on Lexus #MelbourneCup Day. @FlemingtonVRC pic.twitter.com/bihzi7nbeI

— Racing.com (@Racing) November 3, 2020

RACE 5: PUNTERS SMILING

It was a reasonably easy watch for favourite backers with Ain’tnodeeldun ($1.90 fav) striding away with the Listed TAB Trophy (1800m) at Flemington.

Under Mark Zahra, Ultimate Edition set a lightning quick tempo while Damian Lane took up a handy position in third aboard the Anthony and Sam Freedman-trained Ain’tnodeeldun.

“I thought I was doing it a little bit tough into the breeze (and) dragging up the field but I was confident enough. I was happy with the rolling tempo (but) probably a touch handier (in the run) that I thought (I’d be),” Lane said.

The John O’Shea-trained Acrophobic looked the danger at the 300m but peaked on his run while Confrontational grinded away to finish second, beaten a three quarters of a length behind Ain’tnodeeldun.

RACE 7: TWILIGHT PAYMENT JOINS MELBOURNE CUP HISTORY

Twilight Payment and Jye McNeil became the latest Melbourne Cup heroes after leading from start to finish in the 2020 edition of the race that stops a nation.

The Joseph O’Brien-trained eight-year-old set a hot tempo effort but gave a mighty kick to hold on, with young hoop McNeil utilising his vocals in the crowd less Flemington straight on top of the whip to get his galloper over the line first.

“I had to think not to use the whip too many times,” McNeil said. “Also I was trying to use my voice to encourage him as much as possible. It was a matter of hanging on and he was very tough.”

The victory gave Lloyd Williams a seventh Melbourne Cup while it was the second for O’Brien after winning the 2017 edition with Rekindling.

Unfortunately, tragedy struck with Anthony Van Dyck breaking down at the top of the straight. The Caulfield Cup placegetter was humanely euthanised after sustaining a fracture to his fetlock.

RACE 8: ULTIMATE GEAR CHANGE

It wasn’t the easiest watch for Purple Sector fans in the Listed Melbourne Cup Day Plate (1800m) after finding some trouble in the straight but once Craig Williams found clear room, he proved too good for them.

The John Thompson-trained five-year-old has returned a different horse this preparation after the ultimate gear change of being gelded, stringing together a second straight win after a strong win at Randwick the start prior.

“He was really dominant last time in Sydney and my manager was really bullish about if they could bring this horse down you would love to be on him,” Craig Williams said.

The famous Think Big Stud silks are a big part of Melbourne Cup history so it was certainly fitting to have the colours salute on the big day.

“These colours should have been in the race before (the Melbourne Cup),” Williams added. “They’re so famous through our Melbourne Cup history with Bart Cummings and Dato Tan Chin Nam and they still keep coming with these colours which is really good.”

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Originally published as Flemington races: Winners and losers on Melbourne Cup Day