Michael Gudinski reveals the Cup Day TV interview moment that left Kylie Minogue puzzled
Kylie Minogue dazzled as she spruiked her new album on Channel 10 — but it was what was cut out of her interview that puzzled the pop princess.
Confidential
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Michael Gudinski, music mogul and co-owner of Melbourne Cup victor Twilight Payment, has revealed secrets behind the historic win.
The Mushroom Group and Frontier Touring Company boss co-owns the horse with prominent businessmen Lloyd Williams, Nick Williams, Gerry Ryan and Phil Mehrten.
A jubilant Gudinski said the ride by first-time Melbourne Cup jockey Jye McNeil was destined for the history books.
In an interview for Herald Sun’s Confidential at Oaks Day broadcast, Gudinski revealed:
- Nick Williams wanted a jockey “with no ego” to ride Twilight Payment.
- Ed Sheeran FaceTimed him after the win, while pop star Shawn Mendes also texted his congratulations to Gudinski.
- Kylie Minogue would have been banned from the owner’s box for wearing green on Cup Day.
“(Minogue) was wearing green (for her interview with Channel 10 on Cup Day),” Gudinski said.
“If she was in Melbourne, the Williams’ wouldn’t have let her in the box because they are very superstitious about green.”
He said Kylie also tipped Twilight Payment in her interview, but Ten cut her prediction for the broadcast.
“She sent me a note (after the interview), ‘all that hard yakka (for nothing)’,” Gudinski said, laughing.
“I haven’t heard (the phrase) ‘hard yakka’ for a long time. She misses Melbourne, she’s our true girl. But she couldn’t believe (Ten) cut out her tipping the winner of the Melbourne Cup.”
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As a racing horse co-owner, Gudinski says he gets “emotionally involved,” but added: “I leave it to the experts. I would never tell them what to do, or what jockey to put on.
“When you’re dealing with the A-team, and I’m not talking about Ed Sheeran. (Sheeran) FaceTimed me, and said, ‘I just don’t know how you’ve done it again’.”
The Cup win was Lloyd Williams’ seventh, and Gudinski’s third.
“I know Lloyd, and I know what he’s like; he’s going to want it even more next year,” Gudinski said.
“I’m very emotional about the jockey. He’s a young father, never run in the race. I might get into trouble for saying this, but Nick (Williams) said to me, ‘We need a jockey with no ego … because a really top jockey is not going to follow the instructions we want.”
Gudinski said McNeil’s ride was “what dreams are made of”.
“He lived and rode to the instructions. It was always the plan for the horse to be that far in front as we turned for home. It was a matter of us all hoping the horse could hold on,” Gudinski said.
“It was one of the gutsiest wins I’ve seen.”
He said the win was “more emotional and more humbling” because hardships caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Meanwhile, Gudinski has pivoted in the music business during restrictions, as producer of the ABC-TV music show, The Sound.
With Minogue signed to his record label, he’s hoping for her new album, Disco, released on Friday, to be a No.1 hit.
The Sound showcases new music acts, but also features legends including Minogue, Nick Cave and Midnight Oil.
“This show is about diversification,” he said. “You can’t have the show full of all-new, and you can’t have the show living in the past.”
The Oils will feature on The Sound on Sunday, alongside rapper Briggs, and the world premiere of Missy Higgins’ ode to Melbourne, titled When The Machine Starts.
Higgins hopes her new song will help people look for the positives as the city emerges from restrictions.
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