Melbourne Cup 2020 finishing order: See the full results
Where did your horse finish in the Melbourne Cup? Check the full results, plus what the jockeys said and how the race was won.
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The 2020 Melbourne Cup has been run and won.
Twilight Payment led all the way to give Lloyd Williams his seventh Cup success. Where did your horse finish? Here is the finishing order.
1st - Twilight Payment
2nd - Tiger Moth
3rd - Prince Of Arran
4th - The Chosen One
5th - Persan
6th - Sir Dragonet
7th - Verry Elleegant
8th - Russian Camelot
9th - Finche
10th - Ashrun
11th - Oceanex
12th - Warning
13th - Surprise Baby
14th - Miami Bound
15th - Master Of Reality
16th - Steel Prince
17th - Etah James
18th - Vow And Declare
19th - Mustajeer
20th - Stratum Albion
21st - Dashing Willoughby
22nd - Avilius
FF - Anthony Van Dyck
SCR - King Of Leogrance
WHAT THE JOCKEYS SAID
Check out what the jockeys had to say about their runners plus Clinton Payne’s analysis of their rides.
1st: TWILIGHT PAYMENT
Jye McNeil: It was the plan to always be forward. I wasn’t feeling a lot of pressure but when you’ve got to forward like that there is some pressure in getting it right. Thankfully it all came together. I was confident (at the Clock Tower). I had to think not to use the whip too many times. 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. Too many emotions. It’s a very big moment.
Payne says: One of the best judged rides in the history of the race. Jye McNeil’s take no prisoners attitude delivered the ultimate result when Twilight Payment rewarded his rider’s judgement and positive approach, leading throughout and finding plenty when needed. His early desire to lead and the pressure applied from the 1600m were keys to the victory.
2nd: TIGER MOTH
Kerrin McEvoy: We were able to get across into a nice spot. We dropped in and got a nice lead and he travelled really well. The winner kept running, I just had to pick up to get into the race, which he did, but the winner was just a bit strong today. It was a great run for a young horse having only his fifth start in a race. He’s run really well.
Payne says: A ride worthy of winning the race. From barrier 23 he had his mount in a forward position outside the leader and winner as the field left the straight. Tiger Moth trailled the speed but was unable to peg back the tenacious leader which stole a break in the middle stages.
3rd: PRINCE OF ARRAN
Jamie Kah: He was super unlucky. He really deserves it. He just had no luck on the turn.
Payne says: Jamie Kah gave up her spot to The Chosen One approaching the Clock Tower the first time. At the top of the straight The Chosen One, got out at the right time while Prince Of Arran was held up for some distance which probably cost the horse the race.
4th: THE CHOSEN ONE
Daniel Stackhouse: I couldn’t be happier with the horse. He tried his heart out. He gave a bit of a scare coming into the corner and was travelling really well. He gave a good kick and tried really hard, but he just found the end just a little bit tough. He did well.
Payne says: Pinched Prince Of Arran’s place in running down the straight the first time and landed trailing Anthony Van Dyck on the rail. Angled out into clear running at the right time at the top of the straight and had his chance.
5th: PERSAN
Michael Dee: If he’s going as good next year he’s going to be right in it. It was a massive effort. We wanted to go forward but in the end we didn’t have the speed, so I just had to tuck back and find cover where I could, ride the fence. He got a lovely run through and hit the line strong. To run so well, it was a huge thrill and it’s a credit to Ciaron (Maher) and Dave (Eustace) to keep the horse going for so long. And a massive credit to Jye McNeil as well.
Payne says: If Michael Dee had his time over again maybe he would have made more of his lightweight and pushed on in the early stages, finding himself with a similar run to that enjoyed by Tiger Moth rather than having to settle in the back quarter of the field before making up many lengths to finish fifth.
6th: SIR DRAGONET
Glen Boss: Just didn’t step. He just missed it a length which put me at a disadvantage. Ideally I would have liked to have been two or three pairs closer. There’ll be people that will say that he didn’t run the trip but unfortunately, at the 1200 (metre mark), when I’m 12 lengths away, I had to do a lot of work just to get myself into a winning position. Even if I just came through on the fence, I’m still using carrots up to get to that point. But he ran very well.
Payne says: Faultless ride from the proven Melbourne Cup-winning jockey, on the rail a short distance after the start. Horse was ok just not as effective as he was in the Cox Plate.
7th: VERRY ELLEEGANT
Mark Zahra: Ran really well. Just ended up too far back.
Payne says: She was too far back but that wasn’t jockey error as priority one with this mare is to get her to settle. Attacked the line better than anything bar Prince Of Arran, a gallant mare.
8th: RUSSIAN CAMELOT
Damien Oliver: He ran well. The two miles was just a bit far for him but he ran very brave.
Payne says: He can race a bit keen and whilst overdoing it slightly early on, it didn’t take Damien Oliver that long to settle him. Presented at the right time and looked a chance but failed to stay.
9th: FINCHE
James McDonald: He’s gone super. He’s stayed on really well.
Payne says: Did more work than most in the run, working forward when the pressure started to go on and he was gallant as he always is.
10th: ASHRUN
Declan Bates: He’s run really well. He was a bit slow to muster from the wide gate so I just came back. It probably took a while for him to warm up into it, but the further I went the better he was going, but I was probably too far back. He didn’t have the gears to get there. He’s run well.
Payne says: A lack of gate speed and his outside gate probably cost the horse a slightly closer finish. No fault with Declan Bates’s ride – the horse stayed on well but lacks the tactical speed to win a Melbourne Cup. One of only three horses to break 12 seconds home.
11th: OCEANEX
Dean Yendall: She went super. I rode her to run the top 12. I got her into a lovely position, had cover, it was always going to be tricky from the barrier 17. I knew the speed was drawn outside of me but I still had the task of getting across and finding the right spot, which she did. She switched off lovely and I rode her to get the journey and also to help the owner get some prizemoney.
Payne says: Super run. Did a bit of work to offset a three wide spot early and stock to the take bravely in the straight after firing all her bullets.
12th: WARNING
Luke Currie: He couldn’t quicken as well as some of those better ones.
Payne says: Landed in a good spot outside The Chosen One forward of midfield, was there to pounce at the top of the straight but only plodded.
13th: SURPRISE BABY
Craig Williams: He looked like he was a little bit stressed when he was unsaddled. It’ll be really interesting to see how he pulls up. His performance was well below par for him and it will be interesting to see how he comes through the run physically.
Payne says: Was given every chance in the run, settling worse than midfield on the rail. Speed of the race suited, he presented at the right time but didn’t finish off. The disappointment of the race.
14th: MIAMI BOUND
Daniel Moor: We had a perfect run in transit but it seems she needs wet ground to find her best.
Payne says: Daniel Moor did a good job to have the mare on the fence, around midfield down the straight the first time. Held up coming to the turn behind Prince Of Arran, got to the outside but run ended 200m from home.
15th: MASTER OF REALITY
Ben Melham: He felt the ground.
Payne says: Rolled forward in the early stages and landed in the perfect spot, a horse away from the rail trailing the leaders. In the right spot at the right time turning into the straight but didn’t offer much.
16th: STEEL PRINCE
William Pike: He ran well.
Payne says: Settled worse than midfield. Had a smooth run in transit, taken widest at the top of the straight but only plodded.
17th: ETAH JAMES
Billy Egan: She gave me a lovely ride.
Payne says: Trapped wide early but Billy Egan pushed on and got into the running line 1800m from home. Peeled out four wide into the straight and kept plodding to the line.
18th: VOW AND DECLARE
Jamie Mott: He had a beautiful run. He felt quite strong with the blinkers but he just didn’t have anything to offer today once they quickened. Hopefully he can come back and get into his good form.
Payne says: Jamie Mott made every use of the favourable barrier draw and had last year’s winner travelling on the rail up near the leaders. Put under pressure coming to the turn and didn’t find anything like he did last year.
19th: MUSTAJEER
Michael Rodd: There might be an issue with him.
Payne says: Lacked the speed to go forward and settled back towards the rear of the field. Never came into it, beaten a long way from home.
20th : STRATUM ALBION
Jordan Childs: He ran ok. We got up on a nice spot, travelled good. They were just a bit slick for him when the pace quickened.
Payne says: Three wide in the early stages before taking a spot one horse off the fence, towards midfield. Ridden along before the turn and was beaten quickly.
21th: DASHING WILLOUGHBY
Michael Walker: He’s not right, the horse. He’s not right. Action-wise he’s not right.
Payne says: no speed in the early stages and was the last horse to leave the straight the first time. Stayed toward the inside but never figured.
22th: AVILIUS
John Allen: Probably didn’t run the trip in the end.
Payne says: Put straight to sleep by John Allen Settling back towards the tail of the field. Never came on in the run but no fault of the rider.
Failed to finish: ANTHONY VAN DYCK
Hugh Bowman: Provided no post-race comment.
Payne says: Given every possible chance but was a beaten horse when he faltered.
HOW THE RACE WAS WON
Matt Jones breaks down the key points of the race.
START
The field got away evenly with Twilight Payment and favourite Tiger Moth pushing forward and racing on the speed. Glen Boss took Cox Plate winner Sit Dragonet straight across to the fence from barrier 14 as everyone looked to find cover and a cushy spot. Finche was also looking to be in a forward position.
FIRST TURN
Twilight Payment led the field out of the home straight for the first time with Tiger Moth on his back and last year’s Melbourne Cup winner Vow And Declare in the box seat in third. The Caulfield Cup winner Verry Elleegant is near last but, importantly, is settled and in a good rhythm.
1200M
Jye McNeil has started to up the pressure in front on Twilight Payment and he’s leading by a length over Finche who has slipped into second and is following the leader’s every move. Tiger Moth is three lengths back and not interested in going with them. By now the field is well strung out.
HOME TURN
McNeil has had Twilight Payment in an excellent rhythm to this point and now is ready to let him loose and try to pinch the Melbourne Cup. Finche is under pressure in second as a wall of horses make their runs with Russian Camelot looking a real threat as Verry Elleegant gets going out wide.
CLOCK TOWER
Twilight Payment is still leading by more than 2 ½ lengths but Tiger Moth is eating into his lead and looks a big chance to run him down late. The Chosen One also emerges as a contender while Russian Camelot looks like he won’t stay the 3200m as Prince Of Arran is about to fly past him.
WINNING POST
In a perfect ride, McNeil gets Twilight Payment over the line half a length clear of Tiger Moth with Prince Of Arran scorching home late to run third and within a neck of Tiger Moth. Verry Elleegant leaves her run too late but comes home well to run seventh.
