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Twilight Payment wins the Melbourne Cup in heroic effort

Twilight Payment has won the Melbourne Cup in a thrilling finish, holding off Tiger Moth in heroic fashion.

Tyson OttoTyson Otto
@tottodtsport
less than 2 min read
November 3, 2020 - 11:38AM
Twilight Payment has won the 2020 Melbourne Cup (Ten)

Twilight Payment has won the Melbourne Cup in a thrilling finish.

The Irish raider led from start to finish in one of the most astounding Melbourne Cup rides seen in recent years.
Jockey Jye McNeil's huge gamble to make his way forward and set the pace early paid off dramatically as he led home Tiger Moth and Prince of Arran in a photo finish.Twilight Payment had been a $27 long shot on the morning of the race.
The eight-year-old gelding gave trainer Joseph O'Brien his second Melbourne Cup win and owner Lloyd Williams a staggering seventh Melbourne Cup - and his third Melbourne Cup win in five years.
The win was also McNeil's first ever Cup win - in his first ever Melbourne Cup ride.
Twilight Payment had to do it the hard way to claim the record $4.7m prize (including $250,000 Melbourne Cup trophy) in the $8 million richest handicap race on the planet.
The international raider led by more than six lengths as they began to make the turn from the back straight.
Only Finche was able to go with Twilight Payment as they made the turn - and nobody could go with the marvellous horse down the famous Flemington straight winning ahead of Tiger Moth by less than half a body.
An emotional McNeil couldn't hide his rich feelings when interviewed straight after the race.
"There's too many emotions, it's a very big moment," he told Channel 10.
"Jess and the boy, Oakley, will be watching from home today, and unfortunately they couldn't be here, but I'm sure them, along with a lot of people, will be very proud.
"To be able to get the opportunity from the Williams family to partner Twilight Payment today – not only them, but also Joseph O'Brien, who's done a fantastic job preparing him - yeah, it's very overwhelming."

Updates

Melbourne Cup favourite breaks down

One of the Melbourne Cup's early favourites Anthony Van Dyck tragically pulled up lame on the Flemington straight and was unable to finish the race.

The five-year-old stallion was loaded into an ambulance and taken away from Flemington.

Twilight Payment wins Melbourne Cup

Melbourne Cup 2020 result:

1. Twilight Payment

2. Tiger Moth

3. Prince of Arran

4. The Chosen One

Insane money as horses make late betting run

Aussie hope Surprise Baby has made a dramatic move in betting markets across the country to move into equal favouritism with Tiger Moth in the minutes before the Cup jumps at Flemington.

The TAB and Sportsbet both announced Surprise Baby moved into $6.50 alongside Tiger Moth in a dramatic late change.

The TAB announced a monster bet of $49,000 on the six-year-old gelding to place.

It comes after the Paul Preusker trained horse also received two bets totalling $10,000 on Surprise Baby to win in the final two hours before the race starts at 3pm (AEDT).

There was also a late plunge on Aidan O'Brien's Anthony Van Dyck.

The international raider moved into $11 with Sportsbet after the bookmaker received a bet of $35,000 on Tuesday afternoon.

It left Tiger Moth and Surprise Baby as the only runners in single-figure odds for the race before Sportsbet received three separate bets of $10,000 on Tiger Moth to win at $7.50.

Francesca Cumani isolates in the middle of the Melbourne Cup

Racing identity Francesca Cumani has been forced into isolation after her father Luca Cumani recorded a positive test for COVID-19.

Cumani, one of the racing world's biggest stars, was unable to return to Australia for the 2020 Melbourne Cup as a result of border restrictions.

Channel 10 announced last month the daughter of the famed trainer would still be part of Ten's coverage despite remaining in the UK.

Ten's broadcast took another hit on Tuesday with Cumani forced to appear on the coverage via Zoom because she was forced into isolation following her father's test result.

She did her first live cross to Ten's Melbourne studio from her dining room.

"Coronavirus is the reason why Francesca Cumani can't join us in Australia this year for the Melbourne Cup. But it hit home even more seriously overnight when Cesca's dad was diagnosed with COVID-19 and she was put into isolation," Ten sports presenter Stephen Quartermain said.

Cumani told Ten her father appears to be relatively healthy despite his concerning diagnosis.

"As you can see a different setting here. I am at home and isolating now," she said.

"He (her father) is, thankfully, so far, OK. He just had a bit of a sore throat and felt a little bit down, so he got a test and it did come back positive. As a result, we've all very much just shut down. My mum is still feeling OK and thankfully, so far, so good."

Race 4: The Macca's Run result

Sin To Win has snapped an 898-day drought with a thrilling win in the 2800m The Macca's Run at Flemington.

It had been 898 days since the Ben Hayes trained horse last won.

Sin To Win exploded at the 200m mark and rode over the top of Naval Warfare and Yonkers, who had a photo finish for second.

1. Sin To Win

2. Naval Warfare

3. Yonkers

Massive upset at Flemington

No Restriction caused a massive upset by crossing the line first in the World Horse Racing Desirable Stakes.

The horse was a rank outsider, paying $34.50 for the win, but stormed home ahead of Pride Of Jenni (second), Ripper Rita (third) and Sweet Reply (fourth).

Gladys shredded over Cup tweet

An innocent tweet from NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian about the Melbourne Cup has backfired.

Taking to social media, the member for the Sydney suburb of Willoughby wrote: "I don’t know much about the field in this year’s Melbourne Cup but for obvious reasons I will be backing Dashing Willoughby!"

The replies to her tweet were absolutely savage, with many referencing her recent troubles.

Berejiklian has been under pressure to step down after it was revealed she didn't disclose her close relationship with former NSW MP Daryl Maguire, who is being investigated for alleged corruption.

Her office is also facing scrutiny for the alleged shredding of documents.

One Twitter user replied: "Is there a horse called 'A Matter Of Principle'? Obviously not your pick."

Another said: "Don’t shred your betting slips Gladys! You will need it to claim your winnings!"

Many other replies simply called on Berejiklian to resign.

Her tweet prompted more than 130 replies less than an hour after being published, many of them negative.

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