Big names behind Melbourne Cup winner Almandin

WHAT does a music industry magnate, a chicken industry giant and a contruction boss have in common? Almandin, that’s what.

There are some big names behind the newest champion at Flemington.

WHAT does a music industry magnate, a chicken industry giant and a contruction boss have in common?

They’re all a part of a syndicate behind the Flemington’s newest champion.

Music industry giant Michael Gudinski is one of the huge names behind Almandin after being syndicated by Lloyd Williams after he claimed ownership in 2014.

“I know about music and I know about concerts and I know about Australian talent, but you leave this to the experts,” Gudinski said a day before the race.

“I don’t like people telling me what to do in music and I wouldn’t stick my nose in to tell them what they’re doing. When you work with experts you don’t second guess them.”

John Ingham, a member of one of Australia’s biggest chicken companies, is also on list of names behind Almandin.

Michael Gudinski is one of the big names behind Almandin.

Construction boss Vin Sammartino, who is also a part of the syndication behind Almandin, said the group of millionaires were confident in a win before the race.

“The whole thing with this syndicate is that we have all been in from the start and have not wavered,” he said.

“That’s the great thing about it, everyone is in and we all have great faith in Nick and Lloyd (Williams). We were all mates before this and will be after, but it’s a passion for all of us now. It’s bloody exciting.”

“We have Nick’s passion and Lloyd’s knowledge and we are riding on their coat-tails. The team is that thorough — and they don’t leave a stone unturned getting a horse ready for this (Melbourne Cup) day.”

Quicksilver founder Alan Green and Rip Curl’s Brian Singer also both have a stake in the champion.

In the lead up to the big day at Flemington, Almandin beat subsequent Cup winner Protectionist in the Group Two Unternehmer Stakes at his final German start in June 2014 while also having an extended tendon issue.

She also finished sixth in first Australian run in June 2016 over 1600m. Followed up with two more unplaced efforts, which was followed by a 30-day let-up before winning the Cup on November 1.

Jockey and owner celebrate a well-deserved win.

Almandin stormed down the straight to edge Heartbreak City by a long head and win the 156th Melbourne Cup on Tuesday, giving owner Lloyd Williams a record fifth win in Australia’s richest race and jockey Kerrin McEvoy his second win in the 2-mile classic.

McEvoy won his previous Melbourne Cup in 2000, giving him the mark for longest gap between Cup titles for a jockey.

Australian businessman Williams is the first owner to win more than four Melbourne Cups.

Pre-race favourite Hartnell was 4-1/4 lengths back in third place, making it 18 years of fruitless attempts by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s Godolphin racing enterprise to win the southern hemisphere’s premier race. “Lloyd, he knows what to do in these staying races. It’s just a dream,” McEvoy said. “It’s great to be part of it again for my second Cup.” Williams had four starters in the race and Godolphin had five, including fourth- place finisher Qewy.

Williams, who won his first Melbourne Cup with Just A Dash in 1981, said the fact that Almandin had been out for a long spell with a tendon problem made it a significant triumph.

“This horse had a tendon and he was broken down, so I’m quite emotional about this one,” he said, adding that trainer Robert Hickmott and the racing team “have done a fabulous job getting this horse back.” Hickmott “has been with me for probably 15 years now. There is no better person as an employee of a racing stable,” Williams said. “I’m a very, very difficult boss, I have to tell you. So he’s gone through thick and thin with me. He’s got this result today — I congratulate him.” Almandin is a seven-year-old German-bred gelding, sired by the late Monsun, who also sired the winners of the race in 2013 and 2014.

— with AP

Kerrin McEvoy reacts after winning the Melbourne Cup.