Superstar Explicit races away for victory in the Group 1 Melbourne Cup at Sandown Park

Sprinting dynamo Explicit deliver the Thompson family a fifth Melbourne Cup triumph with a slashing victory in the Group 1 finale on Saturday night.

Explicit was an emphatic winner of the Group 1 Melbourne Cup

SUPERSTAR Explicit has added the greatest of ticks to his looming stud career with an emphatic victory in the Group 1 Melbourne Cup (515m) at Sandown Park on Saturday night.

The gifted son of Bernardo is no stranger to wowing racing fans yet his Melbourne Cup triumph took things to another level, slingshotting to the front at the first corner before roaring away for the grandest of 7 ½ length victories in 29.29.

Explicit’s Melbourne Cup heroics handed Jason and Seona Thompson a fifth title in the race and they walked away with the quinella also, courtesy of young gun Joey The Jet’s gallant runner-up effort.

Filling third was Miss Envy, the only female in the field, a further two lengths away from the runner-up.

Following the race, Luke Thompson was overcome with emotion, speaking glowingly about the family’s newly crowned Melbourne Cup champion.

“I don’t know how he did it!” Thompson beamed.

“Unfortunately there was a fall and in any race the most important thing is that they all get around safely.

“I can’t believe he did it the way he did. To win this race means everything, it’s the one you always want as it has the history behind it.

“From day one we knew this dog was a group 1 dog. He won The Temlee earlier in the year and after that everyone thought he’d just go on and win everything.

Explicit wins the 2024 Melbourne Cup! 🏆@[e-mail]/hzGSr00XiG

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) November 30, 2024

“But the big races aren’t easy to win. We wanted one of the big ones, a Million Dollar Chase, Melbourne Cup, Brisbane Cup or a Phoenix and we’ve got one now.

“We are just very grateful to have some amazing dogs to work with. This dog is at the top.”

Now a winner at 26 of his 36 starts, Saturday night’s $500,000 winner’s purse sees Explicit’s stakes climb to the verge of $1 million.

And the freakish son of Bernardo and Brueghelino will get the chance to eclipse that mark when he takes his place in the $1.65 million The Phoenix (525m) at The Meadows in three weeks time.

Five-time group winner Explicit will represent Awesome Lodge in the race which is set to almost certainly be his swan song to racing before he embarks on a stud career.

Now a two-time group 1 winning son of the in demand Bernardo, the track record breaking chaser is expected to be warmly received at stud by breeders.

Setting the mark to the first split in the Melbourne Cup was Schillaci in 4.98s which all but found the front in the showpiece event before drama ensued at the first turn.

Sunset Frazier took a tumble at the first corner when in a stalking position before trailing the field home.

Explicit’s Melbourne Cup win wasn’t the only highlight for Thompson on Saturday night with Tim Zoo winning the G3 Sir John Dillon Memorial in a flying 33.67 while the Hobart Thousand bound Flying Zulu scored in 29.37.

Originally published as Superstar Explicit races away for victory in the Group 1 Melbourne Cup at Sandown Park