Melbourne Cup 2022: Gold Trip wins thrilling Melbourne Cup, finishing order
A year after missing out on riding Melbourne Cup winner Verry Elleegant, Mark Zahra delivered the ultimate redemption with a masterful ride on topweight Gold Trip.
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From drowning your sorrows to the top of the racing world.
One year after missing out on the ride on Verry Elleegant after being implicated in the Airbnb jockey controversy, Mark Zahra claimed his first Melbourne Cup aboard Gold Trip.
Zahra revealed he was drinking to numb the pain of missing out on a Melbourne Cup when he was suspended for three months after attending a house party with four other jockeys during Victoria’s Covid lockdown.
“This time last year in Byron Bay and I was getting told off for drinking too much and it could have been my ride. Redemption day today. Just a miracle,” Zahra told Channel 10.
“12 months ago I felt terrible and probably drinking my way out of it and she was saying don’t drink too much.
“I said, “What do you want me to do? My horse just won the Melbourne Cup?
“Who’s to say I definitely would have been on her (Verry Elleegant).“(But) I was booked for her early in the Cup.”
SCROLL DOWN TO SEE ALL THE KEY MOMENTS FROM CUP DAY
Zahra said he was confident Gold Trip could be a Cox Plate winner after a gallant performance in the recent Cox Plate.
The topweight in this year’s Cup, Gold Trip carried 2kg more than any other horse in the race that stops the nation.
“The last 50m I was thinking I’m going to win this. It just went forever the last bit. And I still can’t believe it.
“Melbourne Cup, it’s unbelievable.”
Zahra earlier said he was thinking “just piss off, no one come near me” after hitting the front in the home straight.
“I can’t. I feel like crying. It’s unbelievable. What a day,” he said.
“He’s a horse that when you go, you don’t give him a chance to think about it. I was thinking ‘piss off no-one come near me’. It’s just elation when I crossed the line.
“What an amazing feeling.”
Zahra’s mum used to give him the day off from school every Cup day so he could watch.
It’s a race he never dreamed of winning as a kid, albeit it has driven him at various stages since he came to Victoria from Western Australia in 2000 on a three-month stint with Brian Cox in Wodonga.
He stayed the full three months and was meant to go home for his mum’s birthday. He stayed, and hasn’t been back to live since.
In his formative years Zahra became good mates with a one-time jumps jockey called Ciaron Maher, who now is one of Australia’s biggest trainers alongside David Eustace.
“He was the jumps jockey and I was the flat jockey,” Zahra said of Maher.
“We were in a little hut at the end of the (Flemington) straight and you always knew when Ciaron would have had a party because you couldn’t see the ground … there were just (beer) cans there.
“I think back to then and where we are both now, it’s just a dream come true.”
Zahra conceded the cans would be back out again as the two old mates celebrate their maiden Melbourne Cup success, as the frustration of last November was at least quenched a bit in a manner that he will never forget.
Trainer Maher revealed post-race the plan perfectly executed by Zahra.
“We had a plan going out, Mark. He was very good on him in the Caulfield Cup,” he said. “We just wanted to wait, wait, wait and we know he got that good turn of foot. He was fantastic.”
That feeling when you win the #MelbourneCup! @cmaherracingpic.twitter.com/xvBbI9s4b5
— TAB (@tabcomau) November 1, 2022
RACE 10: VESPERTINE BOLTS IN
Michael Dee rounds off Melbourne Cup day as a winner, piloting Vespertine to an impressive win in the MSS security sprint.
Vespertine ran down Shelby Sixtysix in the last 100m.
Dee earlier missed out on a ride in the Melbourne Cup after Lunar Flare was scratched on race morning.
“It was fairly disapointing news to wake ultimate to this morning. But these things happen. It’s horses, they’re not robots,” he told Channel 10.
RACE 9: LARKSPUR RUN CONTINUES DAY OF VALUE
It’s been a tough day for favourite backers and one of the most open races on the card has delivered another double-digit winner.
The James Cummings trained Larkspur Run held out Literary Magnate and fellow outsider Mac ‘N’ Cheese in the penultimate race on Melbourne Cup day.
Adele Armour was fourth.
RACE 8: MAHER-EUSTACE BACK UP CUP SUCCESS
John Allen and Detonator Jack pounced late to give Dave Eustace and Ciaron Maher more success in Race 8.
Detonator Jack found wings in the last 100m to run down leader Nugget and pip favourite Munhamek in a race named in honour of Queen Elizabeth.
“Yeah, look, boxed in behind - was travelling well, thought Blake Shinn was travelling right in front of me. Stayed on his back, he got a run, and eventually presented to the outside of him. This horse sprinted quick,” Allen told Channel 10.
PUNTER TURNS $1 into $150k
Joseph Pride-trained Stockman has been the subject of a bet to win close to $500k.
Stockman, which is on the eighth line of betting, attracted a bet of $20,000 at $21.
The six-year-old Kiwi subsequently firmed to an $18 chance.
Favourite Deauville Legend has attracted about 20 per cent of bets, with Montefilia the next best backed.
Realm of Flowers (which is now a $7 chance) and Without a Fight are the next most-popular horses.
That quartet are top four in the betting market for TAB.
One lucky Victorian punter has already landed the bet of the day after turning $1 into more than $150,000.
The punter landed the early quaddie at Flemington as Love Tap, High Approach, Renosu and Bartholemeu Diaz saluted at odds.
WEAK CUP FIELD SLAMMED
Seven-time Melbourne Cup winning owner Lloyd Williams has provided a brutal assessment of the quality of this year’s field amid a late betting plunge on two contenders.
Williams will be hoping rank outsider Serpentine ($41) can add to his incredible haul of Cup triumphs after securing its cup slot by running second in Saturday’s Archer Stakes.
But the 82-year-old is less than enthused about a 22-horse field he says is “extremely weak”.
“I think that Gold Trip is a good horse, but he’s won one race in his life and he’s the topweight,” Williams said.
“When Greg (Carpenter) did this, he didn’t have a natural topweight.”
Lightweight hope Realm of Flowers has been crunched from $12 to $9 with TAB, while Montefilia is into $9 after sitting at $11 for much of cup day.
Favourite Deauville Legend was as short as $3.20 earlier today but appears set to jump at more than $4 odds after drifiting in recent hours.
RACE 6 MASSIVE UPSET
Punters hoping for a fill up before the Melbourne Cup have been left disappointed after Bartholomeu Diaz surged home to win the Furphy Plate.
Tommy Berry willed the $31 hope past Just Folk in the last 100m after Lord Vladivostock staked a claim by pulling clear of a pack of horses.
Dynasties was fourth.
Now it’s all about the Melbourne Cup at 3pm.
SUGGESTED BETS
RON DUFFICY’S TIPS
1. STOCKMAN
2. Deauville Legend
3. Realm Of Flowers
4. Gold Trip
RAY THOMAS’ TIPS
1. MONTEFILIA
2. Deauville Legend
3. Knights Order
4. Stockman
Get the full run down from Ray Thomas
RACE 5: SHINN ON FIRE ON RANK OUTSIDER
Talk about a kick in the shin for punters - or should that be Shinn?
Blake Shinn, one of the form jockeys of the spring carnival, produced a peach of a ride to earn $32 chance Renosu victory in Race 5.
Race favourite Kin was less than 100m from victory when Renosu powered down the outside of the track to take out The Schweppervescence Plate.
Boldinho was third, with Crosswinds fourth.
And in other news, the rain has stopped at Flemington for now.
1PM: WHAT WILL RAIN MEAN FOR THE FAVOURITE?
Deauville Legend’s jockey Kerrin McEvoy has backed the Melbourne Cup favourite to perform if the Flemington track deteriorates to a heavy rating.
Thne $3.60 favourite has never raced on a heavy track but boasts three wins and three placings from seven runs on good tracks in the UK.
McEvoy, who most recently won the cup on Cross Counter in 2018, said he was confident Deauville Legend could handle a heavy track with little fuss.
I worked him on a heavy track at Werribee the other morning and he skipped across it no problems,” McEvoy told Channel 10.
“I spoke to Dan who rides him in the UK and he said no problems. We can’t do much about the weather. But Dan gave me a lot of confidence when I spoke to him.
“He said that - the best feeling he gave him was the last win at York, when there was a bit of juice on the ground.”
McEvoy, a three-time winner of the race that stops the nation, also gave an insight into his likely tactics.
“First thing is to get him comfortable. Hopefully we step well and we’re comfortable. Got him to relax. He has 55 kegs on the back,” he said.
“Get the first half right and worry about the second half.”
McEvoy won his first Melbourne Cup on Brew in 2000 and piloted Almandin to victory in 2016.
12PM VANDALS ATTACK FLEMINGTON TRACK
By Gil Gardiner
Victoria Racing Club has referred an act of Melbourne Cup day track vandalism to Victoria Police for investigation.
News Corp has established that a liquid substance was poured onto the surface at the 1500m mark.
The damaged section, a reasonably low traffic area, was discovered before the first race on Tuesday.
Slippery or shifting patches of turf can be incredibly dangerous to both horse and rider.
Stewards walked the affected area twice, following remedial work, and deemed the track safe for racing.
“The track has been deemed safe for racing by RV Stewards with no impact on the conduct of today’s meeting,” RV reported.
The dangerous and discoloured section of track is about six metres off the rail.
Victorian Jockeys Association executive Matt Hyland condemned the stupid act, which could put horses and riders at risk.
“Fortunately where it is placed on the track it didn’t place the meeting in jeopardy,” Hyland said.
“We went around before the first, inspected it, stewards and jocks most importantly were all comfortable.”
Hyland backed the “world class” track team, led by manager Liam O’Keeffe, to repair the affected area.
While not in play on Cup day, the damaged section will be used Thursday during the VRC Oaks meeting with 1600m races on the card.
“Liam and his team are the best in the world,” Hyland said.
“They will have it tip top for Thursday.”
RACE 4: PUNTING DISASTER
Disaster for favourite punters in Race 4 with the heavily-backed Quang Tri finishing a long way from the placegetters.
Quang Tri jumped art $2.50 but was never a chance after being boxed in behind four horses on the rail.
The hot favourite faded to finish second last under jockey Michael Dee as High Approach ground to victory for Ben Melham ahead of Lindermann and Dream Hour.
Dashing was fourth.
Melham said the track was deteriorating: “The track is obviously going to deteriorate with this rain. It was not too bad to start the meeting but when it rained during a meeting and during a race, it really deteriorates at a rapid rate.
“It depends how much more rain we get I can feel it has downgraded already.”
EDDIE MCGUIRE IS TRENDING
And not for any positive reason.
The former Collingwood boss fronting Channel 10’s footage of today’s Cup coverage has not gone down well with the fans.
Took him just 10 minutes after the first race to bring up the Pies.
Wonder how many more mentions we get this afternoon.
Eddie McGuire with his first Collingwood mention of the day. 10 minutes after the first race too. 😂#MelbourneCup
— Lachlan Dand 🇦🇺 (@LDand_13) October 31, 2022
RACE 3 RESULT: LOVE TAP WINS GREYS RACE
Blake Shinn is on the board on Melbourne Cup day after launching Love Tap to a dominant win in Race 3.
Love Tap paid $9.50 on the TAB tote.
Kooled and Struck By finished second and third, while Cormorant filled out the first four.
RACE 2 RESULT: WHITE MARLIN WINS
Trainer Gai Waterhouse has hinted she has a 2023 Melbourne Cup contender on her hands after White Marlin blitzed the field in Race 2.
After wins over 1800m, 2000m and 2414m in its career, White Marlin stepped up to 2800m in the Macca’s Run and cruised to victory as a $2.40 favourite.
“(White Marlin is) the real deal and I hope we will see him here this time next year,” Waterhouse told Channel 10.
White Marlin has won five consecutive races and helped punters bounce back in a big way after a $30 winner in the opening race on cup day.
The Waterhouse and Adrian Bott trained gelding was third in the run and hit the front at the turn before launching clear of its rivals.
Tim Clark hardly had to urge the undefeated five-year-old on as it powered to its fifth career win from as many starts.
“He was going to win a long way from home,” Clark told Channel 10.
RACE 1 RESULT: KRAKARIB WINS DARLEY MARIBYRNONG PLATE
A boilover in the first on Melbourne Cup day.
Damien Thornton powers to the line on the rank outsider in the Darley Maribyrnong Cup, piloting Krakarib to victory by a length.
The $30 chance finished strongly ahead of Little Brose ($2.90), Awestruck ($2) and Hellish (fourth).
Realm of Flowers backers will hope the victory is a sign of things to come for Thornton.
“It laid out well, (Krakarib) jumped OK,” Thornton said on Channel 10.
“Wasn’t worried, just wanted to get him into the rhythm, and relax and cruise down. I was happy to come up and Simon (Zahra) just sort of got him into the rhythm, and his got to kick and if he doesn’t, we will find out.”
10.40AM WHO TOP CUP ANALYSTS ARE TIPPING
— Rob Sutherland
The mathematical wizards from Macquarie Bank’s quantitative analysis team have shifted their focus from stock tickers to saddlecloths in the search for a Cup winner.
The team considered five key factors when rating the field. They were:
1. Value – average prize money per race as this represents the return of each horse.
2. Momentum – movement in the odds from opening prices until the latest available odds.
3. Sentiment – the last available odds before publication as this is representative of the mood of the market.
4. Quality – each horse’s form and winning hit-rate with both an indication of a safer, more reliable runner. We additionally use odds dispersion amongst bookmakers to indicate variance of the perceived value of the horses.
5. Innovative Data –
● Wet Weather: This year, given the ominous weather forecast, we include the winning percentage of each horse on wet tracks in the model.
● We use the Australian form to account for the large number of foreign horses in the field. If the horse has successfully raced, won or placed in Australia, it receives a higher weighting (depending on result).
● We considered factors that made up previous winners of the Melbourne Cup. Starting barrier can give the horse an obvious advantage.
● We also look to see if the horse has won over the longer distance of the Cup. According to historical analysis, winning horses are almost twice as likely to have started in one of the first 14 barriers. The age of the horse can also make a difference. Almost half of winners since 1861 have been aged four or five.
The team then ranked the field (see below). Their betting tip is to place a bet on the top horses in the model and a box trifecta using the top quartile of horses.
10AM UPDATE ON THE FAVOURITE
Deauville Legend trainer James Ferguson says the race favourite is in terrific shape ahead of today’s race.
“(I’m feeling) good. Watching the horse at Werribee this morning, I think he’s in great nick. I can’t be sending the horse into the race in better form, I feel, so the rest is up to him,” Ferguson told SEN.
The weather does present some question marks over Deauville Legend’s ability to handle a heavy track.
“I’m not too bothered (by the weather) to be honest. He’s got a pedigree that says he’ll handle the soft. Whatever it is tomorrow, it won’t be English soft … we’ll get what we’re given and hope luck goes our way.
Deauville Legend jumps from barrier 9.
But 2015 winner Michelle Payne isn’t as confident about the favourite in the rain.
“He looks the class runner (but) I do not know whether he is a very good on the wet, that is the stable but he is the class runner, he has the speed, he will be strong but whether he will be strong enough, it is a gruelling 2-mile test and he has only just turned four and not well abated.”
GATES ARE OPEN
The crowds are flocking into Flemington in a desperate race for a table under cover. it might be gloriously sunny right now but the rain is coming and at 1pm things will be getting WILD.
HERE’S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW.
Not good. Cold wet and the chance of hail.
HOW MUCH IS THE PRIZEMONEY?
$7.75m
HOW LONG IS THE RACE?
3200 metres at Flemington Racecourse
CAN WE DO AN OFFICE SWEEP?
WHO IS FAVOURITE?
Deauville Legend
WHO WON LAST YEAR?
Verry Elleegant.
FORMGUIDE
Find a winner in five minutes right here
WHAT TIME ARE ALL THE RACES? (AEDT)
Race 1 – 10:45AM Darley Maribyrnong Plate (1000 METRES)
Race 2 – 11:20AM The Macca’s Run (2800 METRES)
Race 3 – 12:00PM Resimax Group Subzero Handicap (1400 METRES)
Race 4 – 12:40PM TAB Trophy (1800 METRES)
Race 5 – 1:20PM The Schweppervescence Plate (1000 METRES)
Race 6 – 1:55PM Furphy Plate (1800 METRES)
Race 7 – 3:00pm Lexus Melbourne Cup
Race 8 – 3:50PM In Memory of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II (1400 METRES)
Race 9 – 4:35PM The Hong Kong Jockey Club Stakes (1400 METRES)
Race 10 – 5:15PM MSS Security Sprint (1200 METRES)
BETTING
$3.50 Deauville Legend
$10 Without A Fight, Realms Of Flowers
$11 Montefilia
$16 Hoo Ya Mal, Knights Order,
$17 Gold Trip, Smokin’ Romans
$23 Vow And Declare
$26 Duais
$31 Stockman
$34 Young Werther, High Emocean
$41 Daqiansweet Junior, Emissary, Interpretation
$51 Camorra
$61 Numerian, Serpentine
$71 Tralee Rose
$81 Grand Promenade, Arapaho
Odds: TAB
LUCKIEST NUMBERS
SADDLECLOTHS: 4, 12, 1 are the three best performing numbers
AGE: 4 year old horses are most successful with 46 wins
GENDER: Stallions are best performers
COLOUR: Bay horses are your best bet if that is how you want to choose
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