Melbourne Cup: Rekindling leads foreign domination

A record-breaking Cup has culminated in Rekindling leading foreign domination of the race that stops a nation.

Corey Brown rides Rekindling, left, to win the Melbourne Cup ahead of Johannes Vermeer

A record-breaking Melbourne Cup has culminated in Rekindling leading an international domination of the race that stops a nation, with rookie Joseph O’Brien the youngest-ever winning trainer.

The Irish colt gave leviathan owner Lloyd Williams a second-straight Melbourne Cup and sixth success overall with a beautifully-time run for Sydney jockey Corey Brown on a horse still considered a three-year-old in Europe but running as a four-year-old here — the youngest in the field.

Rekindling started at $15 and overhauled Johannes Vermeer ($13) in the final 25 metres, while Max Dynamite ($20) finished stoutly to fill an Irish trifecta in Australia’s most famous race.

Marmelo was backed into favouritism, alongside Almandin, to become to become the first English-trained horse to succeed in the Cup. The five-year-old hit the front at the top of the straight in the 3200m handicap before wilting to finish ninth, beaten by almost 10 lengths, while Williams’ 2016 winner Almandin ($7) ran 12th with Frankie Dettori aboard.

Williams likened the achievement by former jockey O’Brien, 24, to train a Melbourne Cup winner in just his second year in the job as akin to “walking on water”.

In doing so, the fresh-faced horseman who only started training last year, relegated his famous father Aidan O’Brien into second place with Johannes Vermeer.

The five-year-old appeared the winner briefly when Ben Melham hit the front halfway up the Flemington straight, with the two Irish horses singling out for a stirring finish.

Only a fourth-placed finish by the Darren Weir-trained Big Duke prevented international horses from filling the first six placings in the $6.2 million race over 3200 metres.

The Chris Waller-trained Libran, part-owned by Victoria Racing Club chair Amanda Elliott, was the only other Australian-based horse to finish in the top 10, placing eighth.

Brown needed the luck of the Irish at the 1200m when he squeezed in towards the fence to avoid building traffic in front of Rekindling.

From there the jockey, who previously piloted Shocking to success in the 2009 Melbourne Cup, “felt the winner a long way out”.

Despite a successful career here, Brown spent time riding abroad in France and Singapore after becoming jaded with Australian racing. But the hunger for Group I glory returned when he was watching Australia’s biggest races from afar.

Having returned last year, Brown contacted Williams about riding Rekindling six weeks ago, with the owner forwarding his resume to the O’Briens.

His first ride for the Irishmen delivered a prized success, with Brown ecstatic.

“I have won a Cup before but this time round it seems so much more surreal,” Brown said.

The 77-year-old Williams started six horses in the race, split between trainers Robert Hickmott, Aidan O’Brien and Joseph O’Brien.

The sixth victory as an owner yesterday takes him halfway to the dozen Melbourne Cup triumphs of the legendary trainer Bart Cummings.

Williams joked he would need to live until 115 to match the success of the master trainer but he has now won three of the past six Melbourne Cups, with Green Moon (2012), Almandin (2016) and now Rekindling.

He is convinced the triumph by Rekindling will be the first of many Group Is around the globe for O’Brien, who enjoyed great success in the saddle before turning his hand to training last year.

“It’s absolutely extraordinary. It’s close to being able to walk on water,” Williams said. “I think Joseph is going to be one of the leading trainers in the world. I have thought so for 18 months or more.”

Noting his potential, Williams has entrusted several young horses with the emerging trainer over the past two years. Some will no doubt be aimed at future Melbourne Cups by the Macedon Lodge owner who became obsessed with winning the race while a schoolboy.

But Rekindling, which opened at $51 in markets before being receiving support in the lead-in to his triumph, is not likely to follow the path of Almandin in trying to win successive Melbourne Cups. Instead, Williams’ latest winner will return to Europe for another race he covets, the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot, which he won in 2016 with Order Of St George.

Both Rekindling and Johannes Vermeer will spend the next week at Macedon Lodge recuperating.

Williams said they would then return to Ireland and he hoped Rekindling would be aimed at the Ascot Gold Cup next June.

Champion Brazilian jockey Joao Moreira was replaced on Thomas Hobson, which placed sixth, by apprentice Ben Allen after falling in an earlier race.

Moreira was able to walk from the track after a heavy fall from Regal Monarch but barred from riding in the Melbourne Cup by doctors. Regal Monarch was transported to Werribee for treatment, but had to be euthanased. PETA issued a statement saying coverage glossed over “the bleeding lungs, broken bones, and death”.