Rekindling wins the Melbourne Cup
Rekindling has won the 2017 Melbourne Cup, with Johannes Vermeer in second and Max Dynamite third.
Corey Brown has won his second Melbourne Cup and owner Lloyd Williams his sixth, with the Joseph O’Brien-trained Rekindling outstaying Johannes Vermeer (Ben Melham) in a stirring two-horse war.
Max Dynamite, second in the 2015 Melbourne Cup, was third.
International-trained filled the the first three placings, but it was a quinella for maverick Australian owner Lloyd Williams, who owns both Rekindling and Johannes Vermeer.
Williams, who also owns Almandin, who won the 2016 Melbourne Cup, purchased Rekindling as a yearling with a view to him developing into a Melbourne Cup prospect.
“Absolutely a dream. Terribly excited, I can't put it into words,” Williams said.
“I thought this horse was some chance, his run in the St Leger was very good.”
Brown, who won his first Melbourne Cup back in 2009 aboard Shocking, said he chased hard for the ride on Rekindling, knowing he could make the horse’s light weight of 51.5kg.
While a four-year-old to Southern Hemisphere time, Rekindling is actually a three-year-old in Northern Hemisphere time, adding further merit to the performance by the High Chaparral youngster.
Heading into the home straight, Johannes Vermeer cruised up on the outside of race favourite Marmelo and kicked clear, but Brown on Rekindling was stalking him all the way.
They settled down to fight out the race in the final 200m, with Rekindling’s 3kg pull in the weights proving crucial as he edged clear for the victory.
Max Dynamite, given a beautiful ride just forward of midfield by Hong Kong-based Australian jockey Zac Purton, was a brave third ahead of the first Australian-trained horse to cross the line, Darren Weir’s Big Duke (Brenton Avdulla).
FINISHING ORDER:
1st: REKINDLING (Corey Brown/Joseph O’Brien) $15.00, $4.65
2nd: JOHANNES VERMEER (Ben Melham/Aidan O’Brien) $3.85
3rd: MAX DYNAMITE (Zac Purton/Darren Weir) $5.45
4th: Big Duke
5th: Nakeeta
6th: Thomas Hobson
7th: Tiberian
8th: Libran
9th: Marmelo
10th: Wicklow Brave
11th: Red Cardinal
12th: Almandin
13th: Cismontane
14th: Amelie’s Star
15th: Boom Time
16th: Wall Of Fire
17th: Single Gaze
18th: Us Army Ranger
19th: Humidor
20th: Hartnell
21st: Ventura Storm
22nd: Bondi Beache
23rd: Gallante
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