PLENTY TO SING ABOUT
RISING Irish trainer Joseph O’Brien edged out his father Aidan yesterday to land the Melbourne Cup, with young stayer Rekindling leading an all-Irish sweep of the placings.
The win gave Geelong partowner Brian Singer his second straight victory after Almandin saluted last year.
Another of Singer’s five horses in the race, Johannes Vermeer, ran a close second, while the Willie Mullinstrained Max Dynamite, who finished runner-up in 2015, completed the all-Irish trifecta.
Johannes Vermeer, ridden by Ben Melham, looked the likely winner halfway down the Flemington straight before Rekindling, with a three-kilogram weight advantage, reeled him in.
The new staying star gave owner Lloyd Williams his sixth success in the Melbourne Cup and was jockey Corey Brown’s second win in the race after his victory on Shocking in 2009.
Joseph O’Brien, who only two years ago won the Irish St Leger on Order of St George as a jockey, said he owed an enormous debt of gratitude to Williams for encouraging him to pursue training.
“I can’t believe it. I am thankful to Lloyd who suggested I bring him down and he would have a good chance in the race,” the 24-year-old said.
“His preparation went really good. Corey gave him an unbelievable ride. Everyone, the lads at home and the lads here, have done an unbelievable job.”
Rekindling became the third Irish-trained stayer to win the race that stops a nation following Vintage Crop (1993) and Media Puzzle (2002), who had come through the Geelong Cup on his way to an emotional triumph 15 years ago.
Brown said he had pursued the ride on Rekindling and was left a happy man for his efforts.
“It is a dream to even ride in the race,” Brown said. “To come out and win it again, I’m lost for words.
“I chased the ride about six weeks ago and with a light weight (thinking I was) a big chance to get on him.”
The Darren Weir-trained Big Duke finished fourth ahead of the Scottish-trained Nakeeta, with another Irish runner, Thomas Hobson, sixth.
Hobson was ridden by apprentice jockey Ben Allen after his original rider, Joao Moreira, suffered a horrendous fall earlier in the day.
The well-backed English stayer Marmelo led into the home straight but fell away to ninth, while the Godolphin stable’s Melbourne Cup drought continued with topweight Hartnell finishing a fading 20th in the 23-strong field.
Last year’s winner Almandin, another of Williams’s six runners, finished 12th with Italian jockey Frankie Dettori left without a win from 16 rides in the Melbourne Cup.