Racing the big winner

“WHO cares about a bit of rain? At least they let us come and watch the Cup”.

Truer words have rarely been spoken about the race that stops a nation from a fan thrilled to be back at Flemington for the Melbourne Cup.

A rainswept crowd of 73,816 watched in delight on Tuesday as Mark Zahra rode Gold Trip first past the post in the first Cup in front of full crowds since 2019.

As the heavens opened and crowds ducked for cover on the famous Flemington front lawn, Beaumaris racegoer Darren O’keefe was going nowhere.

“The weather is no good ... but it’s just great to be back,’’ he said.

It might have been cold, grey and wet – even hailing at times – but for the fans trackside at Melbourne’s oldest and most prestigious major event it sure was better than being told they weren’t allowed to attend.

Flemington roared back to life for the first Melbourne Cup with unrestricted crowds since the city was slumped into two years of Covid-19 restrictions.

And fans, celebrities, powerbrokers and event organisers were in furious agreement – a wet Melbourne Cup with spectators is far better than a race with no spectators at all.

For the last two years it hasn’t even been a Cup half full. Just 5000 people were allowed on course last year due to Andrews government restrictions. It was worse still in 2020, with no crowds allowed and Flemington a virtual ghost town as jockey Jye O’neil led Twilight Payment to victory.

Thankfully, Cup crowds were brimming again for the 162nd instalment of the Melbourne Cup, even if it was freezing.

Victoria Racing Club chairman Neil Wilson said the event was a roaring success.

“The Lexus Melbourne Cup has brought the nation to a standstill for more than 160 years,” he said.

“This year was especially stirring as the roar of a large crowd accompanied the beginning of the race for the first time in three years and what a win it was by Gold Trip.”

Omen bets on a day for sunnies and umbrellas as well as sharp suits and fancy frocks included Crosswinds in race five, It’s Tornado Storm in the eighth, Decent Raine in the ninth.

None of them delivered though.

While crowds were dry for the first race, they were drenched by the second and it was raining sideways by the time race four rolled around at 12.40pm. But by 3.02pm, when the horses jumped from the barriers, the shivering masses were at least dry. Legendary soccer manager Sir Alex Ferguson sung the praises of the Cup on his first visit to the iconic Victorian event.