Twilight Payment powers to Melbourne Cup win
MELBOURNE: Twilight Payment has won the Melbourne Cup, leading home Tiger Moth and Prince Of Arran in Australia’s greatest thoroughbred race.
For the second time in a training career still in its infancy, Joseph O’Brien claimed a Melbourne Cup that was expected to fall to the allconquering stable run by his father Aidan.
It was Twilight Payment who lapped up one of the world’s most celebrated staying contests to lead an international clean sweep and beat his father’s horse Tiger Moth and the Englishtrained Prince Of Arran.
The younger O’Brien won his first Melbourne Cup in 2017 when Rekindling beat Johannes Vermeer, trained by his father. In a desperate finish, Twilight Payment, ridden by young jockey Jye McNeil, also confirmed Lloyd Williams’ place as the most successful owner in Melbourne Cup history with his seventh victory. Sent out a $A26 ($NZ27.60) chance, Twilight Payment defeated Tiger Moth ($6.50) by a long neck.
Prince Of Arran ($9.50), placed for the third year in a row, was a short neck away in the minor placing.
For the first time in its rich history, the race was run against a backdrop of silence. As Melbourne’s pandemic restrictions remained in place, Flemington numbers were restricted to trainers, jockeys and key personnel. It was a moment in the Cup’s history that was not lost on Joseph O’Brien.
‘‘Obviously, it’s quite different and not what we would have liked and we would loved to have been there, but it’s incredibly special,’’ O’Brien said.
‘‘It’s very special to be able to compete in these big races and this year in particular, there was a time when we weren’t sure if we would be able to have runners in Australia this year.’’
McNeil rode a heady race from the front after taking Twilight Payment to the lead as the field passed the winning post the first time. He increased the pace from the 1000m and sent his mount out to a clear advantage as the field swung into the straight.
From there, McNeil said he was sure Twilight Payment could keep the momentum going despite Tiger Moth and Prince Of Arran closing hard.
‘‘I was confident. I was trying not to use the whip too many times,’’ McNeil, a winner in his maiden Cup ride, said.
‘‘It was a matter of hanging on, and he was very tough.
‘‘To be able to get the opportunity from the Williams family to partner Twilight Payment today — not only them, but also Joseph O’Brien, who’s done a fantastic job preparing him . . . Yeah, it’s very overwhelming.’’
Surprise Baby started the bestbacked runner in the race as the $6 favourite but he never raised hopes in finishing 13th.
Godolphin star Avilius finished last of the 22 runners to complete the course.
µThe Cup was marred when 2019 English Derby winner Anthony Van Dyck had to be put down after suffering a fractured fetlock during the running of the race.
‘‘It is with sadness that we confirm that Anthony Van Dyck had to be humanely euthanised after sustaining a fractured fetlock during the running of the Melbourne Cup at Flemington,’’ Racing Victoria’s Jamie Steir said.
‘‘The horse received immediate veterinary care; however, he was unable to be saved due to the nature of the injury sustained.’’