Son of gun snatches Cup away from dad
Rekindling on fire for rookie trainer as pluck of the Irish comes to the fore with trifecta at Flemington
Fresh-faced Irish trainer Joseph O’Brien beat his famous father to Melbourne Cup glory, training Rekindling to win Australia’s greatest race yesterday at Flemington.
In a father-and-son finish, the younger O’Brien’s Rekindling overhauled Johannes Vermeer, trained by his dad Aidan O’Brien. Max Dynamite completed an Irish trifecta in taking the minor placing. Ridden by Sydney jockey Corey Brown, Rekindling gave owner Lloyd Williams a sixth win in the race. “It is so special, I have my family with me and the girls are old enough to come to the races and enjoy it. I am lost for words,” said Brown, who won the 2009 Melbourne Cup on Shocking. The Irish trio were part of an 11-horse overseas contingent taking their place in the Melbourne Cup field. Big Duke was the first Australian-trained horse across the line, finishing fourth.
O’Brien, 24, became the youngest trainer to win the race. He immediately made a telephone call to his father, Aidan, who wasn’t at Flemington because of Breeders’ Cup commitments in America.
“I rang him, he is delighted. Unbelievable,” the former jockey said.
Williams, who is also part-owner of Johannes Vermeer, had an association with six Melbourne Cup runners. “I’m so proud of this young man — he’s a star,” Williams said of the rookie trainer. “I’ve been telling people the father needs to watch out!”