CUP THROUGH THE YEARS
50 YEARS AGO
Rain Lover became only the third horse (after Archer and Peter Pan) to win two Melbourne Cups, but the race is most readily recalled for a different reason. Bart Cummings was shooting for a fourth win in five years with Big Philou, who was the short-priced favourite after winning the Caulfield Cup. But he was scratched just over half an hour from start time when he was “scouring” in his stalls. Many years later it came to light a Cummings employee had been paid to ‘nobble’ the Cup favourite.
40 YEARS AGO
Revered broadcaster Bill Collins noted “and that’s the way he might win the Melbourne Cup” as Dulcify strode to one of the greatest Cox Plate wins of all time. Tragically, he did not win the Melbourne Cup, as he was galloped on in the run and was pulled out of the race. He could not be saved, marking one of the saddest chapters in the Cup’s history. Hyperno went on to win the race, giving Bart Cummings his seventh triumph.
30 YEARS AGO
Lee Freedman and his brothers Anthony, Richard and Michael announced their arrival to the big time when Tawrrific led home a stable quinella from fan favourite Super Impose. A $31 chance in betting, Tawrrific wasn’t regarded as the stable’s No.1 seed, but with Shane Dye aboard, he powered home from back in the field to outstay his stablemate. It was the first of five Melbourne Cups for Freedman, who later handled Makybe Diva for her second and third victories.
20 YEARS AGO
Darwin school teacher
Wendy Green harboured a dream to win the Melbourne Cup and after her horse Rogan Josh ran well in the 1998 Perth Cup, she teamed up with Bart Cummings in the spring of 1999. Having won the Herbert Power, Rogan Josh ran well in the Caulfield Cup before showing Cummings’ uncanny knack of timing his Cup run to perfection was on target when he was an upset winner of the Mackinnon Stakes. With the late John Marshall riding an inspired race, Rogan Josh dug deep when challenged, fulfilling Green’s dream and providing Cummings with an 11th Cup.
10 YEARS AGO
Shocking had wintered in Queensland in June of 2009, going down by a narrow margin in the Queensland Derby. As a result of that defeat, he had to qualify for the Melbourne Cup the hard way. He was second in the Herbert Power and Coongy Handicaps, before showcasing his Cup potential with a slashing win in the 2500m qualifier on the Saturday. Corey Brown stepped into the saddle on the Mark Kavanagh-trained stallion on Cup day and despite being forced to race three wide for most of the trip, Shocking was too good.