Deluge brings down Cup Day chaos
A deluge of rain made for a treacherous start to Melbourne Cup day, forcing delays to races and trains to Flemington Racecourse, and leading to calls for the $7.3 million feature race to be cancelled.
A small section of roofing also collapsed while large parts of the track were flooded.
The area was drenched with more than 46mm of rain falling on Flemington before 2.30pm (NZT), prompting fears jockeys and horses were at risk of injury.
The track was downgraded immediately after Race 1 to a Heavy 8 and Race 2 was pushed back.
Race 4, the Ronald McDonald House Charities Plate, was able to jump on-time. The track was also upgraded to a Soft 7 following Legend of Condor’s win in the Schweppes Flemington Fling, the fifth race of the meeting.
Jockeys complained they were unable to see at times during the first race of the meeting and Channel 7’s Hamish McLachlan said officials were refusing to walk on to the track because the conditions were too dangerous.
“Right now, all of the strappers have taken the horses underneath, they’ve decided not to bring them out. It’s too wet and too dangerous — there has been thunder and lightning,” McLachlan said. “It’s a Cup that I’ve not seen before.”
Trainer Richard Freedman, who had Auvray in the Cup, said the conditions and the downgraded track have completely changed the outlook for the $7.3 million feature race.
“I tell you what, this rain, it will change everybody’s tactics Freedman told Channel 7.
“It has changed the whole race meeting. Whatever the tips were before the rain came, just throw them out the window and start again.”
Earlier, jockey Mark Zahra should have been celebrating piloting Bella Rosa to a win in the first race — but was instead left lamenting the awful conditions and its impact in the Melbourne Cup.
The delayed race meeting also followed public concern from jockeys who complained they were unable to see at times during the first race of the meeting.
A small section of roofing collapsed in the press room after water made its way in, and there has also been areas of flooding around the track, including in the horse tunnel.