The Cups for the Ladies
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By Scott MacLean
Tomorrow is the first Tuesday in November, which means at a shade past 5pm our time, the Melbourne Cup – the race that stops two nations – runs at Flemington. We’ll take a quick look at this year’s edition soon, but if you’re looking for something to back – and Kiwi’s wager far more on “The Cup” than any other race each year including those for who it’s their flutter – then the last two in years ending in ‘5’ might be a place to start.
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The atmosphere around the race in 2005 was nothing short of electric and all because of one horse, the topweight and favourite Makybe Diva. The mare, named for five of owner and South Australian tuna fisherman Tony Šantić’s employees – Maureen, Kylie, Belinda, Diane, and Vanessa – had already made history the year before in joining the handful of two-time Cup winners and being the only mare amongst them. Trained again by Lee Freedman and with regular jockey Glen Boss aboard, she stood on the precipice of immortality.
In the race itself Boss had the champion ideally placed, and when the moment came 300m “the Diva” was ready for it. Bursting into open space, she was immediately spotted by race caller Greg Miles whose “Here’s Makybe Diva. A nation roars for a hero.” still brings on the goosebumps today. Makybe Diva powered away to win, finishing a length-and-a-half clear of the fast-finishing On A Jeune. Immortality, and immediate retirement, achieved.
Watch it here:
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New Zealand’s Maree Lyndon holds the distinction of being the first woman to saddle up in a Melbourne Cup when she rode Argonaut Style in the bumpy 1987 race won by Kensai. Yet nearly 30 years on a woman had yet to ride the winner, but that would change in the 2015 Cup.
Michelle Payne was the sole female jockey in the field, and riding NZ-bred 100-1 longshot Prince of Penzance few gave her a chance. Yet she rode a patient, and ultimately perfect race, putting her charge in the right place at the right time with such skill she didn’t have to use the whip. Bursting past at the 200m Miles, still in commentary, called it; “Prince of Penzance from Max Dynamite, Prince of Penzance. It’s history at Flemington, Michelle Payne!”, as she took her own moment of history as the first, and so far only, woman jockey to win the race. That was followed by one of the enduring moments of the day, the look of triumph on the face of her Downs Syndrome-afflicted younger brother Stevie who was Prince of Penzance’s assistant strapper that date.
Having retired from racing, Payne is now a trainer and TV commentator and has featured heavily in the run-up to this years race.
Watch that one here:
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As for this year’s race, if you’re looking for a female horse to win like Makybe Diva in 2005 your options are Irish mare Goodie Two Shoes or the Chris Waller-trained River of Stars. If you’re thinking it’s time for another woman jockey you’ve got Rachel King onboard Arapaho or Celine Gaudray on the NZ-bred Torranzino.
If you’re all patriotic and want horses with NZ connections you’ve got choices. Champion jockey James McDonald is aboard Meydaan though is drawn wide in barrier #22 with Michael Dee atop young Irish horse Furthur. Waller has five of his charges running, the aforementioned River of Stars, plus Buckaroo, Land Legend, More Felons, and his best chance in lightweight Valiant King.
The other Kiwi-bred horse in the race is the nine year-old Smokin’ Romans.
The increasingly international flavour of the race is borne out by 21 of the 24 runners being bred outside of the Antipodes. Remarkably only Half Yours, the favourite at time of writing, is Australian-bred, reflective of the change from breeding stayers to sprinters and chasing the big money on offer in the shorter distances like The Everest.
The major overseas challenge is likely to come from Irish master trainer Joseph O’Brien. Twice a winner already, he’s brought with him Irish St Leger winner and topweight Al Riffa along with Goodie Two Shoes. Other internationals include Japanese horse Chevalier Rose, French grey Presage Nocturne, and Parchment Party who is the first American-based horse to make the trip.
Who’s got your money?
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