Cup-Day summary - Verry special Cup success for Waller and McDonald

Cover image courtesy of Bronwen Healy

Elleegant success a historic moment for trio

Chris Waller and James McDonald combined for their first G1 Melbourne Cup success, as Verry Elleegant (NZ) (Zed {NZ}) delivered a virtuoso performance to win the famous Flemington 3200-metre race by 4l.

The fifth-fastest Melbourne Cup of all-time, 3:17.43, proved one of the more memorable in recent times as the 6-year-old became the first mare since Makybe Diva (GB) (Desert King {Ire}) in 2005 to win the race.

Left in her wake was Incentivise (Shamus Award), the shortest-priced Melbourne Cup favourite in 91 years, who repelled all challengers, but had no answers to Verry Elleegant when she challenged him inside the final furlong. The Peter Moody-trained 5-year-old lost few admirers, but could not match the now 10-time Group 1 winner for class.

The Andrew Balding-trained Spanish Mission (USA) (Noble Mission {GB}) finished stoutly for third, another 0.4l adrift, while Floating Artist (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) was a short margin away in fourth, with 6l back to the remainder of the field.

While Waller, who watched the race from home on Sydney, has experienced many incredible moments across his 129 Group 1 victories, this one stood out as particularly special.

"Racing is such an amazing sport, it brings everybody together on the greatest day and everybody has a good time. We're the lucky ones with these great horses," he said.

"To see them come home safe is important but when they come home safe at the front of the field, it is very special indeed."

Waller has finished in the placings of the Melbourne Cup on three previous occasions.

The success owed a great deal to McDonald's horsemanship, as he settled the star mare midfield off a very strong pace and produced her at exactly the right time.

"It worked out perfectly, I wanted to be a little bit positive and as it turned out, we got into the best spot possible. She relaxed like the master she is and she is now a 10-time Group 1 winner with a Melbourne Cup next to her name and she will go down as one of the greatest, that's for sure," McDonald said.

The pace was initially set by Persan (Pierro), who made it a true staying test, while defending champion Twilight Payment (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}), who led all the way last year, was surprisingly back in the field.

Incentivise raced outside the leader throughout and challenged for the front as the field turned for home. Spanish Mission had enjoyed a three-wide trail off the back of Grand Promenade (GB) (Champs Elysees {GB}), who had raced three deep on the speed through much of the race.

No sooner had Spanish Mission looked a threat than McDonald peeled off his back and Verry Elleegant loomed large. Incentivise gave a strong kick, but the mare had his measure at the 300-metre mark. Floating Artist, who had enjoyed a cheap run behind the speed, briefly threatened but his run came to an end leaving Verry Elleegant and McDonald in splendid isolation.

It was a victory particularly sweet for New Zealand, where horse, trainer and jockey were born and bred.

Profiteer back in Lightning form

Co-trainer Mick Price has inked in the G1 Black Caviar Lightning in for his super fast colt Profiteer (Capitalist) after the 3-year-old returned to form with an emphatic success in the Schweppervescence Plate.

Profiteer had started favourite in both the G1 Moir S. and G3 Blue Sapphire S. this campaign, but had only managed sixth and second respectively, casting doubts on whether he could return to the form which saw him win the R. Listed Inglis Millennium in devastating style in February.

But the trip back down the 1000 metres of the Flemington straight, the venue where he opened his winning account last December, proved the trick to getting the Capitalist colt back on track and he set the pace and kicked away to defeat Direct (Siyouni {Fr}) by 1.5l, with Enthaar (Written Tycoon) third in her racetrack return.

Profiteer stopped the clock in a slick 57.16s and left Price, who co-trains him with Michael Kent Jnr, with no doubts as to what he wants to target next.

"That's now two starts over the Flemington 1000 metres for two wins and so hopefully after the Lightning, he can have three starts for three wins and he’ll be a Group 1-winniing colt and have a nice harem of mares at Newgate," he said.

"You can see that he is an anaerobically gifted colt, very fast and I think that's the best way for him."

Price also indicated a race like the Oakleigh Plate may also be on Profiteer's summer/autumn agenda.

"They are two lovely stallion-making races. I think that's the right plan. He’ll be bigger and stronger again and they are races he'd be beautifully suited in."

Jockey James McDonald was having his first sit on the Capitalist colt and was impressed with what he saw.

"He's very fast. He's got very good gate speed, high cruising speed. He had to get it right today and he got on a fair way out. Credit to him, he relaxed reasonably well, and got the first two furlongs right and the rest was history."

Newgate purchased into Profiteer ahead of his win in the Millennium, alongside his existing owners at Roll The Dice Racing. The deal to purchase the colt contained bonuses should he claim a Group 1 victory, something his trainers are determined to target.

Brereton kicks off Alliance success

The Victorian Alliance made a significant impression at the 2021 yearling sales and are now off the mark in terms of racetrack success after the hard-fought win of Brereton (Zoustar) in the G3 Maribyrnong Plate for trainer Peter Moody.

The Rosemont Stud-led syndicate, featuring a collection of leading Victorian-based investors, have named their colts after famous Victorian footballers and, at the second time of asking, it was Brereton, named after Hawthorn champion Dermott Brereton, who gave them a significant early success.

Beaten a nose in the Listed Debutant S. at Caulfield last month, this time it was Brereton who got the judge's nod as he fought back impressively over the final stage to defeat the James Cummings-trained Renosu (Exceed And Excel), with the Robbie Griffiths and Mathew de Kock-trained Le Gagneur (Shalaa {Ire}) in third.

"He couldn't get two photos go against him, could he?" Moody asked. "It's great credit to Rosemont Stud and the Victorian Alliance team, they have outlaid a lot of money here to source these promising young colts for Victorian racing and breeding, ultimately, so tremendous for them to get a result.

"They have got a valuable young colt here who is now a Group 3 winner."

Brereton was sold by Widden Stud for $1 million at this year's Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale and the Victorian Alliance combined with Suman Hedge as well as David Redvers, whose Qatar Bloodstock is among the ownership, to buy him.

Moody said the owners will discuss whether Brereton heads to the R. Listed Magic Millions 2-Year-Old Classic or if he is saved for Group 1 targets in the autumn.

"The horse will ultimately guide us along," he said.

Spirit shines to vanquish Derby disappointment

Spirit Of Gaylard (NZ) (Puissance De Lune {Ire}) missed out on a run in the G1 VRC Derby on Saturday but made amends for that missed opportunity with a narrow win in the G3 TAB Trophy over 1800 metres.

The Mitch Freedman-trained 3-year-old claimed his second victory in four starts and his first at stakes level in holding out the Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young-trained Blushing Tycoon (Written Tycoon) and the Danny O'Brien prepared-Maracana (NZ) (Shamexpress {NZ}) in a thrilling finish.

"He's probably not seasoned enough to get to the Derby yet, but we thought if we got there and got he right conditions, we might have a crack at it," Freedman said.

"But as you see today, he put them away quickly and then waited for them a bit. He's still got a lot to learn, He's a really nice horse, he is going to make a nice stayer and we look forward to the future with him."

The colt is named after late media personality Rob Gaylard, who was an influential figure in the Victorian industry.

A Rich double

Rich Hips (Written Tycoon) claimed the G3 Hong Kong Jockey Club S. for the second year running for trainers Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young.

The 5-year-old, ridden by Nash Rawiller, was dominant winner of the 1400-metre race, holding a clear 1.25l margin on the line from Lindsay Park-trained mare Excelida (Exceed And Excel), with Paul's Regret (Canford Cliffs {Ire}) in third.

Busuttin was delighted with Rich Hips' third stakes win, adding further to her resume for her owners at First Light Racing.

The co-trainer said a race like The Gong at Kembla Grange could be a suitable next assignment for Rich Hips.

Milton Park back-to-back

The John Moloney trained-Milton Park (Written Tycoon) delivered his second consecutive stakes win with an all-the-way victory in the Listed Furphy Plate over 1800 metres.

Coming of his success in the Listed Sale Cup last month, the improving 4-year-old was dominant on the pace, holding off the Chris Waller-trained Skyman (GB) (Mukahdram {GB}) by 0.4l under a well-rated ride by Jarrod Fry. Charleise (Foxwedge) finished third.

The homebred gelding has now built a very healthy record of seven wins from 11 starts and Moloney said post-race he'd earned a summer spell.

"He just enjoys being a racehorse, you can't take that off an animal," Moloney said. "I think I'll stop with him now. He's put a good score on the board, he's only four and he can get better. We can have a bit more fun with him in the autumn hopefully.

"If you look after your animals they can improve and we don’t knock him around. I'm sure he’ll come back a better horse, at what level I don’t know."

Quantico impresses

Trainer John O'Shea continued his strong run of form with progressive 5-year-old Quantico (I Am Invincible) taking his record to six wins from 10 starts in the Listed MSS Security Sprint.

Ridden by Kerrin McEvoy, Quantico quickened impressively in the 1200-metre sprint to defeat Sirius Suspect (Wanted) by 1.5l, with Prime Candidate (Denman) in third.

"Full credit to John and his team, they were umming and ahhing after the draw and they decided to bring him down, given the way the track has been racing," McEvoy said.

"As soon as I got on his back, I thought he was bubbling away and was ready to go. John is having a bit of luck, which is great."

It was a first stakes success for Quantico, who is owned by a syndicate led by China Horse Club which also includes his breeders Yarraman Park and Jason Abrahams.

He cost $1.05 million through the Yarraman Park draft at the 2018 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale, where he was purchased by China Horse Club, John O'Shea and Boomer Bloodstock.