The top 10 moments of the 2016 Spring Racing Carnival
IT’S NOT quite over, but the Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival has provided a bevy of momentous happenings that won’t soon be forgotten in racing circles.
From Winx’s demolition job in the Cox Plate to Almandin’s inspiring neck and neck win over Heartbreak City in the Melbourne Cup, it has been a carnival to savour.
10 – The punters
From dudes jumping into wheelie bins, women riding them and some ridiculous, whacky and wonderful racing attire, the punters throughout the carnival did their best to turn it on. The off field stuff was just as good as what was happening on the track, with plenty having perhaps a little too much fun. Still, it is one of the reasons we love the Spring Racing Carnival.
9 – Dean Yendall’s mouth
Ole mate Dean is lucky he can ride, because his colourful language might get him in trouble one day. After piloting I Am A Star home in the Myer Classic, Yendall went back to his signature line of “mate, I’ve got a raging horn right now”. He was hauled over the coals for a please explain, but escaped sanction.
8 – Godolphin dipping out on the Cup again
Yeah, we know the Sheikh has poured plenty into our racing industry over the years, but there’s just something satisfying about the fact he hasn’t been able to win our biggest race.
7 – Jameka Wins the Caulfield Cup
One of the most loved horses in the country, purely for the fact that she was the Aussie girls sticking it up the international raiders. Ciaron Maher’s monstrous mare put paid to her competition in brutal fashion, having it won on the turn.
6 – Flying Artie wins the Coolmore Stud Stakes
Flying Artie’s wonderful win in the Coolmore Stud Stakes left an emotional owner, former NSW police minister, paying tribute to his daughter Bridget, who lost her fight with ovarian cancer, aged just 42. It was a perfect ride from Hugh Bowman, who left nothing to chance in beating more fancied runners in Astern and Star Turn.
5 – Lasqueti Spirit’s boil over in the Crown Oaks
As far as bolters go, this one is in the class of Prince Of Penzance. The Prince was piloted home by Michelle Payne in last year’s Melbourne Cup at three figure odds, making her the first female jockey to win the great race and becoming one of the longest shots ever to salute. And so it was that Lasqueti Spirit Emulated the feat in the Victoria Oaks as a rank $101 outsider. To give you an idea of what the trainer thought of her chances, the decision was made that jockey Brenton Avdulla would push her out the front of the filled and hope she could stay. It was a shot in the dark that paid off with rich dividends, storming home in front of the fastest man in the world, Usain Bolt, to break through for its maiden win after nine starts without victory – over a red hot odds on favourite in Yankee Rose, who could only finish second last.
4 – James Cummings becomes a fourth generation Victoria Derby winner
No family has dominated a race quite like this. Trainer James Cummings prepared Prized Icon for the test of the Victoria Derby and it passed with flying colours, beating out favourite Sacred Elixir. The tale of the tape reads Cummings’ great-grandfather Jim won the Derby with Comic Court in 1948, his grandfather – the legendary Bart – won five, while his dad Anthony won with Fiveandahalfstar four years ago. If he was to somehow win the Melbourne Cup, he would also become the third generation to win the race that stops a nation.
3 – Almandin makes it five Melbourne Cups for Lloyd Williams
Bart Cummings was forever racing’s greatest character. But Lloyd Williams has to come a close second. Looking more mad hatter than billionaire businessman, Williams’ machine Almandine started Cup day in search of his owner’s fifth Melbourne Cup. And he would pull no punches in the big dance, expertly ridden by Kerrin McEvoy, he stormed home to win an enthralling a neck and neck finish with Heartbreak City. The German import, trained by Robert Hickmott – who once played a couple of Aussie Rules games for Melbourne – won the $6.2 million race in stunning fashion, giving Williams his first winner since Brew saluted in 2000. Godolphin star Hartnell finished third, after finishing second in the Cox Plate and did no injustice to her cause, but in the end, it was all about the German raider.
2 – Winx reaches racing immortality
If there was ever any doubt over Winx’s standing as the best racehorse in Australia, it was swiftly swept aside by the supreme mare’s masterful performance in the Cox Plate that gave her back to back wins. This was no so much a race, it was a demolition job, and then a contest for second. Winx was remarkably priced at $2 or better in the lead up to the race, with some people taking advantage of Sportsbet.com.au’s price boost and swooping in for as much as $2.50. That is just flat out ridiculous odds for a horse that had won each of its past 12 starts. After the run, I think all the bookies and punters realised she probably should have been $1.01 after she completely dominated the field. Anyone that though Hartnell was a chance would have been hoping they had it each way, because this race wasn’t Winx vs. Hartnell as it was billed, it was every other horse in the field v a divine being, and the goddess predictably won… by eight lengths… in one of the biggest Group One races in Australia. Mind blowing.
1 – Joao Moreira’s remarkable display of sportsmanship
As jockey’s go, international star hoop Joao Moreira is among the most respected. Well spoken, talented and as clean as a whistle, Moreira is much loved wherever he goes. And he did nothing but enhance his reputation as he crossed the line second on Heartbreak City in the Melbourne Cup, losing to McEvoy on Almandine by the narrowest of margins. If he was heartbroken, the Magic Man did not show it, reaching out with an appreciative and congratulatory pat on the back for Baster as the two past the post. He knew he was the bridesmaid, yet he was a winner in the eyes of many for his superb act of sportsmanship that made world headlines.