‘Substandard? It will go down as one of the great Cups’: Beaten Euro

Pre-race, the doubters were out in force.

This was a terrible Melbourne Cup, they said – a poor quality race, lacking in depth, and sadly depleted by a lack of European contenders, frightened off by strict veterinary protocols.

James McDonald winning the Melbourne Cup on Verry Elleegant.Credit:Tash Sorensen

Okay, Incentivise was a potential superstar, they acknowledged: nine wins in a row, a runaway Caulfield Cup triumph, and the bookies marking him up at a shorter price than any previous winner since Phar Lap made the case for him being out of the ordinary.

But the rest? “Come on”, was the verdict from many form experts. How many of these would have even got a run had the usual complement of well-credentialed European raiders made the trip?

But in lionising Incentivise, too many seemed to overlook the proven class act in the field, six-year-old New Zealand-bred mare Verry Elleegant.

As her rider James McDonald said post-race, she had the runs on the board and had achieved more than the rest of the field could dream of: nine previous group 1 wins and top class efforts against the best from not just Australia but Europe year in, year out.

“She’s a nine-time group 1 winner, and I kept saying to everyone who would listen, there’s not a horse in that race who could have run third in a Cox Plate and was ever going to win nine group ones, and she’s now won 10 and the Melbourne Cup is obviously the highlight”.

James McDonald celebrates as he returns to scale on Verry Elleegant.Credit:Justin McManus

Okay, McDonald might have been expected to be euphoric, but his view of the class of this year’s race was not unique.

Tony Noonan, the Mornington-based trainer, was the pointman for Andrew Balding, the English handler who is no stranger to success in Australia.

He was supervising the preparation of Spanish Mission, one of the two European-based challengers (the other was last year’s winner, Twilight Payment), and this horse was no mug.

Earlier this season he had run world champion stayer Stradivarius to a photo finish and had claims to be one of the best stayers in the world.

Noonan was exultant that his charge had managed to grab a place, so highly did he rate the quality of the winner and runner-up.

“People said it was a substandard Cup – it will go down as one of the great Cups, I believe. It was awesome, the acceleration of the mare (as she cleared away). My horse was so brave, he got a lovely ride off Craig Williams.

“It was an awesome race. We were hoping to finish in the first three. I am old enough to remember back to previous Cups, to horses like (dual-winner) Think Big. They had not won nine group 1 weight for age races.

“The quality of this race has just continued to get better. The people who put it down don’t know what they are talking about. This has been the hardest Cup for Racing Victoria, for everyone involved.

“We needed to make sure that the world saw what it was really about – great horses running over two miles.”

Debates can – and undoubtedly will – rage over what makes a Melbourne Cup, a Cox Plate, a Caulfield Cup, in fact any group 1 race a great contest.

Some will take a different view to Noonan and McDonald, and point out that the first three home all carried 57 kilos, were second-highest in the handicap, and they cleared away from all their opponents bar fourth placed Floating Artist.

But a great race is determined by many things. The quality of the field is but one ingredient. Its competitiveness and its impact as a social and cultural event are others, as are the drama, heroism and brilliance it showcases.

The Cup, don’t forget, is a handicap, designed to ensure equality of opportunity, if not outcome.

Those who defended the traditional highlight of the racing year as it came under criticism pointed out that, for most, especially the once-a-year punters who make the Cup the folk festival it has always been, a close race or the chance to see a true champion clear out and stamp their greatness would be enough.

In winning the way she did, Verry Elleegant did just that.

Sports news, results and expert commentary. Sign up for our Sport newsletter.

Most Viewed in Sport

From our partners

Source: Read Full Article