International Triumph Or Local Success?

Tuesday, 06 November 2012 07:31

Is Green Moon an Aussie?By one reckoning the 2012 Melbourne Cup will go down as another triumph for Rest of the World over the locals.

In another sense, it will be known as a local one-two with the raiders repelled and the French favourites Dunaden and Americain well out of contention.

The truth is, horses born and bred in Ireland and England filled the first eight places, exposing Australian staying stocks for what they are.

The Cup, at least, will stand on an Australian mantelpiece thanks to Green Moon, an equine migrant who now has permanent residence in Australian owner Lloyd Williams' stable.

But Green Moon ran his first eight races in England and only came to Australia early last year.

The Cup runner-up Fiorente will forever be marked as having been trained by Gai Waterhouse, even though the champion trainer only patted the Irish-bred, English-reared galloper for the first time on Cup day.

Fiorente arrived in Australia two weeks ago and has been in quarantine at Werribee ever since.

The first fully fledged international over the line was third-placegetter Jakkalberry who is trained in England by Italian Marco Botti.

Behind him in order came Kelinni, another Irish-bred who began his career in England, Mount Athos who is trained in England, Glencadam Gold whose background is the same, ditto Mourayan, a stablemate of the winner and Red Cadeaux who is British through and through.

The honour of being the first Aussie, sort of, to salute appropriately went to the Bart Cummings-trained Precedence, who is part-owned by an English noblewoman.

Then came another succession of visitors until Niwot, last year's best local, struggled home in 15th place.

Most of the internationally trained runners complained of a lack of pace, notably Botti and Red Cadeaux's trainer Ed Dunlop.

"He ran a very good race, but he probably could have done with the pace being a bit quicker," Botti said.

Dunlop, who went so close a year earlier, said his horse's chances had been destroyed by the dawdling speed.

"About 15 jockeys will tell you that there was no pace," Dunlop said.

"He just couldn't make up the ground."

David Redvers, racing manager for Dunaden's owners, Pearl Bloodstock, said the horse who had so bravely won the Caulfield Cup two weeks ago had everything against him.

"I've never seen him finish a race looking so absolutely shattered," Redvers said.

"He won so well in the Caulfield Cup that it might have taken the edge off him.

"He's probably got too much weight in handicaps and he'll stick to group races from now on."

Photo: Fiona Tomlin

Green Moon Victorious In Melbourne Cup

Tuesday, 06 November 2012 04:26

Lloyd Williams collected his fourth Melbourne Cup this afternoon, with his stayer Green Moon producing a dominant display to win from the Gai Waterhouse trained Fiorente and Jakkalberry.

Green Moon Wins The Melbourne CupWilliams previous winners were Just A Dash, What A Nuisance and Efficient which won in 2007.

While Williams is probably getting used to winning Melbourne Cups, the win was a first for trainer Robert Hickmott and jockey Brett Prebble who flew in from Hong Kong to take the ride.

"I've had plenty of opportunities but finally it was my turn", Prebble said after the race.

"Every year I leave it open to him (Lloyd) and I wait until pretty much the death and last year it cost me first or second because I could've ridden those two (Dunaden and Red Cadeaux) so sometime luck is your fortune and I always repay people that are loyal to me."

"To come back this year after the disappointment of last year it's a great feeling."

Green MoonFor Hickmott the win is the pinnacle of a training career where he trains privately for Williams at Macedon Lodge near Gisborne, Victoria. This season he has the astonishing strike rate of 7 wins from 15 runners at Flemington, a testament to the extraordinary placement of horses in the Team Williams stable.

By all accounts the reclusive Hickmott also had a lot to do with training Efficient for his Cup win, but officially the trainer was recorded as Graeme Rogerson, who remained in Sydney for virtually the entire preparation.

"I'm just so proud for all our team at the farm because everyone just puts in so much time and effort, of course led by dad (Lloyd) and it's another Melbourne Cup triumph for Team Williams", said Williams son, Nick.

"We put a lot of money in and a heck of a lot of effort and to get this result today is terrific."

Green Moon Returns With Brett PrebblePrebble, who had never ridden Green Moon in a race before was impressed with the turn of foot of the Irish bred stayer.

"I was very happy with my position after 400m but we got a bit of pressure and they checked him and he threw his head up in the air and got a little bit on the bridle and I just wanted to concentrate on getting him down to the fence so he could switch off and relax."

"I knew he had an awesome turn of foot because I've watched him several times in replays and I knew what I had underneath me and I just needed to conserve his energy."

"From the 2000m he was on and off the bridle a bit and he is probably not used to that tempo, going from the Cox Plate tempo straight into the 3200m, and he sort of missed a 2500m race (in between)."

Prebble feels that Green Moon would be competitive anywhere in the world based on his win today.

"With that run under his belt now he is a force to be reckoned with and you could take him around the world because he is a serious galloper."

Photos: Quentin Lang Fiona Tomlin

Prebble Wins Cup But Won't Come Home

Tuesday, 06 November 2012 07:16

Brett Prebble returns on Green MoonBrett Prebble left Australia as a self-described arrogant young jockey a decade ago to try his luck in the tough Hong Kong arena.

He returned home for a fleeting visit on Tuesday to win the Melbourne Cup on Green Moon, but said it would not be enough to tempt him to leave the Chinese territory where he has become an elite rider - and a different person.

"Hong Kong racing and having a family has made me grow up a lot," Prebble said.

"When I left here I was young and arrogant. Hong Kong has made me a better person.

"Having my wife and kids has changed me."

A former Victorian champion rider, Prebble answered the call from owner Lloyd Williams to ride his horse in the Cup when Craig Williams decided to stick with Dunaden.

The result was decisive with Green Moon beating Fiorente by a length with Prebble confident a long way out.

A touch of that arrogance surfaced when Prebble described his confidence before and during the race on the horse who bounced back from a comprehensive Cox Plate defeat.

"I was very confident going in," he said.

"Without wanting to sound bad, I thought Craig over-rode him in the Cox Plate.

"He rode him to win and got going a long way out. He's a horse that needs to relax."

Green Moon Wins the Melbourne CupBut Prebble also praised his fellow jockey, saying Williams had displayed the professionalism needed to perform as well as he has done on the world stage.

He also paid tribute to his former bosses, Terry O'Sullivan and John Meagher, who took him on after Arthur Clarke said he would never make a jockey.

"My father was determined I would be a jockey but Arthur Clarke told me when I was 13 I wouldn't make it," Prebble said.

"I was a bit of a ratbag as a kid but Terry O'Sullivan took me on and then picked out John Meagher as the trainer I should go to.

"They were both great for me."

Prebble said winning the Cup was a lifelong dream but perhaps not the greatest moment of his career of which there have been many.

"I'm privileged to have won it and it's right up there with the races I have won," he said.

He then put his Cup reflections on hold as he went back to work to ride in the final two races on Cup day.

Photos: Fiona Tomlin Quentin Lang

City Switch Pays Off For Darley Filly

Tuesday, 06 November 2012 02:46

GenteelTrainer Peter Snowden was undecided about whether to race Genteel at Flemington during Cup Week, thinking that she may not have the class to measure up.

He need not have worried, Genteel powering home late to take out the Schweppes Tonic 1000 in fine fashion leaving a field of smart three year olds in her wake.

“We thought about it for a couple of weeks whether to bring her down or not but she is very lightly raced and from beating pretty moderate company (at Gosford) to come here on Cup day was a bit of an ask but after looking at the field the blokes behind me suggested she was in the race up to her ears.”

And so she was.

Jockey Kerrin McEvoy had Genteel well positioned mid-field in the early part of the race behind leader The Travelling Man. At the 400 metre mark he made a move, with Genteel ($3.70-$4.00-$3.90F) showing a lot of accelleration to quickly hit the lead. She was untroubled to win by 2¼ lengths on the line, with Magnier ($3.70-$4.60-$4.20) second and Kolonga ($15-$17) third.

Kerrin McEvoy“I was able to get into a nice spot and she regained her composure (after a bump) and travelled nice and I felt like the winner at the 400m and she kicked away”, McEvoy said.

Genteel's only previous win was at her first start in a two year old Maiden at Kembla Grange last year. Snowden had tried her over 1200 metres in her last preparation but now regards her as a pure sprinter.

“I’ve learnt a bit about her from last preparation and I think 1000 – 1100m is her right go”, Snowden said.

“When you find a turn of foot like that in a 1000m race you’re going to be pretty quick and she had the lovely run today.”

“She is very genuine, lightly raced and has been showing good ability.”

“It was an impressive win and she is a nice filly.”

Snowden will now look for another suitable race for Genteel, a daughter of the speedy Darley sire Exceed and Excel.

“It was a great result, good for the team, we’ve broken the ice and hopefully we can go on from here”, he said.

Photos: Fiona Tomlin Quentin Lang

Williams Gets His Reward With Cup Win

Tuesday, 06 November 2012 07:16

Lloyd Williams has poured his money, his heart and his soul into racing. His reward is a fourth Melbourne Cup thanks to Green Moon.

Green MoonAlthough it could be claimed as a local victory against the might of the European stayers, Williams had to go to Europe to source his latest Cup winner and bring him back to Australia 18 months ago.

Jockey Brett Prebble also had to travel, from his base in Hong Kong, but he made the journey worthwhile as he brought Green Moon ($20) home with a strong run from the 300-metre mark.

The challenge came from Gai Waterhouse's new stable acquisition Fiorente ($31) who got to within a length of the winner.

It was the trainer's third runner-up placing in the race after Te Akau Nick (1993) and Nothin' Leica Dane (1995).

Jakkalberry ($81) was the first of the northern hemisphere-trained visitors to cross the line, nabbing third from Kelinni ($19), 1-1/4 lengths behind Fiorente.

The French assault came to a shuddering halt with 2010 Cup winner Americain ($7.50) 11th and favourite Dunaden ($7) 14th in his bid to defend his title.

The Waterhouse-trained Glencadam Gold was sixth after setting the pace for most of the race.

Robert Hickmott, Brett Prebble & Nick WilliamsAs he was when Efficient won in 2007, Williams was at home watching on television, and left the talking and celebrating to his son Nick.

Green Moon lost favour with punters after his sub-par seventh as favourite in the Cox Plate, but the Williams clan remained true.

"The Cox Plate didn't go to plan," Nick Williams said.

"He was sore on the Sunday but he had bounced back by the Monday so we knew we had a horse again.

"This is a victory for the whole team we have at Macedon Lodge.

"My phone cut out as I was talking to (my father) but I know he will be over the moon, pardon the pun," Nick Williams said.

"The Melbourne Cup is his dream. He is a great strategist in everything he does and this is the race he wants to win."

His other Cup winners were Just A Dash (1981) and What A Nuisance (1985).

Return to ScaleCraig Williams rode Green Moon in the Cox Plate and had the option to stick with him if anything went amiss with Caulfield Cup winner Dunaden.

That didn't happen and Prebble jumped at the ride, saying he had watched the replays of the Cox Plate and was convinced the run was not as bad as it looked.

"I spoke to Lloyd weeks ago and he told me to keep an eye on his horses," Prebble said.

"I thought it was a forgive run and Lloyd has enough money and enough vets to get him right for the Cup."

Williams' other runner Mourayan finished seventh with Precedence, who finished ninth, the first colonial bred horse home.

Nick said the race had changed so much they now needed to look further afield.

"The Melbourne Cup is not the handicap it used to be," he said.

"The day of the Australian and New Zealand bred is gone.

"Horses need weight-for-age form and they need to be among the best we can get from overseas."

While it wasn't the result the visitors wanted, Jakkalberry's trainer Marco Botti said he would definitely be back next year, with perhaps two or three horses.

Photos: Quentin Lang

Vercoe Gets First City Win On Cup Day

Tuesday, 06 November 2012 02:06

KoonoomooRookie trainer Simon Vercoe scored his first city win with Koonoomoo in the Group 3 Herald Sun Stakes at Flemington this afternoon.

Ridden a well judged race by Hugh Bowman, Koonoomoo ($21-$31-$26) came from last at the 800 metre mark to win easily by a length and a half from Cabernet ($11-$13) with Mid Summer Music ($5.00-$8.50) a neck away third.

After leading around the turn, favourite Sheila's Star ($5.50) faded to finish tenth while Damien Oliver's mount Rose Of Peace broke down in the straight.

Bowman overcame the widest  barrier by dropping Koonoomoo out to last which allowed her to finish off the race in a slick 1:21.01 seconds, close to the track record of 1:20.6 held by Lovey.

"It was a privilege to ride her and obviously it was an awkward barrier but she was aided by a good pace", Bowman said.

Koonoomoo"I had plenty of horse under me so I was able to use my options and I got a dream run through and it's a great feeling".

"He rode her for luck and the luck came so it's a great day to break the city duck", Vercoe said.

"She is happier ridden quietly. Last start she was ridden a bit too close to the speed and today ridden quietly she hit the line superb."

"I've had a few seconds and thirds that have been close with some bad luck stories and I just thought this horse was going well enough and the result is there now."

Even though he had only trained one other winner, Vercoe went into today's race with some confidence as indicated by the backing from $31 to $26 with the bookmakers.

"I couldn't have been happier with her leading into today."

Koonoomoo"I thought it was a very even race and she was great odds for her form and (that might be) because I'm a country trainer", Vercoe said.

"In a big stable she'd be much shorter."

Vercoe took over the training of Koonoomoo earlier this year from Peter Fell, who trained the mare for her first four wins.

Thanking his owners for their patience he said:

"These are really loyal owners and it's great for them."

"They've been supportive for years and her original trainer now lives in Malaysia and he still part-owns her so he'll be rapt."

Photos: Quentin Lang, Fiona Tomlin

Win For Americain Connections In Cup Leadup

Tuesday, 06 November 2012 05:53

Walk With AttitudeGerry Ryan, part owner of favoured Melbourne Cup runner Americain was pleasantly surprised to see Walk With Attitude win the race before the Cup - the Lexus Hybrid Plate.

Ridden by embattled jockey Damien Oliver, Walk With Attitude was always handily placed in the stakes race for three year old fillies.

Oliver got to the lead in the concluding stages and Walk With Attitude ($8-00-$8.50) got to the line strongly to hold out leader Thunder Rain ($41) which tried bravely to lead all the way under Dwayne Dunn. The winning margin was a half neck, with three quarters of a length to third placed Medusa's Miss ($8.50-$9.00-$7.50).

"Gerry has been a great supporter and it's great to get a winner for him before the Cup and I hope I can do it in the next one for him as well", Oliver said.

"She was a bit keen because she'd been leading and running a bit free but they said if you can try and get a sit today that will be good."

"The pace wasn't that great but she dropped in behind the leader who gave a good kick and took a lot of wearing down but she just got it."

Damien OliverWinning trainer Darren Weir was thrilled to win a race for Ryan.

"It's terrific for everyone involved and Gerry has been a supporter of the stable for a long time so it's nice to win a race for him on Cup Day", Weir said.

"We always knew that if we drew a barrier and got a bit of cover she would have a good kick late but I must say early in the race she did pull pretty hard so she did a good job."

"Damien seems to know how to get them over the line and that's why he is the best."

Walk With Attitude was bred by Ryan's Limerick Lane Thoroughbreds, being by Hussonet from his Danehill mare Hillfa.

"It's a great result for the family and we get a bit of black type for her", Weir said.

Walk With Attitude continued Hillfa's great record over the Flemington 1400 metre course, her mother having won the Great Western Stakes at Listed level over the same track in 2005.

Photos: Quentin Lang

Dufficy Celebrates Win And Dreams Of Cup

Tuesday, 06 November 2012 01:31

VerdantPopular racing personality Ron Dufficy has celebrated a win with Verdant on Melbourne Cup day and is already looking ahead to next year.

The Robert Smerdon-trained Verdant won the race often called the Cup consolation, the Lavazza Long Black (2800m) in a track record 2:52.40.

Dufficy, a well known punter and commentator for Sky Racing, is part of a syndicate put together by Hong Kong-based David Price who sourced the English stayer last year.

Ridden by Dwayne Dunn, Verdant ($7.50) came from well back with favourite Garud ($3.60) to battle it out down the Flemington straight.

Verdant proved the superior stayer, stretching out to beat Garud by 1-1/4 lengths with Practiced ($5) another length third.

"I am a small part of a big syndicate and we are aiming at next year's Cup," Dufficy said.

"And I did have a good bet on him because the trainer said to.

"David Price found him for us in Europe with a view to the Melbourne Cup."

The winner of four restricted races in Europe, Verdant claimed his first Australian win over 3000m at Moonee Valley on October 26 at his fifth start for Smerdon.

Photo: Fiona Tomlin

Green Moon Triumphs In Melbourne Cup

Tuesday, 06 November 2012 05:31

Green MoonGreen Moon has upstaged a star international field to win the Melbourne Cup in a race dominated by Irish-bred horses.

Punters looked elsewhere after his failure as favourite in the Cox Plate last month but Green Moon ($20), ridden by Hong Kong-based Brett Prebble, stormed home to beat Fiorente ($31) and Jakkalberry ($81).

Kelinni ($19) was fourth.

The first seven horses across the line were bred in Ireland.

The much-fancied former winners Dunaden ($7 favourite) and Americain ($7.50) never featured.

The result was a bonanza for bookmakers but some punters had the day of their lives.

In NSW the trifecta paid $51,171 and the first four paid $1.467 million.

On the Victorian TAB the trifecta paid $45,941 and the first four $969,406.

Green Moon Returns With Brett PrebblePrebble was overjoyed to win his first Cup.

"It's my life dream to do it," he said.

He said his horse was checked by other runners soon after the start but he was always confident.

"I pressed him a bit soon but it's hard to wait here when you've got so much power underneath you.

"I was very confident they weren't going to pick him up when I let him down and he ran all the way through the wire."

It was a fourth Cup victory for owner Lloyd Williams, who won previous Cups with Just A Dash (1981), What A Nuisance (1985) and Efficient (2007) but was not at the track to see his horse win.

"He puts a lot into racing and he's a very good supporter of mine," Prebble said.

Green Moon"He's never here. He's going to be at home enjoying it. It's lovely."

Williams' son Nick was ecstatic after accepting the trophy from Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall.

"We put a lot of money in and a heck of a lot of effort so to get this result today is terrific," he said.

"God bless everyone who wrote him off."

Fiorente was the third Cup runner-up for trainer Gai Waterhouse, who previously trained Te Akau Nick (1993) and Nothin' Leica Dane in 1995.

It was not a good day for the only two locally bred horses in the race.

Niwot was 15th and Ethiopia was last.

Photos: Fiona Tomlin Quentin Lang

Cup Trainer, Owners Have Early Success

Tuesday, 06 November 2012 00:46

KasaneTrainer Pat Carey and owners Trevor and Terri Delroy had an early success at Flemington with the same colours that will be carried in the Melbourne Cup by their runner Ethiopia.

The success of Kasane in Tuesday's TAB Trophy Hcp (1700m) also got rider Brett Prebble into a winning mood before the big race.

Hong Kong-based Prebble gave Kasane ($26) a perfect ride and the mare showed the benefit of it to score by a half length from Mabsam ($9) with Aliyana ($17) a short half-head away in third place.

For Carey it was his third win in the race and he is hoping it won't be the last for the day.

"We've got everything set of the Cup, I just hope the same colours are going past the post in front," Carey said.

Like Kasane, Ethiopia, one of the better local hopes in a race dominated by internationals, was also bred by his owners.

While Prebble shared the success on Kasane, he is on Green Moon in the Cup with Rhys McLeod on Ethiopia.

Photo: Fiona Tomlin