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
