5 most memorable moments in Melbourne Cup history
Brenton Le Grand is from Racing Connections, an independent, not-for-profit entity dedicated to providing education and support to those interested in racehorse ownership.
As we approach the time-honoured Melbourne Cup, racing expert Brenton Le Grand takes a look back at the top five moments the great race has produced.
5. The Divine Miss M
In 2005, a six-year-old mare by the name of Makybe Diva made Cup history by becoming the first horse ever to win three straight Melbourne Cups. Owner Tony Santic came up with the unusual name by taking the first two letters of the names of five ladies that worked at his tuna business – MAureen, KYlie, BElinda, DIanne and VAnessa. A massive crowd of over 106,000 at Flemington cheered her on as she swooped upon them down the straight. Post-race her trainer Lee Freedman famously quipped, "Go and find the smallest child on this course, because they will be an example of the only person here that will live long enough to see something like that again."
4. The People’s Champion (pictured)
During the dark depression years of the 20s and 30s, one horse lifted the spirits of a nation. Now a household name, Phar Lap captured the hearts of many when he won the 1930 edition of the race that stops a nation. Not only did he have to beat the handicapper who assigned him to carry 62.5kgs, he also survived a scare days earlier when financially-motivated gangsters fired four bullets at the great horse. "There's only one chance they've got of beating him," his jockey Jim Pike once said. "If they can breed them with wings on and get Kingsford-Smith to ride them – and then I doubt whether they'll beat him."
2. “I know you are up there, mate”
Australian sport has seen some emotional moments over the years, but Media Puzzle’s win in the 2002 Cup may trump them all. A week prior to the race, jockey Damien Oliver lost his brother Jason (who was also a jockey) in a horrific track incident. Wearing his brother’s “J Oliver” breeches (riding pants), Oliver pointed to the heavens as Media Puzzle crossed the finishing line in first. "Mate, Melbourne Cups don't mean a thing to me anymore. I'd give it back right now to have my brother back. But I know it was the right thing to ride. Jason would have wanted that," a tearful Oliver said after the race. The 2011 Australian film titled The Cup has immortalised this memory.
2. A Bart’s Dozen
When you think of the Melbourne Cup, you think of the trainer that won (a never to be equalled) 12 of them! Bart Cummings was a master of getting his horses to peak at the right time, to the minute even. In 2008, an underrated horse by the name of Viewed went around in the great race at inflated odds, with not many informed admirers. Viewed didn’t know that though, and we all learnt a valuable lesson that day – never write off a champion. Recently passing, Bart’s legacy lives on through his son Anthony and grandsons James and Edward who are all successful trainers in their own right.
1. “Everyone else can get stuffed”
In 2015, something happened in the Cup that had never occurred in over 150 years, a female jockey rode the winner. Riding one of the rank outsiders, 100-1 shot Prince of Penzance, Michelle Payne managed to weave a path down the famous Flemington straight and timed her run perfectly to salute. Making the effort even more extraordinary, Michelle had suffered a career threatening fall only two years earlier and contemplated retirement from the saddle. In one of the more famous post-race speeches she stated, "It's such a chauvinistic sport ... everyone else can get stuffed who think women aren't good enough… I'm so glad to win Melbourne Cup and hopefully it will help female jockeys from now on to get more of a go." And it certainly has...
Have you ever had a big win at the Melbourne Cup?
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