Pre-race favourite Incentivise ran second forward of third-placed Spanish Mission in Australia’s “race that stops the nation.”
Jockey James McDonald was overwhelmed after his first Melbourne Cup win on the Chris Waller-trained mare, which was rated 14/1 by bookmakers.
“I like her to bits, she’s been so good to me,” he stated.
“I can safely say she is a champion now.
“She was relaxed the entire manner … I used to be blowing kisses to her all the way in which. I simply cannot consider it.”
“I by no means thought I’d win one (Melbourne Cup), I dreamed I would win one, it is so onerous to win. Her battle and willpower simply takes her up to now. I need to swear!”
Australian stayer Incentivise was a 3/1 favourite to say the grueling two-mile handicap, having received its final 9 begins and after blitzing the sector in final month’s 2,400m Caulfield Cup, a conventional type information for the Cup.
The Peter Moody-trained gelding held the lead because it rounded the ultimate flip however Verry Elleegant burst into the entrance with 300m to the put up and burned away from the sector.
British stayer Spanish Mission was rated second favourite at 9/1.
Solely two horses ready outdoors Australia and New Zealand had been among the many 23 that ran at Flemington, the place a COVID-capped crowd of 10,000 gathered on a scorching, sunny day, a yr after Twilight Fee received the race at a closed observe.
Rank outsider Future Rating, educated by Matt Cumani, was scratched within the morning after vets discovered lameness in his proper foreleg.
