Final yr’s Lexus Melbourne Cup (G1) winner Twilight Payment has been retired following his unsuccessful repeat bid in the Flemington showpiece on Nov. 2.
The 8-year-old landed a second win in the race for trainer Joseph O’Brien when making all under Jye McNeil in 2020, but could finish only 11th behind Verry Elleegant on Tuesday. He will spend his retirement at the Living Legends facility in Greenvale, Victoria.
Joint-owner Nick Williams said on Twitter: “On behalf of the owners I would like to thank Joseph O’Brien and all his team, particularly his handler Sean Corby and Mark Power. He has brought so much excitement to our ownership group, families, and friends.”
As well as winning the Melbourne Cup, Twilight Payment was placed in two Comer Group International Irish St. Legers (G1) and was a dual winner of the Comer Group International Curragh Cup (G2). He earned just over £3 million (about US$4 million) in prize money. His record stands at 9-11-8 from 37 starts, and he won or placed in 14 group races.
Twilight Payment, a son of Teofilo , was bred in Ireland by Jim Bolger, who used to train the gelding. He is out of the Oasis Dream mare Dream On Buddy, who also produced the group 2-placed Bandiuc Eile.
