NEWS
Kavanagh, Brown team for Shocking victory in Melbourne Cup
Posted: Tuesday, November 03, 2009 4:33 PM
by Myra Lewyn
Despite a wide trip and a worried jockey, Shocking pulled out a thrilling victory in the 149th Melbourne Cup (Aus-G1) after he overhauled Godolphin’s Crime Scene with 200 meters remaining and held back that opponent to prevail.
There were 102,161 fans on hand at Flemington for the Melbourne Cup, dubbed the “race that stops a nation,” and a roar went up as Shocking and Crime Scene spurted ahead of the field in the straight. The duo matched strides in an exciting battle until Shocking sealed the win with a few dominant strides under Corey Brown.
Sent off at 10-to-1 odds, Shocking won by three-quarters of a length and covered 3,200 meters (15.91 furlongs) in 3:23.87 while earning his first win at the highest level. Trained by Mark Kavanagh for Eales Racing, the four-year-old colt is from the second Australian-born crop of Darley’s Kentucky-based sire Street Cry (Ire) and is out of the Danehill mare Maria de Castiglia.
The triumph, which came just three days after Shocking earned his first stakes win in the Lexus Saab Hotham Stakes (Aus-G3) under Michael Rodd at Flemington, was sweet for Kavanagh, whose stable has endured some low points along the way.
The same day as the Hotham, Kavanagh’s AAMI Victoria Derby (Aus-G1) favorite, Shamoline Warrior, scratched from the classic due to a lung infection. The previous weekend, stable star Whobegotyou was defeated as the favorite in the Tatts W. S. Cox Plate (Aus-G1) and was sore when pulled up, the Sydney Morning Herald reported. Kavanagh also recently lost 2008 Cox Plate winner Maldivian and multiple group winner Cats Whisker to leg injuries.
“At the end of the day, racing is pretty tough,” Kavanagh told the publication. “You just keep getting up, keep getting to the races, keep going to the sales, keep getting horses; you keep going.
“I’ve watch [Australian Racing Hall of Fame trainer Bart Cummings, who has sent out 12 previous Melbourne Cup winners]. He gets them to peak on the day. Not many people can do that. I’m proud I did that today.”
Brown inherited the mount on Shocking when Rodd could not make weight. He, too, enjoyed a measure of redemption with the victory after feeling anxious while Shocking raced at least three wide the entire trip. Brown came heartbreakingly close to winning last year’s Melbourne Cup on Bauer, who finished second by a nose to Viewed.
“I was worried the whole race,” Brown said. “It’s one thing to have light weight on your back [112 pounds], but to be exposed the whole race covering ground. … It was a tough effort, traveling three wide in a Melbourne Cup and still win “
Shocking raced in midpack in the 23-horse field through the first 1½ miles as Warringah set the tempo while pursued by Roman Emperor and Fiumicino.
Nearing the far turn, Shocking advanced on the front-runners and then moved outside of English Group 3 winner Crime Scene, who seized the lead at the 300-meter mark.
Crime Scene, sent off at 40-to-1 odds, finished 1½ lengths in front of Mourilyan, who charged from last place to finish third. Viewed, seeking a 13th Melbourne Cup for Cummings, finished seventh in his repeat bid for victory.
Australian-bred Shocking improved to five wins, five seconds, and two thirds in 15 career starts.
Myra Lewyn is a Thoroughbred Times TODAY editor
