The 2016 Melbourne Cup has been won by Almandin, who fought off Heartbreak City in the final stages to deliver Lloyd Williams another win in the Group 1 event.

Heartbreak City and Almandin cleared out from the rest of the field to fight out the finish, but it was Almandin who was the strongest in the final stages of the race.

There was plenty of speed in the early stages of the Melbourne Cup, with Secret Number taking up the running from Excess Knowledge, and it ensured that every horse had their chance.

Hartnell cruised into the race at the top of the straight and he looked like the winner, but he did not have the turn-of-foot to match it with Almandin and Heartbreak City.

Jockey Kerrin McEvoy stamped himself as a jockey with a big future when he steered Brew to victory in the 2000 edition of the race and he was clearly delighted to have won the Melbourne Cup for a second time 16 years later.

“He travelled really well,” McEvoy said.

“How lucky am I?

“The elation is unreal.

“He has been well prepared by Lloyd – he won in October and he just gave him a nice little freshen-up.

“It was typical Lloyd, he knows what to do in these staying races.

“It is great to be apart of it.

“Steven King gave me a call this morning and he said that this horse is absolutely flying and that gave me a lot of confidence.

“It is a dream come true.

“I love a Melbourne Cup.”

Lloyd Williams was on course to represent Macedon Lodge for Melbourne Cup Day and it was always a good indication that the stable were very confident about their chances.

Williams has now won the Melbourne Cup on five occasions – following his wins with Just A Dash, What A Nuisance, Efficient and Green Moon – and he was clearly emotional to have won the race with Almandin.

“This horse had a tendon and he was broken down, so it is quiet emotional.

“The boys have done a fabulous to get him back and we have a great staff up there.

“When we thought it had a chance after it won the Bart Cummings, we asked the others if they wanted to come into it because we thought it had a real Cup chance.”

Heartbreak City was gallant in defeat and ran a super race for second, while Hartnell was able to tough it out to the line for third.

Race 1 – 2016 Ottawa Stakes Results

Invincible Star upstaged the short-priced Madeenaty to record an upset victory in the opening race on 2016 Melbourne Cup Day.

Invincible Star was making her racing debut after a recent jump out down the Flemington straight and Joao Moreira elected to take her to the outside rail, which proved to be the winning move.

Madeenaty easily accounted for the horses on the inside of the track, but it was the outside that was the place to be and Invincible Star cruised to the line to record an impressive win.

Co-trainer Gai Waterhouse was delighted with the performance of Invincible Star in the Ottawa Stakes and she said that the 2016 Magic Millions Classic at the Gold Coast would be the obvious target for the daughter of I Am Invincible.

Race 2 – 2016 TAB Trophy Results

The market suggests that Sort After and Model Dragon are the two horses to beat in this race and it would not surprise to see them fight out the finish.

Sort After failed to fire last start at Royal Randwick, but she had excuses and before that she beat Myer Classic runner Euro Angel.

This is a step-up in class for Model Dragon, but she has recorded three wins from as many race starts and Phillip Stokes has an excellent record at Flemington.

Race 3 – 2016 Prince Of Penzance Plate Results

Kinema worked home strongly from the tail of the field to record a tough staying victory in the 2016 Prince Of Penzance Plate at Flemington this afternoon.

Ryan Moore elected to settle Kinema at the tail of the field in the early stages of the race and he looked like he had very little chance when he was still at the tail of the field at the top of the straight.

Firenze and Four Carat looked as though they were going to fight out the finish, but Kinema was far too strong in the final stages of the race and finished over the top of his rivals.

Trainer Chris Waller believes that Kinema could be a Sydney Cup contender in the autumn

Race 4 – 2016 Lavazza Prontissimo Handicap Results

Demonstrate showed an impressive turn-of-foot to make it three wins on the trot in the Lavazza Prontissimo Handicap at Flemington this afternoon.

James McDonald made the surprise decision to settle Demonstrate at the tail of the field, but it proved to be the winning move.

Demonstrate quickly picked up his rivals when asked for an extra effort by McDonald and he toughed out Sovereign Nation and Give Us A Go in the final stages of the race.

McDonald and trainer John O’Shea will combine again in just over two hours time when Hartnell starts the 2016 Melbourne Cup as favourite.

Race 5 – 2016 Schweppes #FlemingtonFling Handicap Results

Speedeor defied a late betting drift to take out the Flemington Fling Handicap in just his third race start.

Luke Nolen elected to take Speedeor to the outside of the track from barrier three and he was able to find nice cover in the early stages of the race.

At the 300 metre mark there was a host of winning chances as the leaders stretched right across the track, but Speedeor showed an impressive turn-of-foot when asked for an extra effort to quickly put a couple of lengths on his rivals.

Trainer Darren Weir was happy with the performance of Speedeor and he indicated that he will head to the Magic Millions Race on Ballarat Cup Day before a potential trip to Queensland for the Magic Millions Guineas.

Race 6 – 2016 Lexus Hybrid Plate Results

Jennifer Lynn stormed home down the centre of the track to record a narrow victory in the Lexus Hybrid Plate at Flemington this afternoon.

There looked like a host of winning chances at the 300 metres mark and Jennifer Lynn was not one of them, but jockey Blake Shinn found the best part of the track and she stormed home in the final stages.

Prompt Response and Invincibella looked like they were going to fight out the finish, but it was Jennifer Lynn that got her nose down at the right time to record a classy win.

Race 8 – 2016 James Boag’s Premium Stakes Results

Fabrizio made it two wins from as many starts with an impressive victory in the 2016 James Boag’s Premium Stakes at Flemington this afternoon.

Fabrizio was expected to take up the running, but Luke Nolen elected to take a sit in the James Boag’s Premium Stakes and he received a lovely run in transit.

Nolen asked Fabrizio for an extra effort at the top of the straight and he quickly sprinted away from his rivals to record a strong win.

Fabrizio gave Gai Waterhouse her third win of Melbourne Cup Day and the leading trainer revealed that the Australian Cup is on the agenda for the talented galloper.

Race 9 – 2016 MSS Security Sprint Results

Flippant returned to winning form with a strong victory in the MSS Security Sprint at Flemington this afternoon.

The Hinchinbrook mare returned to the races with a poor effort in the Listed Alinghi Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield on October 15, but a vet examination after the race revealed that she had been galloped on after the race.

Punters were not keen on Flippant in the MSS Security Sprint, but she tackled Faatinah for the lead at the 200 metre mark and she proved too strong for her rival in the final stages.

Race 10 – 2016 The Hong Kong Jockey Club Stakes Results

 

Artistry took advantage of an outstanding ride form Hugh Bowman to score an eye-catching victory in the 2016 Hong Kong Jockey Club Stakes at Flemington this afternoon.

Surprise leading Egyptian Symbol, Silent Sedition and Shillelagh looked as though they would fight out the finish, but Bowman timed his run to perfection and Artistry swooped home late to get the job done.

Artistry’s victory in the Hong Kong Jockey Club Stakes delivered Team Snowden a race-to-race double following the victory of Flippant in the MSS Security Sprint.