German galloper Protectionist denied Red Cadeaux a victory and proved to be the toughest stayer with a runaway win in the 2014 Group 1 $6m Emirates Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington today.
Protectionist scores a runaway win in the Melbourne Cup at Flemington. Photo by Sarah Ebbett
Ridden a super race by English champion jockey Ryan Moore, Protectionist ($8) raced clear in the in the straight to deny twice Melbourne Cup runner-up Red Cadeaux ($21) a victory at his fourth attempt at Australia’s greatest race.
Red Cadeaux ran a mighty race after being wide in the middle stages to battle on for second, four lengths behind the winner with the Chris Waller trained Who Shot Thebarman ($21) sticking to the fence to finish in third spot, another half a length back.
Ryan Moore had already shown the Australian public the depths of his talent with a historic win on the Aidan O’Brien galloper Adelaide to win the Group 1 $3m Sportingbet Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley just over two weeks.
And he returned to Melbourne to produce an outstanding ride to claim the major slice of the $6 million purse today.
German trainer Andreas Wohler had prepared Perfectionist perfectly and the lightly raced five year had a run under Australian conditions when fourth to Big Memory in the Group 2 $200,000 Sportingbet Herbert Power Stakes (2400m) at Caulfield on October 11.
Moore positioned Protectionist in the second half of the field and weaved his way through the field to steal the lead off Red Cadeaux at the 250m mark to completely dominate the finish of the Melbourne Cup field.
The widely travelled Red Cadeaux tried his heart out as usual and after Gerald Mosse was caught wide in the middle stages, pushed the veteran to the front midway down the straight but couldn’t hold off Protectionist and collected his third Melbourne Cup runner’s up cheque.
Who Shot Thebarman was the best of Chris Waller’s three runners to finish third with Opinion ($71) in eleventh spot and Junoob ($21) ending up near the tail of the field in eighteenth position.
Wohler praised the patient ride of Moore who was able to dissect the field when he made his move at the top of the straight rom back in the field.
“He was so patient. When he came around the last bend he needed the gap and the gap opened up for him and he kicked so well,” Wohler said.
“It is unbelievable, It is a moment that you won’t forget in your life, it is a big achievement.”
Unfortunately race favourite Admire Rakti ($5.50) was planted up with the leading bunch after beginning well, but faded in the straight to finish last and later collapsed in his tie up stalls after the race and died.
The well fancied Signoff ($8) with Joao Moreira made his claim down the middle of the track but as soon as the Darren Weir trained galloper looked a winning chance, he started to shorten stride and failed to run out the 3200m but battled on for fourth.
The Mike Moroney trained Araldo ($21) who finished seventh has been sent the Werribee veterinary medical Centre after injuring his hind leg on returning to the mounting yard
The Kris Lees trained Lucia Valentina ($7) was never in the hunt to finish thirteenth but the Broadmeadow trainer has something to look forward to with the news that Protectionist will be heading to his stables and stay in Australia.
