‘Elleegant’ soars as Waller lands first Melbourne Cup

Verry Elleegant storms to victory in the Melbourne Cup. Photo: Getty Images

Michael Verney

November 03 2021 02:30 AM

There was no famous back-to-back victory in the Melbourne Cup for Twilight Payment (12/1) as Joseph O'Brien's defending champion failed to fire as the race that stops a nation was dominated by wonder mare Verry Elleegant (17/1).

Last year’s winning rider Jye McNeil was never happy on the slow-starting eight-year-old as he came home well beaten in 11th in the early hours of yesterday morning at Flemington.

Incentivise (19/10) was sent off the shortest-priced favourite since the legendary Phar Lap in 1930, but he was no match for Verry Elleegant as James McDonald's mount scored by a cosy four lengths to hand Chris Waller a first Melbourne Cup success.

“It means everything. It’s the one race I’ve dreamed of riding in and of winning," McDonald said. “That’s how you want to win a Melbourne Cup. I couldn’t believe the position I got first time out of the straight.

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"She was so relaxed, she never touched the bridle until I gave her a kick at the 600-metre mark and she sucked up. To pilot horses like Verry Elleegant each and every carnival is just a huge privilege, and it worked out really well for us.”

Waller famously trained 25-time Group One winner and four-times Cox Plate champion Winx and he celebrated a "special" success, while Andrew Balding’s British raider Spanish Mission (9/1) finished best of the two European challengers in third.

Meanwhile, Gavin Cromwell has been denied a swansong effort at the Breeders' Cup with Quick Suzy, after the Royal Ascot winner was a late absentee from Friday's Juvenile Turf Sprint having developed a temperature following her transatlantic trip.

That was set to be Quick Suzy's final start for the Meath trainer as the Profitable filly moves into the care of California-based trainer Paddy Gallagher.

Elsewhere, Gordon Elliott kept up his scintillating form with another double yesterday as Queens Brook (11/8 joint-favourite) landed the featured Fairyhouse.ie Hurdle by four lengths under Jack Kennedy.

Elliott had another reason to smile as Champion Bumper fourth Three Stripe Life (2/13 favourite) easily got off the mark over hurdles at the first time of asking under Davy Russell.