Success lives here

At Flemington in Melbourne, Coolmore's deceased dual Derby-winning shuttler & 6-time Gr1 victor High Chaparral (Sadler's Wells-Kasora, by Dashaan) celebrated an elite race success when 4YO UK-bred entire Rekindling (High Chaparral-Sitara, by Salse) defied his inexperience when unleashing a strong run down the middle of the famous Flemington straight to win the $6.2 million Gr1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) for 3YO+, narrowly defeating fellow Lloyd Williams-owned galloper Johannes Vermeer & French-bred stayer Max Dynamite. Rekindling, who became the first 3YO (a 3YO by northern hemisphere time) to win the Cup since 1941, improved his record to 4 wins (including the Gr2 Curragh Cup & Gr3 Ballysax Stakes) and 2 placings (including the Gr2 Irish St Leger Trial) from 10 starts for $4,120,149 in earnings. For jockey Corey Brown, it was his second Melbourne Cup win after Shocking in 2009. The 157th running of the Melbourne Cup will be remembered as a special one for both owner Lloyd Williams and young trainer Joseph O'Brien. If Rekindling's win is any guide then O'Brien, the 24YO son of Irish master trainer Aidan, has a very bright career ahead of him indeed as he has achieved what his famous father hitherto has not; that is, win Australia's most famous race. And he has done so at his very first attempt, no less. O’Brien junior also proved that, contrary to popular wisdom, you don’t have to give a foreign horse a lead-up run in Australia prior to the Melbourne Cup. The only other international raider to win the Cup without a lead-up run in Australia was Vintage Crop way back in 1993. As for Williams, he confirmed his status as the most successful owner in Melbourne Cup history with his sixth Cup win. Rekindling joins Just A Dash (1981), What A Nuisance (1985), Efficient (2007), Green Moon (2012), and Almandin (2016) as winners for the Macedon Lodge principal. Williams said the victory was all the sweeter for being able to share it with the young O'Brien. "I'm absolutely thrilled," an emotional Williams told racing.com. "To be able to win this race with Aidan's son is very special, I've known the family a long time….it's a dream, it really is."