Goliath owner Lloyd Williams has gone back-to-back in the ‘Race That Stops A Nation’ and secured his incredible sixth Loving Trophy with European three-year-old Rekindling defeating Johannes Vermeer and Max Dynamite in the 2017 Melbourne Cup Trifecta.
2017 Melbourne Cup winner Rekindling led an all-Irish trifecta in the ‘Race That Stops A Nation’. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.
Williams saluted in 2016 with Almandin and returned with six horses in the Group 1 $6.25 million Emirates Melbourne Cup (3200m) this spring, two of those dominating the 2017 Melbourne Cup results for an all Williams-owned quinella in the world’s richest handicap.
Jockey Corey Brown celebrated his second Melbourne Cup winning ride following the success on Shocking in 2009, guiding the Irish raider Rekindling to victory on the light 51.5kg weight.
“I can’t believe it,” Brown said post-win.
“I chased the ride about six weeks ago.
“I’d be happy with the big ones like this every year!
“It’s so special…I can’t believe I’ve done it again.
“It’s a dream even riding in the race, but to win it again, I’m lost for words.”
The winning Melbourne Cup trainer Joseph O’Brien, 24, held out his established father Aidan O’Brien who prepared second past the post Johannes Vermeer, while third-placed Max Dynamite is prepared by William Mullins making for an all-Irish Melbourne Cup trifecta in 2017.
“I can’t quite believe it,” the young O’Brien said.
“His prep went really good and Corey gave him an unbelievable ride.
“It hasn’t really sunk in yet to be honest.
“He had a very light weight…it’s not often in a big race that the whole run went so well for him.
“Over the moon.”
The Melbourne Cup runner-up Johannes Vermeer was third-up in Australia following a second in the Ladbrokes Classic (2000m) and lead-up third in the Caulfield Cup (2400m).
Rekindling though did what no Melbourne Cup winner has done since Vintage Crop (1993), taking out the two mile classic first-up without a previous lead-up run in Australia.
A three-year-old in Europe, Rekindling officially races as a four-year-old in Australia and the High Chaparral entire gave the 4YOs an equal 44th Melbourne Cup success with the 5YOs.
“We bought him as a yearling,” Williams said.
“As soon as Joseph got his [training] licence, we sent the horse to him.
“Absolutely, a dream.
“I’m terribly excited. I can’t put it into words. Just to do it with this [European] three-year-old.”
Rekindling hadn’t raced since a brave fourth when only two lengths beaten in the Group 1 Doncaster St Leger (2921m) in mid-September and relished coming right back from 57.5kg that day.
The fit Ben Melham-ridden Johannes Vermeer looked home in the Melbourne Cup before Brown presented Rekindling at the right time and was able to run down the leader with the weight advantage.
It was also a brave Melbourne Cup run from third placed Max Dynamite, the horse returning to Australia after the luckless second to Prince Of Penzance ($101) in the 2015 Melbourne Cup.
The early pace in the Melbourne Cup was pretty casual, the Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott-trained Lexus Stakes winner Cismontane not going all that hard out in front until midrace.
The speed increased from halfway around the two mile classic, and Brown was always in a good spot travelling nicely on Rekindling.
Cismontane found the lead after pushing forward from early frontrunner Boom Time, while the Williams-raced roughie Gallante was third just ahead of the Hughie Morrison-trained favourite Marmelo.
Rekindling meanwhile was tucked away on the inside midfield, just behind the likes of Johannes Vermeer and Max Dynamite who were travelling fifth and seventh respectively.
Max Dynamite and jockey Zac Purton were getting a cushy run the rails heading into the turn.
Cismontane and Marmelo straightened for home together at the 400m with Johannes Vermeer, Tiberian and Max Dynamite all coming.
At the 300m Johannes Vermeer took the lead, but Rekindling chased him down, while Max Dynamite switched to the inside.
It was a two horse race, stride-for-stride over the final furlong but the lightweight got there first.
“I always thought I was going to get him [Johannes Vermeer], especially with the light weight,” Brown said.
See below for the official Melbourne Cup 2017 Results & Finishing Order before heading to Ladbrokes.com.au to see how your Melbourne Cup tips and exotic payouts went in the great race.
2017 Melbourne Cup Results & Finishing Order
Flemington Race 7 – 07/11/2017
| Place | # | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Margin | Br. | Weight | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 22 | REKINDLING (GB) | Joseph O’Brien | Corey Brown | – | 4 | 51.5kg | $15 |
| 2 | 7 | JOHANNES VERMEER (IRE) | Aidan O’Brien | Ben Melham | 0.4L | 3 | 54.5kg | $13 |
| 3 | 9 | MAX DYNAMITE (FR) | William Mullins | Zac Purton | 2.9L | 2 | 54kg | $20 |
| 4 | 13 | BIG DUKE (IRE) | Darren Weir | Brenton Avdulla | 5.65L | 5 | 53.5kg | $21 |
| 5 | 18 | NAKEETA (GB) | Iain Jardine | Glyn Schofield | 6.4L | 19 | 53kg | $41 |
| 6 | 21 | THOMAS HOBSON (GB) | William Mullins | Ben Allen (a) | 8.65L | 20 | 52kg | $21 |
| 7 | 4 | TIBERIAN (FR) | Alain Couetil | Olivier Peslier | 9.15L | 22 | 55.5kg | $31 |
| 8 | 17 | LIBRAN (IRE) | Chris Waller | Dwayne Dunn | 9.65L | 7 | 53kg | $61 |
| 9 | 5 | MARMELO (GB) | Hughie Morrison | Hugh Bowman | 9.75L | 16 | 55kg | $7 |
| 10 | 12 | WICKLOW BRAVE (GB) | William Mullins | Stephen Baster | 10.5L | 8 | 54kg | $71 |
| 11 | 6 | RED CARDINAL (IRE) | Andreas Wohler | Kerrin McEvoy | 11.25L | 23 | 55kg | $16 |
| 12 | 2 | ALMANDIN (GER) | Robert Hickmott | Frankie Dettori | 11.45L | 14 | 56.5kg | $7 |
| 13 | 24 | CISMONTANE (NZ) | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | Beau Mertens (a) | 12.2L | 17 | 50kg | $41 |
| 14 | 23 | AMELIE’S STAR | Darren Weir | Dean Yendall | 12.95L | 10 | 51kg | $26 |
| 15 | 15 | BOOM TIME | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig | Cory Parish | 13.95L | 9 | 53kg (incl. 1.0kg penalty) | $34 |
| 16 | 20 | WALL OF FIRE (IRE) | Hugo Palmer | Craig Williams | 15.45L | 15 | 53kg | $11 |
| 17 | 19 | SINGLE GAZE | Nick Olive | Ms Kathy O’Hara | 15.85L | 11 | 53kg | $31 |
| 18 | 14 | US ARMY RANGER (IRE) | Joseph O’Brien | Jamie Spencer | 16.15L | 21 | 53.5kg | $71 |
| 19 | 3 | HUMIDOR (NZ) | Darren Weir | Blake Shinn | 16.65L | 13 | 56kg | $11 |
| 20 | 1 | HARTNELL (GB) | James Cummings | Damian Lane | 28.65L | 12 | 57.5kg | $26 |
| 21 | 10 | VENTURA STORM (IRE) | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig | Glen Boss | 30.15L | 6 | 54kg | $34 |
| 22 | 8 | BONDI BEACH (IRE) | Robert Hickmott | Michael Walker | 31.4L | 1 | 54kg | $71 |
| 23 | 16 | GALLANTE (IRE) | Robert Hickmott | Michael Dee | 99.9L | 18 | 53kg | $91 |
| – | 11 | WHO SHOT THEBARMAN (NZ) | Chris Waller | Tommy Berry | – | 0 | – | – |
