Protectionist wins the Melbourne Cup
Protectionist has won the Melbourne Cup, completing an international clean sweep of Australia’s richest spring races.
In beating a brave Red Cadeaux and Who Shot Thebarman, Protectionist delivered the first Melbourne Cup win for Germany.
He becomes the fifth northern hemisphere-trained horse to win the race since Vintage Crop scored in 1993.
Another international, Japanese stayer and favourite Admire Rakti, collapsed and died after finishing last.
In another post-race incident, seventh-placed Araldo kicked out at a fence when returning to the mounting yard and injured a hind leg. Vets were assessing the seriousness of the injury, which some reports said was life-threatening.
Admire Rakti, which won the Caulfield Cup in brilliant style last month, raced near the lead for most of the 3200-metre journey. But as it rounded the final bend the horse was clearly under pressure and dropped back through the field sharply.
He finished 25 lengths behind the second-last horse.
Admire Rakti carried the hopes of Melbourne Cup punters as the $5.50 favourite.
Chief steward Terry Baily said the seven-year-old collapsed and died when he returned to the tie-up stalls after the race.
Racing Victoria vets will conduct an autopsy.
“It’s a shame. We had such a nice, clean-run Melbourne Cup,” Bailey said.
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Winner Protectionist is trained by Andreas Wohler and was ridden by Ryan Moore, the English jockey who won the Cox Plate on Irish galloper Adelaide.
“He’s won very easy, that’s a very good horse,” Moore said.
“Obviously it’s very special.”
Starting with Admire Rakti’s win in the Caulfield Cup, the Melbourne spring carnival has belonged to the internationals.
But Protectionist’s win has ensured there is cause for Australian celebration after the nation’s greatest horse race.
The five-year-old is part-owned by Australian Bloodstock, the syndicator which raced the 2011 Melbourne Cup placegetter Lucas Cranach.
Red Cadeaux, lining up in his fourth Melbourne Cup, became the first horse to run second three times after also finishing runner-up in 2011 and 2013.
The nine-year-old was being hailed the winner until Protectionist emerged between horses at the 200m.
Auckland Cup winner Who Shot Thebarman was the first Australian-trained horse to finish, making ground along the inside to take the minor placing ahead of Signoff.
Favourite Admire Rakti, aiming to complete the Caulfield Cup-Melbourne Cup double, raced in second place but was beaten at turn and dropped right out.
Starting at $8, Protectionist cleared out to win by four lengths from Red Cadeaux ($21) with Who Shot Thebarman ($21) a half-length away third.
“We’ve had great success all over the world but that’s the biggest of all,” Wohler said.
“When he came round the last bend, I tell he just needs to have the right gap and he found it and he quickened so well. Ryan is a superstar.
“It’s unbelievable. It’s a moment you won’t forget in your life. It’s a big achievement from our team.”
Admire Rakti was the $5.50 favourite and finished last of the 22 runners.
WHERE YOUR HORSE FINISHED IN THE MELBOURNE CUP
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1. Protectionist
2. Red Cadeaux
3. Who Shot Thebarman
4. Signoff
5. Willing Foe
6. Precedence
7. Araldo
8. Au Revoir
9. Seismos
10. Fawkner
11. Opinion
12. Gatewood
13. Lucia Valentina
14. Mutual Regard
15. Brambles
16. Unchain My Heart
17. My Ambivalent
18. Junoob
19. Lidari
20. Royal Diamond
21. Mr O’Ceirin
22. Admire Rakti
