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Shocking Cup Win Turns Kav's Spring Around |
After a tough Spring, Trainer Mark Kavanagh finally has something to smile about after his horse Shocking made him a Melbourne Cup winner. The four year old horse, coming off a win in the Lexus Stakes on Saturday, continued his sizzling form to take the 2009 Emirates Melbourne Cup and $3 million prize money.
It's been an emotional rollercoaster ride for Kavanagh lately, who lost his gun runner Maldivian to a leg injury, watched his Cox Plate favourite Whobegotyou fail to make the placings, and then see his Derby favourite Shamoline Warrior scratched on race morning with a fever.
But that was all forgotten on the first Tuesday in November as Shocking showed amazing staying ability to hold off fast finishing Irish horse Crime Scene by three quarters of a length. Fellow Irish galloper Mourilyan flashed home for third, while Master O'Reilly ran on well to finish forth in the big event for a second year in a row.
"I didn't give him a hope in the run when he was trapped deep," Kavanagh said.
"I didn't expect to win it. It hasn't sunk in yet."
It was also redemption for winning jockey Corey Brown, who was beaten in a photo finish last year aboard Bauer.
"Last year was very disappointing but I've got it," Brown said.
"I've finally won the Melbourne Cup."
Race favourites Alcopop and Viewed finished sixth and seventh respectively. Both made up ground in the straight but never looked a winning chance. Shocking was well supported by the punters and started at $9.90
This years race saw 102,181 racegoers through the gates of Flemington.
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