Almandin Wins the 2016 Melbourne Cup
1 November, 2016
Thoroughbred
T
THOROUGHBRED
Leviathan owner Lloyd Williams has won his fifth Melbourne Cup, while jockey Kerrin McEvoy and trainer Robert Hickmott claimed their second, combining with Almandin to win the $6M feature at Flemington.
In a stirring battle down the straight, Almandin wore down the Tony Martin-trained Heartbreak City, ridden by champion Hong Kong jockey Joao Moreira, and scored by the narrowest of margins, with race favourite Hartnell a distant third.
Qewy, one of two runners for Godolphin trainer Charlie Appleby, ran fourth, stablemate Oceanographer could not recapture his Lexus Stakes winning form from Saturday and finished 12th.
Rose Of Virginia, the rank outsider of the field, tailed off and finished last.
Williams, Australia’s most prominent owner, won the Melbourne Cup previously with Just A Dash (1981), What A Nuisance (1985), Efficient (2007) and Green Moon (2012).
Almandin was one of four runners in the race for Williams, with Bondi Beach finishing 13th, while Assign and Gallante ran 19th and 20th respectively.
Williams lavished praise on Almandin, a seven-year-old gelding, who returned to racing in June, after a two year absence with a tendon injury.
In his last start prior to coming to Australia, Almandin defeated 2014 Melbourne Cup winner Protectionist in Germany.
“This horse has done a huge job to come back after injury,” Williams said on Channel Seven.
“Full credit to Robert Hickmott and everyone at Macedon Lodge.
“I can’t tell you, as a proud Melbournian, how touched I am.”
McEvoy, who won the Melbourne Cup aboard Brew in 2000, said he was privileged to ride for the Williams and Hickmott team.
“I can’t believe how lucky I am,” McEvoy told Channel Seven.
“The elation was unreal and this is just a dream.
“Thank you to Lloyd (Williams) and Rob (Hickmott) for giving me a chance.”
Almandin paid $11.80 for the win and $4.40 for a place on TABtouch.
Heartbreak City returned a dividend of $6.20 for running second, while Hartnell paid $2.80 for his third placing.
The Quinella paid $119.80, while the trifecta returned a healthy $1541.30.
Qewy’s fourth placing ensured the first four swelled out to $24,174.40.
One lucky West Australian punter was a big winner on the TAB in Geraldton, collecting $77,065 with a $50 trifecta.