FLEM NOV 06 - A GREEN MOON TIDE SWAMPS THE OPPOSITION IN THE MELBOURNE CUP

By Graham Potter | Tuesday, November 6, 2012

Green Moon, easy to back at 20-1, stunned his rivals with a sustained finishing effort that carried him to Melbourne Cup glory in emphatic fashion at Flemington today.

The horse who flopped in the Cox Plate bounced back under the firm guidance of jockey Brett Prebble, who flew in from Hong Kong to take the ride for the Lloyd Williams camp, to post a victory that was a little more comfortable than the official one length margin suggests.

Was that form hiccup at Moonee Valley just a result that reflected his dislike for the track or did the fact that Green Moon raced three wide that day put pay to his chances? It no longer matters. Those were points of debate before today’s run. You either gave Green Moon the benefit of the doubt and another chance, or you went against him.

In the end, in the win pool market at least, that decision was the difference between collecting or giving your cash away.

There was no respite in the placings for the followers of the more fancied runners as two even longer priced horses, Fiorente ($30) and Jakkalberry ($81) finished closest to the winner with Kilinni ($19) back in fourth … and when any first four dividend pays over R1 million (as it did in New South Wales), you know exactly how severely most punters were caned in the punishing two hundred seconds it took to complete the race.

If you were not one of the lucky ones, did you manage to sight your horse in the race?

For the record, here is the official finishing order in the 2012 Melbourne Cup along with the Stewards Report.

1st. Green Moon
2nd. Fiorente
3rd. Jakkalberry
4th. Kelinni
5th. Mount Athos
6th. Glencadam Gold
7th. Mourayan
8th. Red Cadeaux
9th. Precedence
10th. My Quest For Peace
11th. Americain
12th. Cavalryman
13th. Voila Ici
14th. Dunaden
15th. Niwot
16th. Lights of Heaven
17th. Winchester
18th. Sanagas
19th. Maluckyday
20th. Galileo's Choice
21st. Unusual Suspect
22nd. Zabeelionaire
23rd. Tac De Boistron
24th. Ethiopia

Stewards Report:
Prior to the commencement of the meeting trainer Mr P Moody advised that Voila Ici (IRE) would be ridden more conservatively today.

Trainer Mr L Corstens was issued with a charge under AR178E(1) in that he failed to seek permission from the Stewards to administer medication to Zabeelionaire (NZ) on race day, the medication being a herbal preparation as defined under the rules which was applied to the horses hooves on race morning. Mr Corstens was found guilty and fined $500.

A short distance after the start Dunaden (FR) shifted in across the heels of Americain (USA) and in doing so clipped the heels of Americain (USA) and blundered.

R McLeod (Ethiopia) pleaded guilty to a charge of careless riding under the provisions of AR137a, the careless riding being that near the 300m on the first occasion he permitted his mount to shift in tightening the running of Kelinni (IRE) which was forced onto Green Moon which had to be checked.

R McLeod had his licence to ride in races suspended for a period to commence at midnight November 8 and to expire at midnight November 18, a total of 12 race meetings (3 city, 9 country). In assessing penalty Stewards took into account R McLeod’s guilty plea and that the careless riding was in the mid-range.

L Nolen (Lights Of Heaven (NZ)) was found guilty of careless riding under the provisions of AR137a, the careless riding being that after passing the winning post on the first occasion he permitted his mount to shift in to a point where he left insufficient room for two runners to his inside, they being Mourayan (IRE) and Kelinni (IRE) to a point after the winning post where Mourayan (IRE) was checked severely.

L Nolen had his licence to ride suspended for a period to commence at midnight November 8 and to expire at midnight November 18, a total of 12 race meetings (3 city, 9 country). In assessing penalty Stewards took into account L Nolen’s good riding record and that the careless riding was in the mid-range. An inquiry was adjourned until Thursday’s meeting in to L Nolen’s conduct during this inquiry.

J McDonald (Fiorente (IRE)) was found guilty of a charge of careless riding under the provisions of AR137a, the careless riding being that after passing the 800m he directed his mount out from behind Ethiopia where there was no room, making heavy contact with Sanagas (GER) resulting in Sanagas (GER) being knocked off balance and N Hall, rider of Sanagas (GER) becoming unbalanced and losing the use of his off side iron.

J McDonald had his licence to ride in races suspended for a period to commence at midnight November 8 and to expire at midnight November 20, a total of 14 race meetings (3 city, 11 country). In assessing penalty Stewards took into account the incident and carelessness were in the high range but did make some concessions for Ethiopia weakening in front of him.

After passing the 800m Maluckyday was endeavouring to shift out and made heavy contact with Dunaden (FR) and then had to be checked off the heels of Tac De Boistron (FR).

After passing the 700m Ethiopia commenced to weaken resulting in Americain (USA) having to be checked and shifted out causing Mount Athos (IRE) and Red Cadeaux (GB), which were following, also being checked in consequence.

On straightening Sanagas (GER) shifted out to improve from behind Galileo’s Choice (IRE) and in doing so forced a number of runners wide on the track which were all hampered in consequence, they being Voila Ici (IRE), Americain (USA), Mount Athos (IRE) and Red Cadeaux (GB).

For a short distance passing the 200m Jakkalberry (IRE) was tightened for room between Fiorente (IRE) and Mourayan (IRE) both of which shifted ground slightly under pressure.

During the running of the race Fiorente (IRE) lost its off-fore plate, Green Moon (IRE) lost its off-hind plate and My Quest For Peace (IRE) lost its near-fore plate.

B Prebble (Green Moon (GB)) was fined $300 for using his whip six times forehand prior to the 100m which is one more than permitted. B Prebble was also fined $300 for weighing in in excess of a half kilogram over his declared weight.

L Nolen (Lights Of Heaven) said his mount didn’t handle the trip.

A post race veterinary examination of Americain (USA) revealed no abnormalities.

R McLeod, rider of Ethiopia, notified that the gelding felt short behind.

A subsequent veterinary examination of Ethiopia revealed the gelding to be lame in the off-hind leg and had also sustained a laceration to its off-side hip and trainer Mr P Carey was advised that a veterinary certificate of fitness is required prior to Ethiopia racing again.

A post race veterinary examination of Dunaden (FR) revealed no abnormalities.

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