PROTECTIONIST BLITZES HIS RIVALS AS HE RACES AWAY TO AN EMPHATIC MELBOURNE CUP VICTORY
By Graham Potter | Tuesday, November 4, 2014
In the end, it wasn’t even a contest as the German raider Protectionist trounced his rivals in 2014 edition of the Melbourne Cup.
The lightly raced, Andreas Wohler trained, five-year-old only needed to find the split between Red Cadeaux and Signoff late in the race when it mattered most and his acceleration did the rest, leaving the balance of the field merely chasing for the minor placings.
Protectionist was the least experienced runner in the Cup having only his tenth race start but that statistic was offset to a large degree by the fact that he did a wealth of experience to call on … in the form of jockey Ryan Moore.
The man who had guided Adelaide to an astounding Cox Plate victory when he got his mount to sustain a ridiculously, long, sustained run to circle the field and win, this time produced what Wohler described as a ‘patient ride’ … with the same result.
Clearly Moore knows what he has under him and how to get his mount to race to the best of its ability and that ability, coupled with Adelaide and Protectionist’s willingness to respond in kind to Moore’s urgings, see him leave our shores with a coveted Cox Plate / Melbourne Cup double behind his name.
Credit to all the Protectionist team.
They were simply too good!
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WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer ANDREAS WOHLER:
“We’ve had great success all over the world but this is overwhelming. It is the biggest of all.
“Ryan (Moore) was so patient. He is a superstar. He couldn’t have the position he would like to have but he was so patient … and, when he came around the last bend I said, he just needs to find the right gap.
“He found it and then he quickened so well.
“He (Protectionist) stays and he has a nice turn of foot so we just needed a smooth run. They found the right gap and … bah, that was it.
“Yes, some couldn’t understand why we ran in the Herbert Power for $200 000 instead of $3 million Caulfield Cup in our build-up. Now they know why!”
“It’s a moment you won’t forget in your life. It’s a big achievement from our team. It’s been a long term plan.
"Thanks to the owners.”
Jockey RYAN MOORE:
“He is an excellent horse. They went fast and we just had to be patient and not panic.
“He jumped out well but the horse on the inside missed the kick and he was intent on going forward.
“We went very fast early on and I didn’t want to force him up there. I just wanted to take my time and let him relax and hopefully have enough horse for him to be able to pick his way through the field … and thankfully it worked out that way.
“He was stuck in behind horses but once they started weakening the gaps started coming. My horse had plenty of petrol and he quickened up very well. He just took the gaps as they came and won decisively.
“There is a lot of upside to this horse and you wouldn’t know how far he can go.
“It’s a big day for me obviously, but I’ve just come back from the Breeders’ Cup where things didn’t go to plan.
Horse racing is a great leveller. You never know what is around the corner. Some days it works out for you. Some days it doesn’t. We just try to keep a level head about what we are doing.”
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The race within a race behind Protectionist for the consolation prizes was won by Red Cadeaux.
While Red Cadeaux was comprehensively outgunned by the winner, you just have to admire the chestnut for his sheer determination.
Now a nine-year-old, to finish second here was a great run in itself but, even more remarkably, it gave Red Cadeaux his third runner-up finish in the race.
That gives Red Cadeaux and trainer Ed Dunlop a special place in Melbourne Cup history.
No cigar, but lots of admirers.
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Complete Melbourne Cup finishing order (with official Stewards’ report)
1 Protectionist
2 Red Cadeaux
3 Who Shot Thebarman (At the 600m had to be steadied to avoid the heels of Royal Diamond (IRE) which was giving ground. Lost its off hind plate during the race).
4 Signoff (Rounding the home turn raced tightly between Au Revoir (IRE) and Fawkner. Lost its near hind plate during the race).
5 Willing Foe
6 Precedence (Rider Michael Rodd was fined $400 for using his whip seven times prior to the 100m in a forehand manner which is two times more than permitted under the rules).
7 Araldo (Sustained an injury post-race and was transported to the Werribee Equine Hospital for further assessment and treatment).
8 Au Revoir (At the 600m was brushed on the hindquarters by Signoff (IRE) which was taken out slightly by Fawkner. Lost its near fore plate during the race).
9 Seismos
10 Fawkner (Rider Nick Hall reported the gelding failed to stay the 3200m).
11 Opinion
12 Gatewood
13 Lucia Valentina (Began awkwardly. Rider Kerrin McEvoy reported his mount was held up behind tiring horses which affected its momentum in the straight and then, in his opinion, failed to stay the 3200m).
14 Mutual Regard (Pulled hard in the early and middle stages).
15 Brambles
16 Unchain My Heart
17 My Ambivalent
18 Junoob
19 Lidari (Tightened for room at the start by Fawkner which shifted out. Eased at the 1400m when racing tightly on the inside of Willing Foe (US).
20 Royal Diamond (Lost both fore plates during the race).
21 Mr O'Ceirin
22 Admire Rakti (Collapsed after completion of the race in the tie-up stall in the presence of an RV veterinarian who pronounced the horse to be deceased. This incident will be referred to the Equine Welfare and Veterinary Department and the horse will undergo an autopsy at the Werribee Equine Hospital).
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