Mark Zahra produced Gold Trip with a perfectly-timed problem to carry the
Lexus Melbourne Cup at Flemington.
Trained by Ciaron Maher and David Eustace, Gold Trip was the top weight in the two-mile contest with James Ferguson’s British raider Deauville Legend extensively anticipated to play a serious function in the Group One.
Kerrin McEvoy settled Deauville Legend in the pack by the early phases, with fellow British runner Without A Fight struggling to search out early cowl from a large draw as Smokin’ Romans took an early lead.
It was 2020 Derby hero Serpentine, now skilled by Robert Hickmott, who grabbed management after a few furlongs, lobbing alongside properly as he chased a primary Australian success.
He dropped away as Knights Order went for residence effectively earlier than the flip, with Deauville Legend seemingly completely positioned on the top of the straight.
Kerrin McEvoy went for residence two furlongs out on the British challenger, however Zahra was simply stepping into top gear on Gold Trip, sweeping previous Deauville Legend with over a furlong to run earlier than staying on strongly to repel the late thrust of one other ex-British runner in Emissary.
The winner’s stablemate High Emocean grabbed third, simply forward of Deauville Legend with Without A Fight coming residence unplaced.
Deauville Legend completed fourth having been despatched off favorite
Gold Trip was beforehand skilled in France by Fabrice Chappet, the place he was positioned a number of occasions in Group One firm and completed fourth in the 2020 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, however he had solely received as soon as and the five-year-old had but to triumph in 5 Australian outings.
For Zahra there was a measure of compensation after he missed out on the successful trip aboard Verry Elleegant in final yr’s race because of suspension.
Zahra instructed www.racing.com: “This time last year I was watching Verry Elleegant win and getting told off for drinking too much.
“To come a full yr and have redemption on a horse like this, with good mates of mine who practice the horse and personal the horse, my spouse’s right here and it is an unbelievable feeling.”
Gold Trip was overwhelmed by only a head in the Caulfield Cup in mid-October and Zahra joked: “I timed it to perfection so he didn’t get re-handicapped for today!
“He’s the form of horse that whenever you go, you need to go, in any other case I reckon he can give it some thought. I went and I used to be pondering ‘we have nonetheless obtained a bit to go right here’.
“I was doubtful he would run 3200 (metres) but Ciaron and David and the team just had him spot on today. It’s unbelievable.”
Maher and Eustace saddled 5 runners in the race and Maher mentioned: “Fantastic effort by the whole team. He’s quite dicey this horse. To have him present in the Cup like that was fantastic.
“It did open up superbly, we had a plan going out with Mark, he was superb on him in the Caulfield Cup and we simply needed to attend, wait, wait, we all know he is obtained that good flip of foot, he was unbelievable.
“It’s unbelievable, it’s a dream come true, and I’m just thrilled.”
Eustace is the son of former Newmarket coach James and brother of present handler Harry, who saddled his first Royal Ascot winner again in June.
He mentioned: “I can’t believe it, obviously (I’m) a bit overcome. It’s a dream that we all want to achieve.
“It’s the top of our sport, to do it with Ciaron, I’m clearly so grateful to be coaching with him. It’s an awesome honour to be doing that with all these good horses and a tremendous crew of employees we now have, it is a full credit score to them.
“It’s a full credit to them to get five here and to this horse who was so unlucky in the Caulfield Cup. I was so gutted when he got beaten, and I thought he was going to get beaten again, it’s just quite incredible.”
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