The shoulder charge, not a love tap, was delivered by Jamie Melham on Half Yours at a vital stage to husband Ben Melham’s mount in Tuesday’s Melbourne Cup at Flemington.
With Melham it was not blowing a whistle, once the signal of team or favoured riding, possibly being generous to a spouse, but a tough, split-second decision that makes the difference to a result.
Around the 400 metres in the Melbourne Cup Melham took a course on the inside of Ben on Smokin’ Romans a situation described in the steward’s report as being “bumped by Half Yours to obtain clear running”.
Melham and Half Yours gave the Melbourne Cup the Aussie flavour and yet another example of the benefit regarding partnerships.
Tony McEvoy, a product of Lindsay Park and Colin Hayes, a top trainer over decades, gained vitality since being joined by son Calvin.
Certainly the Melbourne Cup has gained International status with the invader influx but has been losing local appeal.
Perhaps it will never get back to the glory years but Half Yours helped, indicated Aussie-breds and those that make them, on ground level and in the saddle, can match it with the best.
Being the first Melbourne Cup, not present at Flemington since 1978 and never being at a Sydney meeting, I went through withdrawal. It’s so long ago the corresponding programs were held at provincials like Wyong and Kembla Grange.
What I missed most about Flemington were the racegoers, enthusiasts. Yes Sydney currently has an influx of the young which I support but Flemington at the Cup get the true turf believers.
It boasts elites, Horse Of The Year, in the respective seasons, Pride Of Jenni (Champions Mile) and current titleholder Via Sistina (Champion Stakes).
The Champions sprint has a winner of The Everest, Giga Kick, back firing, who takes on Joliestar, a Newmarket to her credit, and Tentyris, the three-year-old so dominant in Flemington’s Coolmore Stud Stakes last Saturday.
Still, if anything, the Champions Mile looks best with Mr Brightside, winner of 10 Group ones, attempting to run down tearaway “Jenni” with Ceolwulf, recently successful in the King Charles at Randwick, Treasure The Moment, getting back to her peak, and lesser lights including Stefi Magnetica who could surprise.
Also the Brit, Lake Forrest, so sluggish recently in the King Charles in which jockey Zac Purton was criticised by Maureen Haggis, wife of the trainer William and daughter of Lester Piggott.
Nothing other than a tow truck was likely to assist Lake Forrest at Randwick. Lester Piggot perhaps but he was freak. Anyway Purton has been replaced by the Pom, Tom Marquand, the closest I’ve seen to Piggott.
Marquand showed his strength, always relevant with Rawiller, on Black Run at Randwick last Saturday.
Pushing 51, Rawiller beat Adam Hyeronimus, with the best in Sydney wrap lately, on Headley Grange, guiding Gringotts on Tuesday under 62kg on a passage over the latter stages where wise men would bear to tread. Hypo hardly went back into his shell on outsider Estadio Mestalla in a later event weaving a breathtaking course, again from a wide barrier, to score.
Rosehill on Saturday lacks the horse power of Flemington. But with Rawiller it has a jockey that makes a difference.
thanks as always Max