‘Unbelievable’: Star jockey pulls off masterstroke move in 22-year-old Melbourne Cup first as fav flops

Without a Fight has won the 2023 Melbourne Cup in stunning fashion to complete a rare Australian horse racing double and vindicate jockey Mark Zahra’s huge call on which horse to ride.

Zahra gave up the ride on Gold Trip, whom he won the Melbourne Cup aboard last year, to again saddle the Anthony and Sam Freedman-trained Without a Fight as he did in winning the Caulfield Cup last month.

It was clearly the right call, with the $7 shot storming home to win a thrilling 163rd edition of the $8 million, 3200m race at Flemington on Tuesday. $10 hope Soulcombe finished second in a cracking run despite another slow start, while $126 outsider Sheraz finished third in a huge shock. Ashrun was fourth.

Irish raider Vauban was a huge favourite coming into the race but flopped badly, finishing 14th — 13 lengths behind the winner.

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FINISHING ORDER: Where every horse finished — and who came last

DIVIDENDS: What the winner, trifecta, first 4 paid

WHO BACKED THE WINNER? The experts who nailed it

BIGGEST BETS LANDED: Who cashed in on the Cup?

Gold Trip fared even worse, finishing 17th in its bid to go back-to-back.

Vauban’s stablemate Absurde, who received heavy late backing, finished 7th.

Right You Are failed to finish and, after all horses were initially cleared by vets, was one of three to pull up lame along with Gold Trip and Alenquer.

“Upon cooling down and re-examination, Gold Trip was found to be lame in the right front, Alenquer lame in the left front and Right You Are lame behind,” stewards said.

Without a Fight became only the 13th horse to complete the Caulfield Cup-Melbourne Cup double, and the first since Ethereal in 2001.

“Gee he’s unbelievable. If I could have thought I’d have that run from [barrier] 16 I would have said he’s unbeatable,” a delighted Zahra said over the race.

“But trainer’s credit - Sam and Lee and all their team, he was an absolute gentleman for me today. Went to the rail and switched off and I probably got to the front earlier than last year. I just had that soft a run.”

“I was following Alenquer… in front of him was Gold Trip and in front of him was Vauban. I just thought I’d stay here. They all made their moves and it opened up for me. I was on a horse you can just sit on. He’s got an electric turn of foot and he just pulled me all the way to the line and it was all over.

“I stood up on the irons and (was) giving the two fingers for two winners. I don’t know what I was thinking. Idiot!”

Co-trainer Sam Freedman added of Zhara’s performance: “He’s a freak. He was excellent.” “Extraordinary. He got him onto the rail from a wide gate, relaxed, swam him off and I was pretty confident probably the (last) 800 metres he was travelling.”

Soulcombe, steered by one of the world’s best jockeys Joao Moreira, produced a remarkable run considering he missed the start by about three lengths to continue his trendy of tardy beginnings.

“Things didn’t really go his way,” Moreira.

“Not jumping that well made it a little bit difficult for him, as well as getting into a bit of traffic at the 600, 700 metres also counted against him winning the race but I’m very proud of how he ran.”

Beau Mertens steered unfancied Chris Waller-trained Sheraz to a remarkable result in third.

“We got into a lovely spot, he relaxed really nicely for me once everything settled and Chris and the team came up with the plan just to have him tucked away for as long as possible and once we produced him in the straight he let down with a nice turn of foot and stayed the trip terrifically,” Mertens said.

“Couldn’t be happier, the team had him in great order and it’s just fantastic.”

FINISHING ORDER: Where every horse finished — and who came last

DIVIDENDS: What the winner, trifecta, first 4 paid

WHO BACKED THE WINNER? The experts who nailed it

BIGGEST BETS LANDED: Who cashed in on the Cup?

2023 MELBOURNE CUP DIVIDENDS (SuperTAB tote prices)

1st 3. Without a Fight $9.00 win, $3.30 place

2nd 5. Solcombe $3.40

3rd 14. Sheraz $21

4th 11. Ashrun

Quinella $43.20

Exacta $89.20

Trifecta $10,668.10

FINAL 2023 MELBOURNE CUP FINISHING ORDER

1. Without a Fight

2. Soulcombe

3. Sheraz

4. Ashrun

5. Daqiansweet Junior

6. Interpretation

7. Absurde

8. True Marvel

9. Vow and Declare

10. Military Mission

11. Okita Soushi

12. More Felons

13. Lastotchka

14. Vauban

15. Future History

16. Breakup

17. Gold Trip

18. Virtuous Circle

19. Serpentine

20. Kalapour

21. Alenquer

22. Magical Lagoon

FF. Right you are

FULL FLEMINGTON RACECARD & RESULTS

Race 1: Darley Maribyrnong Plate - 2YO OPEN SW G3, 1000m

1st - Dublin Down ($11/$2.60pl)

2nd - Blue Stratum ($1.55pl)

3rd - Odinson ($1.65pl)

Analysis: The Tony and Calvin McEvoy stable have run 1-2 to kick off Cup day with Exceedance colt Dublin Down running over the top of the well-bred Blue Stratum. One of the world’s best jockeys Zac Purton, over from Hong Kong, partnered the winner, which paid juicy double figure odds for those who backed him.

Race 2: Furphy Plate - Listed Race - 1800m

1st - Forgot You ($3.70/$1.50pl)

2nd - Warning ($5.00pl)

3rd - Sibaaq ($1.75pl)

Analysis: Jockey Beau Mertens tried to pinch the race on Sibaaq, forging a 10 length lead on the rest of the field but tired in the concluding stages with Forgot You under in-form jockey Blake Shinn reeling it in. Group 1 winner Warning flashed home into second at big odds in what was an excellent return from a spell.

Race 3: Tab Trophy - 3YO Listed Race - 1800m

1st - Warmonger ($5.50/$2.50pl)

2nd - Queen of Dragons ($2.00pl)

3rd - Aztec State ($1.45pl)

Analysis: The Mick Price/Michael Kent Jr-trained Warmonger has finished strongly down the outside to get the better of the gutsy runner-up Queen of Dragons, who kicked back late to make a race of it after the winner got his head in front. Price suggested a race on Cranbourne Cup day in three weeks was next on the agenda for the three-year-old.

Race 4: The Schweppervescence Plate - 3YO Open - 1000m

1st - Wiggum ($9.00/$2.55pl)

2nd - Barber ($1.20pl)

3rd - Perilous Fighter ($4.80pl)

Analysis: Retiring jockey Damien Oliver has recorded his third winner of the four-day Flemington carnival, riding the Travis Doudle-trained Wiggum to a soft victory in Race 4. Oliver rode two winners on Saturday’s Derby Day card and now has three for the carnival. It’s also a rare Flemington winner for Doudle, who trains out of South Australia.

Race 5: The Macca’s Run - BM96 - 2800m

1st - The Map ($7.00/$2.15pl)

2nd - Mr Waterville ($1.45pl)

3rd - Garachico ($2.25pl)

Analysis: Jamie Kah has ridden her third winner of the Flemington carnival, partnering The Map to win the cleverly named Macca’s Run over 2800m. It has been an extremely tough year for Kah, who had a shocking fall back in March which put her career in doubt. She returned to the saddle three months ago but had been terribly out of form until she broke through for a double on Derby Day and a winner on Cup Day.

Race 6: Mss Security Subzero Handicap - BM90 - 1400m

1st - The Maggster ($27/$6.00pl)

2nd - Glint of Silver ($1.90pl)

3rd - Platinum Wolf ($2.20)

Analysis: An upset result in the all greys race, named after former Melbourne Cup winner Subzero, with The Maggster saluting at $27.

Race 7: Lexus Melbourne Cup - Group 1 - 3200m (see above)

Race 8: Howden Desirable Stakes - 3YO Listed Race - 1400m

1st - Roll On High ($12/$3.40)

2nd - Joliestar ($3.00pl)

3rd - Kimochi ($1.85pl)

Analysis: Despite the wide draw, Roll On High came home as the widest runner in the straight with a powerful run to finish a bit the better than runner-up Joliestar, who was in for the fight. Both horses will likely clash again in the Group 1 Thousand Guineas on November 18.

Race 9: The Hong Kong Jockey Club Stakes - 4YO+ Group 3 - 1400m

1st - Skew Wiff ($6.00/$2.25pl)

2nd - Foxy Cleopatra ($7.50pl)

3rd - Forbidden City ($7.50pl)

Analysis: Classy Kiwi filly Skew Wiff was given a well-timed ride from jockey Opie Bosson and held off the fast-finishing Foxy Cleopatra to pick up her first win in Australia.

5.15pm Race 10: Paramount+ Trophy - BM90 - 1400m

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