Melbourne Cup winners: 1st Media Puzzle, 2nd Mr
Prudent, 3rd Beekeeper…
Media Puzzle - jockey Damien Oliver
Mr Prudent - jockey Corey Brown
Beekeeper - jockey Kerrin McEvoy.
The 2002 Melbourne Cup is heading to Ireland after a blitzing run by northern hemisphere horse Media Puzzle. New Zealanders bet $6.6 million on today’s Melbourne Cup.
Media Puzzle earlier won the Geelong Cup in brilliant fashion. Today, Damien Oliver won his second Melbourne Cup - having previously won the Cup on Doriemus. Oliver said prior to the race he would ride for his brother who was killed last week. While riding back to the winner’s circle, an emotional Oliver dedicated today’s win to the memory of his brother.
Outsider, Mr Prudent stormed toward the winning post in a brilliant run race, paying $15.20 for the place.
Beekeeper, who ran excellent sixth in the Caulfield Cup pressed Media Puzzle and Mr Prudent into a head wind on the long 600 metre last straight. Beekeeper had another previous Cup winning jockey Kerrin McEvoy on the reigns today.
Another favourite, Vinnie Roe was reported as being in excellent form, but favours a softer track. Melbourne’s Flemington Course is renowned for stinging under foot.
Australians had earlier voiced ANZAC solidarity in hopes that a Kiwi horse would win and keep the Cup downunder. But the brief show of Kiwi loving was to no avail. Ireland has the Cup, at least for a year.