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Mark Zahra finishes 1st in the Melbourne Cup again as he gifts Without A Fight a Caulfield-Melbourne Cup Double since Ethereal in 2001

by Sports Benches

How good was that to close out another year in the 163rd running of the 3200m Melbourne Cup race at Flemington Racecourse. There were a number of decent contenders right from the beginning for the majority before Without A Fight became the new winner with jockey Mark Zahra alongside trainers Anthony and Sam Freedman. That horse may have been running through the back of the field earlier on, but he too saved it for the best of last where he found his way onto the inside with 400 metres to go before Without A Fight was lightning fast by steering clear of everyone in a sprint towards the finish line by two lengths. What a moment from Without A Fight who became the first horse to win both the Caulfield Cup & Melbourne Cup during the same year since Ethereal from New Zealand in 2001. It’s the day Father-Son duo Anthony & Sam Freedman couldn’t be more proud of to see their horse take home that iconic crown, while Zahra has been amazing in Melbourne Cup win No.2 – having first won with Gold Trip last year under Ciaron Maher & David Eustace. There’s more to come later this week in the annual week-long Melbourne Cup carnival with Oaks day on Thursday & Stakes day Saturday.

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Gold Trip supercharged his way on the front straight with the 2022 Melbourne Cup win at Flemington Racecourse

by Sports Benches

How good was that finish right on the front straight for the 2022 Melbourne Cup trophy, as Gold Trip just took home the ultimate prize alongside at Flemington Racecourse.

The first half was quiet before gradually building up the hype when Smokin’ Romans fired off well ahead of the entire field through the opening stretch, before Serpentine took over top spot and stayed there for the majority between the first two corners and the backstretch.

By the time we entered the 2nd half distance, more and more new contenders entered the mix for the run towards the Melbourne Cup trophy going into the final stretch. Tralee Rose, Knights Order & Deauville Legend ended Serpentine’s time up top at Turns 3 & 4, while Smokin’ Romans briefly regained the lead in a bid to take home the $8 million AU prize. 

But at the end of the day, this year’s Cup race belongs to Gold Trip where he made the winning move past Deauville Legend with 250 metres to go and he has done it after Gold Trip crossed the finish line in 1st.

What a day for owners/trainers Ciaron Maher and David Eustace, as well as jockey Mark Zahra for the Gold Trip organisation who hails from France; We saw 22 riders in the running earlier this afternoon for the race that stops the nation, with most of the field came from outside of Australia.

For now, we have two huge Melbourne Cup Carnival events on display at Flemington before the 163rd Melbourne Cup edition returns here in a year’s time: Oaks Day on Thursday and Stakes Day this Saturday.

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Horse Racing News, Rich Strike has written history as the outsider who just won this year’s 148th Kentucky Derby

by Sports Benches

We are so speechless after what just happened in this year’s 148th edition of the Kentucky Derby, and it’s an outsider from entry No.21 in Rich Strike with jockey Sonny Leon & owner Eric Reed.

He even mentioned during the post-race ceremony that it took him last minute to compete in this Triple Crown opener at Churchill Downs, because of Ethereal Road who was scratched from the running yesterday.

He was running at the back behind everyone earlier on before he waited patiently through the turns they go, and eventually struck his sweet spot on the homestretch where Rich Strike just shocked the entire race field, including race favourite Epicenter, who had to settle for the runner-up spot.

It’s also a great day for some punters out there where they will walk away with $254 because of Rich Strike’s shock victory, as per NSW TAB. The 2nd and 3rd placed horses in Epicenter and Zandon were even valued at around $2, having been placed within the first ten entries up front.

What a story it has been from someone out of nowhere as a last-minute replacement to a breakthrough star that wrote history in the world of Triple Crown horse racing and the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs.

The next Triple Crown race will head off to Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland, for the 147th Preakness Stakes running in two weeks time.

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