By Melissa Davies
The 150th anniversary of the Melbourne Cup will be remembered for the unpredictable and exciting nature of the sport.
A European racehorse has proven the punters wrong, beating the favourite So You Think.
But the race was close and some say it’s the best field they’ve ever seen at the Melbourne Cup.
If the commentators were anything to go by it was a one-horse race. All eyes and most bets were on Bart Cummings’ wonder-horse So You Think.
Some wondered whether he could go the distance, having never run beyond 2040 metres. But the New Zealand-bred favourite started well.
But Descarado took the early lead and was soon overtaken by Once Were Wild.
So You Think hopes had fallen seven lengths behind the leader, while the top New Zealand hopeful fared better early on.
Harris Tweet was one of few suited to a damp Melbourne track. He held second until So You Think put the foot down on a late sprint.
But it was the US-bred French galloper Americain that had the strength to pull away and take the historic win.
Maluckyday came in second and the favourite was left behind in third.
Jockey Gerald Mosse hopes the iwn will boost the popularity of racing worldwide, so not only would the Melbourne Cup stop Australasia, but Europe as well.
More than 100,000 people attended the cup.
Mosse blew a French kiss to all of them as he finished.
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source: newshub archive
