Melbourne's cup runneth over

Paul Gallagher gets his first taste of the Melbourne Cup experience.

Paul Gallaghergets his first taste of the Melbourne Cup experience.

Billboards everywhere pronounced it "the Race that stops a Nation" and this year's Melbourne Cup got the winner the masses came for as legendary Australian trainer Bart Cummings recorded his 12th Cup success in the blue riband event at Flemington.

This particular Irish punter had a scenic two-hour trip from Honolulu Avenue on Phillip Island to study the local rags, check the form and pick a winner which was always going to be chosen from the five Irish hopefuls.

It didn't take long to establish that AU$50 (roughly €30) would be punted on Aidan O'Brien's heavily fancied Septimus with the better half opting for the aptly named. It was hard to look past Septimus, one of Coolmore's finest who has been flagged up as Europe's finest stayer. With Johnny Murtagh in the saddle, and umpteen Group One winners banked already this season, the winning ingredients looked assured.

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It was interesting to see how the local press put their spin on proceedings in the build up to the race. O'Brien and his entourage - including the jockey - had walked the famous Flemington track the day before the race and leading Aussie papers (The Age and the Sydney Morning Herald) suggested the trainer was crying in his soup because the ground was too firm. As it turned out the Coolmore maestro merely stated that he would have preferred softer ground and there was never an issue his three charges wouldn't take
to the track.

In any case, Septimus was a solid contender in the market and second favourite in the Australian betting to Mad Rush. It's clear to see the Aussies hate to lose any sporting event and the Melbourne Cup is no different - even though they've had to play second fiddle to the European raiders on occasion recently.

By mid-morning the masses had gathered at all the primary train stations across Melbourne to make their way to the hallowed turf at Flemington. By the time our train pulled up at Southern Cross Station just off Flinders Street, it was a free for all
to simply find space on the train. Underarm deodorant was put to the test while the ladies somehow managed to find space to put the final touches to the war-paint in packed surroundings.

Only first-hand experience will give visitors and idea of what this handicap race means to a nation. Over 120,000 spectators spilled into Flemington as glorious sunshine and perfect conditions allowed the ladies to strut their stuff after months of planning while the lads simply wore ill-fitting suits - some with trainers - with a copy of the form guide tucked under their arms.

The Melbourne Cup might be described as the race to stop a nation but it's more like Royal Ascot meets the National Ploughing Championships, albeit in a completely absorbing atmosphere.

With 10 races on the card, and the action getting underway from 10.20am, there's ample opportunity to consume plenty of Victoria Bitter before the main event at 3pm. There's also ample opportunity to take a punt and lose a fortune as the masses mill back and forth from public bars to the stands to gain an optimum viewpoint.

Just like the Ballybrit festival in Galway, many tales will have ended in tears by the time the 3pm showpiece arrives.

The sense of occasion was further enhanced as the equine stars were paraded to the tune of the Australian national anthem.

Negotiating the picnic blankets which was no easy task while multi-tasking is essential to study form books while drinking beer before it got too warm.

In any case, vantage points were gained as the 22 performers set-off at precisely 3pm. It all looked promising as O'Brien's Allesandra Volta led the field going into the final straight and an Irish victory looked very much on the cards.

However, when it came to the business end of proceedings no overseas script was going to deny a piece of Australian history as Viewed kicked for home amid roars from the swelling stands.

By the time Viewed, under jockey Blake Shinn, got over the line he had been pushed all the way by Luca Cumani's Bauer before officials confirmed the outcome from a photo finish.

The result ensured the legendary Cummings his 12th Melbourne Cup success, his 250th group one winner overall, 50 years after his first win in the race that simply did stop a nation.