Americain Wins Melbourne Cup

There was a French winner of this morning's Melbourne Cup.  Americain, trained by Alain de Royer-Dupre and ridden by Gerald Mosse emerged victorious ahead of the home contingents Maluckyday and hot favourite So You Think - the Tote returned $10.90.  What a great performance when you consider how difficult this race is for European runners to win - indeed, you have to go back to Media Puzzle in 2002 to find the last one, and Vintage Crop in 1993 before that.  Americain had been based in Australia for a while, showing a high class level of form to win the Geelong Cup previously - maybe that is the way in which future European raiders should be campaigned?  Anyway, well done to all connected with the horse.

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What a finish we are in for to the flat jockey's championship.  Paul Hanagan has given himself a little breathing room following a double at Wolverhampton yesterday that takes his lead to five - he is now a 1/14 chance to lift his first title with bookmakers.  Hanagan also reached 200 winners for the calendar year, and is on 186 winners for championship purposes.  Hughes is on 181, which is a quite unbelievable total when you consider that he is probably going to finish runner-up!  Both jockeys have five rides at Kempton this afternoon - the title race is good for racing, but probably not too good for the jockeys involved.

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As David mentioned in his column, the great Our Vic has been retired at the age of twelve.  Following a career in which he won fourteen times from thirty-five starts, Our Vic amassed over £712,000 in win and place prize-money.  He won a couple of Grade 1 races, including the Ryanair Chase at the Cheltenham Festival, while he will probably be equally as well remembered for his never-say-die win against Kauto Star at Aintree the following month.  Last season, even at the age of twelve, he still showed that he retained his ability and a willing attitude by winning twice including the Grade 2 Peter Marsh Chase at Haydock.  He will be very difficult to replace, but there can be few arguments that he has earned a well deserved and happy retirement.

Our Vic gets the better of Kauto Star in a thrilling finish to the Totesport Bowl at Aintree in 2008

Picture courtesy of Bill Selwyn