Gold Journey has defied the percentages to win the 2022 Melbourne Cup, leaving loads of punters red-faced.
The six-year-old horse did it the onerous manner, taking the lead with greater than 300m to run earlier than Emissary threatened to mount a comeback with 150m to go.
However the Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained horse confirmed its class by discovering one ultimate effort on the end line to win by 1.5 lengths.
The connections of Gold Journey are celebrating a payday of greater than $4 million.
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The consequence left loads of professional pundits with egg on their faces because the mighty horse saluted first throughout the put up.
James Lamb from punters.com.au made the same prediction forward of the Melbourne Cup, citing Gold Journey’s weight as trigger for concern.
“He’s unproven past 2400m and has had a taxing preparation off a really lengthy break,” Lamb wrote.
“Only a few horses win the Cup with greater than 57kg, with Makybe Diva the final to do it with 58kg in 2005.”
In the meantime, Andrew Hawkins on Betfair predicted that Gold Journey would end seventh.
“The large question with him is the 2 miles, but when he sees out the journey, he’s going to be a serious participant even with loads of weight,” Hawkins wrote.
“Whereas he is likely to be on empty over the ultimate 200m, class will carry him a great distance. He’s unlikely to be too far-off and he could also be price a guess within the Prime 10 market, relying on what value he comes up.”
Nevertheless, there have been a handful of punters who nailed their predictions, together with David Hocking from Punters.com.auwho claimed Gold Journey would emerge the victor.
“Assume his class goes to hold him a great distance right here – and it’ll have to given he’s out to 3200m for the primary time and has been lumped with a hefty 57.5kg impost,” he wrote.
“However one factor we do know is that he’s discovered kind after a runner-up end within the Caulfield Cup after which a whole forgive run within the Cox Plate the place nothing went proper. He’s had a superb grounding for his first crack at two miles and doesn’t thoughts it mushy underfoot. Simply wants slot in and calm down within the run.”
And hats off to Andrew Wu and Michael Manley from The Age, who each predicted that Gold Journey would cross the end line first on Tuesday afternoon.
“In a Cup missing depth, Gold Journey’s class, as seen in 2020 Arc de Triomphe fourth, will go a great distance,” Manley wrote.
“In kind and will get most popular moist floor. Deauville Legend has kind round Cox Plate placegetter.”
Profitable jockey Mark Zahra stated the ultimate moments of the race had been nerve-wracking.
“(I used to be pondering) simply piss off, nobody come close to me,” he stated.
“I can’t. I really feel like crying. It’s unbelievable. What a day. He’s a horse that whenever you go, you don’t give him an opportunity to consider it.
“It’s simply elation once I crossed the road. What a tremendous feeling.”
He continued: “The final 50m I used to be pondering I’m going to win this. It simply went eternally the final bit. And I nonetheless can’t consider it. Melbourne Cup, it’s unbelievable.”
Eustace was visibly shaking when interviewed after the race.
“I can’t consider it, clearly a bit overcome,” he stated.
Yeah, it’s clearly a dream that all of us wish to obtain.”
