The win of Shocking in the Melbourne Cup (3,200m) at Flemington is the sweetest form of redemption for two men who've experienced the cruellest twists of fate that racing can muster.Mark Kavanagh was a trainer who just could not seem to catch a break this spring, while Corey Brown was still haunted by memories of being beaten by millimetres aboard Bauer in last year's Cup. But Shocking ($10) overcame a wide run at the back of the field before making a sustained surge in the straight to overtake
The win of Shocking in the Melbourne Cup (3,200m) at Flemington is the sweetest form of redemption for two men who've experienced the cruellest twists of fate that racing can muster.
Mark Kavanagh was a trainer who just could not seem to catch a break this spring, while Corey Brown was still haunted by memories of being beaten by millimetres aboard Bauer in last year's Cup. But Shocking ($10) overcame a wide run at the back of the field before making a sustained surge in the straight to overtake international raider Crime Scene ($41, Kerrin McEvoy
Another overseas contender Mourilyan ($21, Glyn Schofield) was third in front of 102,181 spectators. Master O'Reilly ($12) ran fourth for the second year running, while Kiwi longshot Harris Tweed ($101) gave his connections a bold sight finishing fifth.
The heavily backed favourite Alcopop ($4.80) raced a little ungenerously behind a slow pace up front before only battling to the line to finish sixth.
Bart Cummings, meanwhile, will have to wait another year for his 13th Cup after his trio Viewed (seventh), Roman Emperor (21st) and Allez Wonder (16th) failed to figure.
But today's victory caps a tumultuous spring carnival for Kavanagh.
"It hasn't sunk in yet. I've just won the Melbourne Cup," Kavanagh said. "Everyone be quiet because if this is a dream I don't want to wake up."
The trainer is no stranger to the high and lows of racing.
Two years ago Maldivian was scratched at the barriers in the Caulfield Cup but went on to win the Cox Plate a year later.
In the past month, the trainer lost Maldivian and top mare Cats Whisker through injury and watched his champion Whobegotyou go under as a short-priced favourite in the Cox Plate.
And rubbing salt into the wounds, Kavanagh was forced to scratch the favourite for the Victoria Derby, Shamoline Warrior, on the morning of the race.
"Spring carnivals are tough for everybody," Kavanagh said. "You've got to roll with punches and if you let those things take you off track you just lose sight of the ball and you just can't do that. But today is pretty good."
Shocking put the writing on the wall with an explosive win in the Lexus Stakes (2,500m) on Saturday and punters brought him into $10 from $26.
"I knew that win would improve him a lot," Kavanagh said. "The Melbourne Cup is obviously a race won by horses that peak on the day and I tried hard to make him do that." (ABC News)