What the jockeys said after the running of the Group One $6 million Melbourne Cup at Flemington on Tuesday.
BRETT PREBBLE (Green Moon) 1st – “It’s a lifelong dream. I was very confident at the mile, then at the 1200 (metres) I thought the only thing that could get him beaten was his stamina if he didn’t stay the trip, but the feeling he was giving me at the 1200 was the sort of feeling you only get from very good horses. I’ve been very fortunate to ride some champions and he’s up there in the top ten.”
JAMES MCDONALD (Fiorente) 2nd – “At the top of the straight I thought all my Christmases had come at once but it wasn’t meant to be.”
COLM O’DONOGHUE (Jakkalberry) 3rd – “Delighted with him. We always thought he’d put up a big performance and he showed what a good horse he is today against possibly one of the best fields of all time.”
GLEN BOSS (Kelinni) 4th – “He gave me a great ride, he lacked class when Green Moon put a gap on me but he toughed it out right to the line really well.”
RYAN MOORE (Mount Athos) 5th – “The pace was too slow for me.”
TOMMY BERRY (Glencadam Gold) 6th – “I felt the winner at the top of the straight. I couldn’t have asked for a better run. He got found out in the last 200 (metres) but you’ve got to remember this is his first prep in Australia so next year’s his year.”
HUGH BOWMAN (Mourayan) 7th – “I had a good run in the race, he raced a little bit keen throughout but no excuses really.”
MICHAEL RODD (Red Cadeaux) 8th – “He ran amazing. They just went too steady but he finished it off really well, he’s a gutsy horse.”
BLAKE SHINN (Precedence) 9th – “It was the run of his career, he had a good run in transit and found the line really strongly.”
COREY BROWN (My Quest For Peace) 10th – “Probably should’ve finished three or four lengths closer. The tempo just took him out of his comfort zone and when they sprinted, he was left flat-footed. He ran well.”
DAMIEN OLIVER (Americain) 11th – “The slow pace was against him. They really outsprinted him with the big weight but he still ran well, I thought.”
FRANKIE DETTORI (Cavalryman) 12th – “No good.”
VLAD DURIC (Voila Ici) 13th – “He had a good run but felt the ground.”
CRAIG WILLIAMS (Dunaden) 14th – “I nearly fell off at the start. The slow pace, big weight, he probably needs weight-for-age and a bit shorter distance now.”
DWAYNE DUNN (Niwot) 15th – “He just hasn’t bounced back from Caulfield. He had a beautiful run in transit and just didn’t deliver.”
LUKE NOLEN (Lights Of Heaven) 16th – “Didn’t stay.”
JAMIE MOTT (Winchester) 17th – “He just never relaxed at all today. He was really fired up and never got into it at all.”
NICHOLAS HALL (Sanagas) 18th – “It wasn’t my best ride but he may not have the turn of foot required for Australian racing.”
JIM CASSIDY (Maluckyday) 19th – “I was never in it, he raced well below anywhere near what he’s been doing and struggled a long way from home.”
PAT SMULLEN (Galileo’s Choice) 20th – “We had a beautiful position, I was very happy with the first part of the race but when they quickened he didn’t let down in the ground.”
GLYN SCHOFIELD (Unusual Suspect) 21st – “I went back from a wide gate but the slow tempo didn’t suit him.”
CRAIG NEWITT (Zabeelionaire) 22nd – “Disappointing. We had a good run at the back of the field and followed Dunaden into the race but we never seemed to make any ground. It was one of those races.”
OLIVIER DOLEUZE (Tac De Boistron) 23rd – “Not a lot of pace. I put him in a good spot but I was travelling a bit too easy and wish I had a bit more rain.”
RHYS MCLEOD (Ethiopia) Last – “He pulled up sore behind. Once I asked for an effort he just had no drive from behind, we’ll see how he pulls up but I’m tipping that they’ll find something wrong.”