Ryan Moore, ancora lui. Dopo la interpretazione “clever” nel Cox Plate con Adelaide, è arrivata un’altra monta delle sue nella corsa che ferma una nazione e non solo. Questa mattina alle 5,00 ora italiana a Flemington si è corsa la Melbourne Cup G1 sui 3200 metri da A$6 milioni, vinta dal tedesco Protectionist (Monsun) di fronte a 100,000 assatanati punters australiani, eccitati dal finale intensissimo sostenuto dal figlio di Monsun venuto a fare l’arrivo da casa sua finendo a tempo di record in 3m 17.71s. Per Protectionist era la prima vittoria di Gruppo in carriera, arrivata alla decima uscita in carriera per il training di Andreas Wohler che ha dosato gli impegni del suo per farlo arrivare oggi al massimo della forma. All’inizio c’è stata una andatura sveltissima sostenuta da Ambivalent (Authorized) con Andrea Atzeni che ha potuto fare poco con una cavalla che tirava come un bufalo, tanto che sulla dirittura opposta aveva 5 lunghezze di margine e in quel modo o sei una Lamborghini Diablo, o non vieni a casa. Ryan Moore ha invece rimediato ad una partenza lenta, ma voluta, rimanendo lungo lo steccato senza spendere un centesimo fino all’ultima curva quando ha chiamato il suo ad un continuo e proficuo sforzo, Protectionist ha risposto dimostrandosi adatto alle curve australiane ma soprattutto adatto a slalomeggiare e prendere a spallate tutti e così, negli ultimi 300 metri, era l’unico con combustibile da spendere ed ha finito praticamente in mano, con 4 lunghezze di margine nei confronti di Red Cadeaux (Cadeaux Genereux), ancora secondo (!!!) per la terza volta in carriera su 4 Melbourne Cup disputate, con al terzo il Kiwi neozelandese Who Shot Thebarman (Yamanin Vital). Per Protectionist si trattava della 5° vittoria in 10 uscite, aveva rifinito la condizione europea nella corsa più australiana di Francia, cioè il Prix Kergorlay G2 di Deauville del 24 Agosto, volando poi in Australia e preparandosi nelle Herbert Power Stakes G2 di Caulfield finendo 4° ma mostrandosi come uno dei più positivi in questa corsa. La vittoria rappresenta la “dominatio” europea nelle 3 principali corse della primavera australiana dopo Admire Rakti nella Caulfield Cup ed Adelaide nel Cox Plate.

A proposito del Giapponese, una triste notizia lo riguarda: era favorito, ha corso da protagonista sempre alle spalle di My Ambivalent, ma dopo il palo è collassato ed è venuto meno rimanendo sul campo di battaglia. Non sono ancora chiare le cause del decesso, ma si parla di attacco cardiaco. A margine da sottolineare che non hanno corso Sea Moon, ritirato prima della corsa, e di Cavalryman trovato zoppo ieri mattina. Un altro incidente ha riguardato Araldo, finito settimo, ma con un infortunio serio riportato. IL RISULTATO COMPLETO QUI. IL VIDEO DELLA EMIRATES MELBOURNE CUP QUI

Tornando al vincitore Protectionist, si tratta di un figlio di Monsun (Konigsstuhl), già padre del vincitore dello scorso anno Fiorente. Si tratta del primo tedesco di proprietà e training a vincere la Melbourne Cup, ma il 5° rappresentate allenato nell’emisfero nord a vincere questa corsa dopo Vintage Crop nel 1993.

Wohler si è detto gratificato per quanto fatto con il suo cavallo ed ha rivelato che questa era la sua ultima corsa sotto il suo training. Rimarrà in Australia agli ordini di Kris Lees in Australia. Gli altri europei: Il Godolphin Willing Foe è arrivato quinto, Seismos è arrivato nono mentre Gatewood solo 12°. Johnny Murtagh era fiducioso in Mutual Regard e Royal Diamond ma i due sono arrivati rispettivamente 14° e 20°. My Ambivalent per Roger Varian, solo 17° come dicevamo dopo corsa di testa.

PUBBLICATO DA GABRIELE CANDI A MARTEDÌ, NOVEMBRE 04, 2014

Protectionist storms clear of his Melbourne Cup rivals

PICTURE: Getty Images

Moore on top again as Protectionist lands Cup

BY LEWIS PORTEOUS4:01AM 4 NOV 2014

Report: Australia, Tuesday

Flemington: Emirates Melbourne Cup (Group 1) 3yo+, 2m

RYAN MOORE once again proved why he is the ultimate big-race jockey as he partnered Germany’s Protectionist to a runaway success in Australia’s greatest race.

Trained by Andreas Wohler,Protectionist had to come from close to last as he was shuffled back from stall 11 but such was his superiority over his rivals he overcame it with ease, bursting clear in the final furlong to run out one of the most impressive winners of the race in recent history.

Victory completed a clean sweep of Australia’s two flagship events for Moore, who steered Adelaide to a last-to-first victory in the Cox Plate just ten days ago.

“He’s a very good horse,” was Moore’s initial reaction. “They went a strong pace early on and I just struggled for a position but he was able to follow Mutual Regard and it was just about finding the space. I had so much horse, he’s won it easy. I’m very pleased for Andreas Wohler, he’s a great trainer.”

Reflecting on his two recent big-race wins down under, Moore added: “It’s very special. I’ve got to thank [wife] Michelle at home with the kids. Being away a lot it’s hard for her. I need to win these races to make it worthwhile, so it was job done today.”

While Protectionist handed Germany a first Melbourne Cup victory, Britain’s search for an elusive win goes on with Cup regular Red Cadeaux again proving best of the British challenge in second.

It was another remarkable run from Ed Dunlop’s popular globetrotter, who was filling the runners-up spot for the third time on his fourth consecutive start in the race.

Ridden much more prominently than in previous years, Red Cadeaux hit the front early in the straight, kicking clear under regular rider Gerald Mosse.

For a moment it looked like the move was a race-winning one but he had no response as Protectionist threaded his path to glory. Red Cadeaux then fought like a lion to hold Who Shot Thebarman for second.

“I think we kicked on plenty soon enough for us but the winner was very good on the day and yet again we’ve been second, but what a horse,” said Dunlop.

“We never lost the faith, my team have done it all – I’ve just turned up. We have an amazing horse. He’s probably going to break another record now as the greatest bridesmaid ever, but we’re always susceptible to these young up and coming horses.

“All credit to a beautifully trained and magnificent winner, but we’re very proud – we’ll have to come back again. We’ll wait and see how he is, he’s old and it takes a lot out of him.

“I’m very proud of the horse, my staff have done a great job and if he’s still up to it I’d like to come again as it’s the greatest race in the world.”

Red Cadeaux (red cap) runs a mighty race to finish second for a third time

PICTURE: Getty Images

The Roger Varian-trained My Ambivalent set the early fractions although she was always fighting jockey Andrea Atzeni who struggled to settle the Group 1 winner.

Caulfield Cup winner and favourite Admire Rakti raced in second but his rider Zac Purton was another who never looked entirely happy and he was already on the retreat as Red Cadeaux swept past the leaders turning into the straight.

Ryan Moore lifts the Cup

PICTURE: Getty Images

Moore had pulled Protectionist away from the fence at this stage but faced a wall of rivals between him and the leader. However, the gaps opened up down the home straight and Protectionist needed no second invitation to take them, sprinting home to register a four-length verdict.

“He’s an exceptional horse,” said winning trainer Wohler. “Such a success doesn’t happen often. Ryan couldn’t have done it better – he gave it a patient ride. To be part of this is something different.”

It will be the winner’s last start for Wohler, who revealed the horse would be staying with trainer Kris Lees in Australia. He added: “It was part of the deal and we can’t help it. We just have to find new ones.

“I knew he was a good horse. I knew we had the best horse in the race, but you never know in a race like this.”

Godolphin’s Willing Foe stayed on strongly for fifth, one place behind Signoff. Of the remaining British and Irish challengers, Seismos finished ninth and Gatewood 12th.

Johnny Murtagh’s Mutual Regard and Royal Diamond trailed home in 14th and 20th, while My Ambivalent faded to 17th.

There was a sad postscript as Japanese star Admire Rakti, who was heavily eased to finish last, collapsed and died after the race.

The Mike Moroney-trained Araldo, who finished seventh, suffered a fatal injury when he kicked out and hit a fence after the race.

According to Racing Victoria, Araldo was spooked by a flag being waved by a member of the crowd and suffered a fracture to a pastern bone in his right hind leg that could not be repaired.

Godolphin’s other intended runner Cavalryman was withdrawn before the race on veterinary advice.

fonte : RacingPost