Wrap up of the 2009 Melbourne Cup

The 2009 Melbourne Cup was run on Tuesday 3 November 2009 where Australian horse Shocking beat international stayers Crime Scene and Mourilyan and the margins were ¾ length then 1½ lengths. The running of the race wasn’t as controversial as the 2008 Melbourne Cup when a trio of horses trained by Aidan O’Brien were 5 lengths ahead of the field at the 1700 metre mark, but it was a roughly run race.

How the 2009 Melbourne Cup Was Run
There was a marked lack of speed in the early stages of the race and they slowed again mid-race. Chief steward Terry Bailey described it as a “rough house” Melbourne Cup as the lack of speed caused all sorts of problems for many riders going down the straight the first time. Viewed was checked on at least 3 occasions and nearly fell while Alcopop was pushed against the running rail on several occasions in the first half of the race. After the race, stewards conducted two separate inquiries into interference suffered by Leica Ding, Viewed and Alcopop but found no rider at fault with the blame being laid on the slow tempo and horses over racing.

2009 Melbourne Cup Fines and Suspensions
David Hayes horse Changingoftheguard was scratched by vets on Cup morning and Hayes was fined $2,000 for describing them as “knuckleheads”. Craig Williams, rider of Leica Ding who ran 14th was suspended for 14 meetings from Friday, November 6 until Wednesday, November 19 for “high range” interference for allowing his mount to shift out into Daffodil’s running 400 metres from the finish line.

The 2009 Melbourne Cup Winning Connections
Trainer Mark Kavanagh had some setbacks this spring carnival with his stable star Maldivian (winner of the 2008 Cox Plate) injuring a tendon in mid-October then Shamoline Warrior who was favourite for the Victoria Derby having to be scratched on race morning with a high temperature. However the Melbourne Cup win more than made up for his disappointments. Jockey Corey Brown rode Bauer last year and missed out on a Melbourne Cup win by the barest of margins and was lucky to pick up the ride on Shocking only 3 days earlier.

2009 Melbourne Cup Dashed Hopes
Jockey Micheal Rodd partnered Shocking to a solid win in the Lexus Stakes on Saturday which gave him a place in the Cup field. There was no penalty so Rudd couldn’t make the Cup weight. Bart Cummings had 3 runners but the best (Viewed) ran 7th after nearly falling early in the race. The international Godolphin stable were runner-up for the 3rd time and are still chasing that elusive Melbourne Cup win.

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