Moore grasps Melbourne Cup triumph but two horses dead
THREE-TIME champion jockey Ryan Moore enhanced his global reputation by guiding home German-trained horse Protectionist and claiming victory in the 154th running of the Melbourne Cup at Flemington racecourse yesterday.
England’s Moore surged to a four-length win ahead of British rival Red Cadeaux, which finished second for a third time, and New Zealand runner Who Shot Thebarman in third place.
The spectacle, however, was marred by the death of two horses, with the pre-race Japanese-trained favourite Admire Ratki collapsing and dying shortly after finishing the race last.
Seventh-placed Araldo was later put down after suffering a serious injury in a freak accident, with the Michael Moroney-trained horse said to have fractured a hind leg after being spooked by a flag in the crowd and kicking a fence while returning to the mounting yard.
Despite only three horses suffering fatal injuries in the previous 35 meetings of Australia’s premier racing event, it is the second successive year a death has been recorded after Verema broke down in the back straight in 2013.