Protectionist triumphs in Melbourne Cup marked by post-race tragedy

Protectionist triumphs in Melbourne Cup marked by post-race

tragedy

Protectionist posted one of the most impressive performances in modern

Melbourne Cup history to claim Australia's most famous race on Tuesday by four

lengths -- the widest winning margin since Rain Lover's record eight-length

triumph in 1968.

Shunted towards the back of the 22-runner field after early interference, the

Andreas Wohler-trained colt was forced through a gap by jockey Ryan Moore after

straightening for home and found an extra gear in the final furlong as he burst

clear of Red Cadeaux, who battled on to take second place for the third time in

four Melbourne Cup appearances for trainer Ed Dunlop. The Chris Waller

representative Who Shot Thebarman was another half-length back in third, with

Saturday's Lexus Stakes winner Signoff running on determinedly to grab fourth

for Darren Weir.

The race was marred by the death of the favorite, Caulfield Cup winner Admire

Rakti, who finished tailed off and later collapsed when being attended to by

vets in the stalls immediately post-race.

There was further tragedy in the aftermath of the Melbourne Cup when

seventh-placed Araldo was startled on his way back to the stables and lashed

out, striking a fence and sustaining a fractured pastern. The Mike Moroney-trained

entire was taken to Werribee Veterinary Clinic where he was euthanized when the

severity of his injury was revealed.

Trained in Germany, Protectionist was making just his 10th appearance on a

racecourse following minor setbacks in both his juvenile and three-year-old

seasons -- the latter being a freak injury sustained when a deer ran into him

during a routine canter at home when he was favorite for the Deutsches Derby.

Forced to miss the rest of that season, the four-year-old, who is classed as

five in Australia, where he will continue his racing career, has made up for

lost time this year by recording Group 2 victories in both Germany and France

before shipping to Australia. His eye-catching fourth-place finish in the

Herbert Power Stakes on October 11 saw him garner increasing support for the

Melbourne Cup, for which he was sent off as 7-1 co-third favorite.

"There's a lot of upside to this horse. Going into it there looked like there

was only one other who was improving. Who knows how far he could go," said

winning jockey Moore, who 10 days earlier had won another of Australia's most

prestigious contests, the Cox Plate, aboard Adelaide for Aidan O'Brien.

"They went fast and I just had to be patient and not panic. Once they started

weakening and the gaps started opening up my horse had plenty of petrol left. He

won decisively.

"He jumped well but the horse on my inside missed the kick and he was intent

on going forward so we had to go back. It was just a question of doing

everything as comfortably as we could and when they go that quick the gaps tend

to open up."

Asked how it felt to have won the two major contests of the Melbourne Spring

Carnival, the jockey replied with typical modesty: "I just got back from the

Breeders' Cup and that didn't go to plan. Horse racing is a great leveler. Some

days it works out for you and some days it doesn't."

For Wohler, whose previous trips to Australia had been limited to two Cox

Plate runners, Protectionist's victory was bittersweet to a certain degree as

the horse will now remain in in the country having been bought by Australian

Bloodstock earlier in the year. He will be trained by Kris Lees, who saddled

Lucia Valentina to finish 13th in the Cup.

"He showed me he was a good horse even when he was a two-year-old but he had

a few little problems," Wohler said. "Each time he came back stronger and he

really is exceptional. He's still improving.

"It was part of the deal when he was sold that he would be trained in

Australia after this race. We will just have to find another good one."

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