Melbourne Cup jockey's staggering act revealed after horse fails to finish
Right You Are did not finish the race in the Melbourne Cup after some scary scenes.
The jockey riding Right You Are has revealed he made the quick call to jump off the horse and not finish the race at the Melbourne Cup because of the clear struggles with the gelding. The showpiece event was without major drama this year with Mark Zahra on Without A Fight producing one of the all time finishes to take home the title.
But viewers became worried when Right You Are pulled up before the end of the race. With around 600 metres left at Flemington, Jockey John Allen and Right You Are came to a halt as they fell behind the pack. Images showed the horse being cooled down after the race.
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The Melbourne Cup was held in close to 30C heat, which clearly impacted the seven-year-old gelding. And Allen has revealed the reason he opted not to finish the race on Right You Are, with the jockey's actions making a difference.
“We settled in a nice spot but we were struggling from a long way out and I pulled him up because he lost his action turning into the straight," Allen said, according to Punters.com.au. "I felt he may have just choked down. He was struggling to breathe but I jumped off him and once he got his breath back he walked off OK so hopefully he’s OK.”
Right You Are wasn't the only horse that caused concern. Gold Trip also fell behind the pack during the race. The 2022 Melbourne Cup winner was among the favourites this year. However, Gold Trip faded in the race as the horse headed into the final straight.
Gold Trip struggled in the race, but after cooling down the owners quelled any fears of serious injury when they posted a video of the former Melbourne Cup winner.
Spoke to Dec Maher re: Right You Are. Horse may have choked down during the run. Suffering from heat stress but seeks to be doing well now that he’s cooled down a bit @Racing https://t.co/NPGSHnM6yM
— James Tzaferis (@jtzaf) November 7, 2023
John Allen great move to pull him up & look after him
— Anna Sutton (@AnnaCSutton) November 7, 2023
Thanks mate! Saw him pull up and looked concerning but great to see him ok. Backed the winner but always want to see evey horse run well and finish so this makes the won even sweeter.
— Bomber (@Bomber0601) November 7, 2023
For all those asking about Gold Trip, he’s absolutely fine too. Firm track and solidly run race. What a warrior he has been the last two springs! #MelbourneCup pic.twitter.com/MoY1zK6aST
— Andrew Hawkins (@AndrewNJHawkins) November 7, 2023
Mark Zahra creates history at Melbourne Cup
One horse that fortunately did not struggle was Without A Fight. And jockey Zahra created history with the epic ride that sealed him back-to-back Melbourne Cup titles.
Zahra was thrilled after the victory and immediately gestured the number two as he celebrated. He could have been referencing his second Melbourne Cup win on different horses, in as many years, with Harry White last completing the feat in 1978 and 1979.
He also could have been referring to the double he had completed. Without a Fight and Zahra became the first to win the Caulfield Cup and Melbourne Cup double since Ethereal in 2001. And his victory came from an unlikely position with Without A Fight appearing blocked in on the fence with 600m to go.
With 400m to go and heading around the bend, Without A Fight emerged from the pack in the middle of the track in an epic move to showcase Zahra's experience. And the duo charged over the line, putting some distance between them and the pack in one of the more incredible finishes in Melbourne Cup history.
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