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'Good as I've seen': Legendary jockey's tip to win the Melbourne Cup

Australian Associated Press
·2-min read
New Zealand horse 'Jezabeel' (pictured right) with jockey Chris Munce at the Melbourne Cup.
Chris Munce (pictured) winning the Melbourne Cup with Jezabeel. (Getty Images)

Chris Munce knows what it takes to win a Melbourne Cup and he believes English Derby winner Anthony Van Dyck fits the bill.

Munce landed the 1998 Melbourne Cup aboard Jezabeel, who was sensationally backed from $9 into $7 favouritism with media mogul Kerry Packer leading the charge against the bookies.

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After looking beaten in the straight, Jezabeel fought back bravely to edge out fellow New Zealander Champagne to win by a neck in a gripping finish.

Munce believes Anthony Van Dyck can add the Melbourne Cup to his CV which also includes last year's English Derby.

The entire is second favourite at $8.50 with TAB Fixed Odds to win on Tuesday after finishing runner-up to Verry Elleegant in the Caulfield Cup.

"I think his run in the Caulfield Cup was as good a trial as you'd want to see anywhere," Munce said.

"I know everyone dismisses that sort of flashing run but I just felt he had a few things against him with a wide run but he just kept powering to the line under pressure.

"He looks like a horse looking for Flemington, looking for a big track and looking for two miles so he's my selection that I'd like to be riding if I was in the Cup this year."

Jockey Seamie Heffernan poses for a photograph after riding Anthony Van Dyck to victory in the Derby Stakes.
Jockey Seamie Heffernan poses for a photograph before returning to the winners enclosure after riding Anthony Van Dyck to victory in the Derby Stakes. (GLYN KIRK/AFP via Getty Images)

Munce is one of a select group of jockeys to ride the winners of Australian racing's coveted grand slam of Group One races - the Melbourne Cup, Caulfield Cup, Cox Plate and Golden Slipper.

In addition to his Cup triumph aboard Jezabeel, he won the Caulfield Cup aboard Descarado, rode Savabeel to victory in the Cox Plate as well as Dance Hero and Prowl in the Golden Slipper.

Melbourne Cup bans fans from Flemington

Melbourne Cup officials have announced no fans will enter Flemington to watch ‘Race That Stops the Nation’ due to the coronavirus pandemic.

After weeks of discussion, the Victorian Racing Club announced “it will not be possible” to welcome thousands of spectators into Flemington.

VRC boss Amanda Elliot said the club had been in discussions with health authorities and the government, but no scenario with spectators was agreed upon.

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