'What a race': Twilight Payment wins the 2020 Melbourne Cup
Twilight Payment has won the 2020 Melbourne Cup in a dramatic finish at Flemington.
In sharp contrast to previous years, Twilight Payment crossed the line in front of an eerily quiet race track with a crowd ban in place due to the coronavirus.
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Storming home in a close finish, trainer Joseph O'Brien’s horse - paying $27.20 for the win - beat his father’s horse Tiger Moth and the English-trained Prince Of Arran to claim the $8 million race.
The younger O'Brien won his first Melbourne Cup in 2017 when Rekindling beat Johannes Vermeer, trained by his father.
Owner Lloyd Williams won his seventh title at the Race that Stops a Nation.
Melbourne Cup run against backdrop of silence
Despite the familiarity about the result for Williams, it was a Melbourne Cup like no other.
For the first time in its rich history, the race was run against a backdrop of silence.
As Melbourne's pandemic restrictions remained in place, Flemington numbers were restricted to trainers, jockeys and key personnel.
Jockey Jye McNeil rode a heady race from the front after taking Twilight Payment to the lead as the field passed the winning post the first time.
He increased the pace from the 1000m and sent his mount out to a clear advantage as the field swung into the straight.
From there, McNeil said he was confident Twilight Payment could keep the momentum going despite Tiger Moth and Prince Of Arran closing hard.
"I was confident. I was trying not to use the whip too many times," McNeil, a winner in his maiden Cup ride, said.
"And also I was trying to use my voice to encourage him as much as possible.
"It was a matter of hanging on, and he was very tough.
"To be able to get the opportunity from the Williams family to partner Twilight Payment today - not only them, but also Joseph O'Brien, who's done a fantastic job preparing him.
"Yeah, it's very overwhelming."
The Cup will rank as another near miss for Aidan O'Brien, a defeat made even more agonising after his stable's English Derby winner Anthony Van Dyck broke down and was euthanised after the race.
Twilight Payment incredible. Does the Might And Power! Stunning all-the-way effort in the #MelbourneCup.
— Alexander Grant (@AlexGrantOz) November 3, 2020
Twilight Payment leads all of the way for a memorable win in the Cup over Tiger Moth, Prince Of Arran and The Chosen One. @JyeMcNeil produces one of the great rides in the Cup, gives @JosephOBrien2 his 2nd and owner Lloyd Williams his 7th! An amazing race.#melbournecup
— Shane Anderson (@Globalgallop) November 3, 2020
WHAT A RACE - TWILIGHT PAYMENT WINS THE 2020 MELBOURNE CUP FOR @JosephOBrien2!🇦🇺🏆
TIGER MOTH in second, with PRINCE OF ARRAN back in third! 🏇 pic.twitter.com/KFmCVYjeuK— Timeform (@Timeform) November 3, 2020
Outstanding performance from Twilight Payment winning in slick time. Exceptional losing ride from Kerrin McEvoy on Tiger Moth. Prince Of Arran is a star placing in his third Cup. How about the run of Persan in 5th after kicking off his campaign with a 3rd in a Wangaratta maiden!
— Matt Welsh (@Themodernpunter) November 3, 2020
with AAP
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