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| Sumita Pawar |
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In stunning fashion, Without a Fight has emerged as the winner of the 2023 Melbourne Cup. This triumphant victory not only secures a rare Australian horse racing double, but also serves to vindicate jockey Mark Zahra's bold decision regarding which horse to ride.
Zahra chose to ride Without a Fight, the Anthony and Sam Freedman-trained horse, instead of riding Gold Trip with whom he won the Melbourne Cup last year. This decision proved to be the right one as Without a Fight won the thrilling 163rd edition of the US$8 million, 3200m race at Flemington on Tuesday.
Soulcombe finished second, and Sheraz finished third, which was a huge shock. Vauban, who was the favorite coming into the race, finished 14th — 13 lengths behind the winner. Absurde, on the other hand, received heavy late backing and finished 7th.
Unfortunately, Gold Trip, Alenquer, and Right You Are pulled up lame and failed to finish the race. Without a Fight became only the 13th horse to complete the Caulfield Cup-Melbourne Cup double, and the first since Ethereal in 2001.
“Gee he’s unbelievable. If I could have thought I’d have that run from [barrier] 16 I would have said he’s unbeatable,” a delighted Zahra said over the race.
“But trainer’s credit - Sam and Lee and all their team, he was an absolute gentleman for me today. Went to the rail and switched off and I probably got to the front earlier than last year. I just had that soft a run.”
“I was following Alenquer… in front of him was Gold Trip and in front of him was Vauban. I just thought I’d stay here. They all made their moves and it opened up for me. I was on a horse you can just sit on. He’s got an electric turn of foot and he just pulled me all the way to the line and it was all over.
“I stood up on the irons and (was) giving the two fingers for two winners. I don’t know what I was thinking. Idiot!”
Mark Zahra rode Without A Fight to victory in the Lexus Melbourne Cup at Flemington. After the race, co-trainer Sam Freedman praised Zahra's exceptional performance, calling him a "freak" and noting that he was able to get the horse onto the rail from a wide gate, relax him, and make it look easy. Freedman was confident in the horse's ability throughout the race, and felt that he was travelling well in the last 800 metres.
Joao Moreira, one of the world's top jockeys, steered Soulcombe to an impressive run despite missing the start by about three lengths. Despite this setback, Soulcombe continued the trend of late starts and showed great determination throughout the race.
“Things didn’t really go his way,” Moreira.
“Not jumping that well made it a little bit difficult for him, as well as getting into a bit of traffic at the 600, 700 metres also counted against him winning the race but I’m very proud of how he ran.”
In a surprising turn of events, Beau Mertens skillfully guided Sheraz, a horse trained by Chris Waller, to an impressive third-place finish.
“We got into a lovely spot, he relaxed really nicely for me once everything settled and Chris and the team came up with the plan just to have him tucked away for as long as possible and once we produced him in the straight he let down with a nice turn of foot and stayed the trip terrifically,” Mertens said.
“Couldn’t be happier, the team had him in great order and it’s just fantastic.”