Two New Zealand mares upstaged the world's biggest stable when Jezabeel fought back to shade Champagne to win the Melbourne Cup at Flemington yesterday. Jezabeel, backed in from 8 to 1 to start 6 to 1 favourite, came again after being headed by Champagne (7-1) inside the final furlong to win Australia's greatest horse race by a neck. English raider Persian Punch, a 12 to 1 chance, was a further half length away third.
It was a sweet victory for the connections of six-year-old Zabeel mare Jezabeel, who protested unsuccessfully after meeting severe interference when a two-length sixth in the Caulfield Cup two weeks ago won by the Ray Cochrane-ridden Taufan's Melody.
Brian Jenkins, Jezabeel's trainer, said afterwards: "I'm shaking like a leaf. It was a fantastic performance. My horse just does not give up. She never slows down."
Winning Australian jockey Chris Munce said: "It was an unbelievable feeling to win. I thought when Champagne went past it was going to win the race but my horse has got plenty of heart.
"I had to use her speed out of the barrier to get a position, but it was the nicest ride. She dropped the bit like a good stayer does and I followed Aerosmith and waited for the breaks."
Faithful Son, who eased from 5 to 1 to 13 to 2, was the first runner in the race from Sheikh Mohammed's Goldophin stable. But fears expressed by Frankie Dettori that he might not stay the two miles were borne out as Faithful Son faded to seventh.
Taufan's Melody, who won the Caulfield Cup at odds of 66 to 1, started at 20 to 1 yesterday and ran on to finish fourth, ahead of another English-trained runner, the 33 to 1 chance Yorkshire.
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