Dunaden won the 2011 Emirates Melbourne Cup for France
1 November 2011
France's domination of the Melbourne Cup Carnival continued at Flemington on Tuesday 1 November when Dunaden gave the powerful racing nation its second straight win in the Emirates Melbourne Cup (3200m).
The Mikel Delzangles-trained, Christophe Lemaire-ridden six-year-old emulated compatriot and 150th Melbourne Cup champion Americain when he snared the $6 million event 13 days after making a successful Australian debut in the Group 3 Geelong Cup (2400m).
The son of Nicobar edged out Red Cadeaux in a finish reminiscent of the Viewed-Bauer classic of 2008. The official winning margin was a nose with Lucas Cranach third, just in advance of Americain.
Delzangles, a former understudy of Americain's trainer Alain de Royer Dupre, was thrilled to claim Australia's greatest race at his first trip to Melbourne.
“Now in France we know a lot about it (the Melbourne Cup) since last year because Americain won,” Delzangles said.
“Everybody knows about it and it was great to come such a long way and run in the race with a chance
“The welcome here is so amazing and the racing is so great and enthusiasm of the people is so good. I wish we had half of that in our country.”
The result was also a dream Australian debut for star Frenchman Lemaire, who only gained the ride after in-form local hoop Craig Williams was forced to surrender the ride after being denied a stay of proceedings against a suspension at a VCAT hearing on Monday.
“There are no words for this,” Lemaire said. “I want to thank everybody for the emotion and the passion they have. It is my first time in Australia but I love Flemington.
“The Melbourne Cup is one of the big ones everybody wants to win."
Lemaire produced a gem of a ride to get Dunaden home. He was three-wide with cover in the slow tempo that was set by Illo down the straight the first time, but found a spot one off the fence down the back and was able to hitch a ride on the back of Lucas Cranach rounding the home turn.
Lemaire peeled Dunaden into the clear at the 400m and while he ranged up alongside the leaders at the 250m, he was quickly headed by Red Cadeaux, who sprinted impressively under Michael Rodd.
The Ed Dunlop-trained $31 chance got a neck in front inside the 200m, but Dunaden ($8.50) wore him down and they went head-and-head for the final 50m.
The judge took an agonising three or four minutes to display the winning number but the French celebrated when Dunaden's No 3 was the first digit displayed.
“It was slow (pace) at the beginning, but on the back straight they raced a little faster,” Lemaire said when describing the race.
“The horse in front of me, Corey Brown I think (Lucas Cranach), brought me to the front line at the top of the stretch and he was strong to the line.
“I was a bit anxious because I knew it was very close and the pony (Clerk of the Course) on the back straight said that maybe the outside horse (Red Cadaeux) had won and I felt a bit disappointed even though the horse gave everything but then on the turn they said ‘you win'.”
Anthony Freedman-trained German import Lucas Cranach ($13) fought on well to claim a brave third – 1.3 lengths away – at just his 11th career start, a nose in advance of Americain ($5 fav), who did well under his 58kg top weight after being pushed wide rounding the home bend.
Manighar (fifth), Lost In The Moment (sixth) and Fox Hunt (seventh) completed a dominant result by the internationally-bred runners of the race with Niwot (eighth) the first Australasian-bred horse home.
Officially last over the line was Modun.
