CLANCY OVERELL | Editor | CONTACT

With the news of Melbourne Cup colt Cliffsofmoher going down injured within the first 600m of the Race That Stops The Nation, track operators have been quick to tarp up.

This comes as Godolphin trainer Charlie Appleby becomes the first UK trainer to win the Melbourne Cup with the most inexperienced runner Cross Counter storming to a famous victory.

The win, which saw Cross Counter tear away in the last 100 metres has caused such fanfare that no one has even heard the twelve guage shotgun round that was just fired behind the tarp at the 600m mark.

“Woohoo” shouts one racegoer, completely oblivious to the very public display of animal euthanisation less than a kilometre away.

Cross Counter, a northern hemisphere three-year-old, like last year’s winner Rekindling, made the most of the wet conditions, proving too strong for Marmelo and A Prince of Arran in the $7.3 million two-mile classic.

Appleby’s young star becomes the first Godolphin-owned horse to win Australia’s greatest race.

The win is also jockey Kerrin McEvoy’s third victory after first tasting success in the Cup on Brew in 2000 and Almandin in 2016.