Australia: Green Moon leads parade of longshots in Melbourne Cup

Green Moon, a 19-1 outsider, overcame early trouble to score an upset win in Tuesday’s $6 million Melbourne Cup at Flemington Racecourse in Australia.

Green Moon was part of a trifecta of longshots in the 24-runner Melbourne Cup, which was run over two miles. Fiorente, a 30-1 shot, finished a length behind Green Moon, and 1 1/4 lengths in front of 80-1 Jakkalberry, who won the American St. Leger Stakes at Arlington Park in August.

Dunaden, the defending champion and 6-1 favorite, finished 14th. Americain, the 2010 winner of the Melbourne Cup, finished 11th.

Green Moon, a 5-year-old Irish-bred horse by Montjeu, was ridden by Brett Prebble for trainer Robert Hickmott.

Prebble had Green Moon near the front early, but was forced to check his mount in traffic on the first turn. Green Moon raced behind the leaders for much of the race, took the lead with a furlong remaining, and finished in 3:20.45.

Green Moon has won 7 of 18 starts. He won the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes over about 1 1/4 miles on turf at Flemington on Oct. 7. He was a Group 2 winner in March there.

Green Moon began his career in England, where he won three races, including the Fairway Stakes at Newmarket in 2010.

Williams was quoted in the Australian press on Tuesday saying he bought Green Moon from England with the hope that he could win the Melbourne Cup. Green Moon is owner Lloyd Williams’s fourth winner in Australia’s most popular race.