Rekindling wins Melbourne Cup for O'Brien -- Joseph, that is
Youth prevailed in Tuesday’s Group 1 Melbourne Cup at Flemington Racecourse in Australia. Rekindling, the only 3-year-old in the field, won by a half-length over Johannes Vermeer for trainer Joseph O’Brien, 24.
Johannes Vermeer is trained by O’Brien’s father, Aidan. Max Dynamite, trained by Willie Mullins, finished third in the field of 24, giving Irish-trained runners a sweep of the trifecta in the $4.6 million handicap race at two miles on turf.
Rekindling is co-owned by Lloyd Williams, who has won six Melbourne Cups, including the 2016 running with Almandin, who finished 12th on Tuesday as the 6-1 joint-favorite.
The Melbourne Cup is by far the most lucrative win for O’Brien, a former jockey who began training in early 2016.
Rekindling, who was ridden by Corey Brown, raced in the middle of the field of 24 for the first mile and began to move forward with a half-mile to go. Rekindling (14-1) reached contention with a quarter-mile remaining but did not take the lead until the final sixteenth.
Johannes Vermeer (12-1) finished 2 1/2 lengths in front of 19-1 Max Dynamite.
Rekindling, by High Chaparral, has won three stakes in 10 starts, including the Group 2 Curragh Cup in Ireland in July. Earlier this year, Rekindling was 16th in the English Derby in June and fourth in the English St. Leger in September, his final start before being sent to Australia.