Teofilo's Twilight Payment Takes No Prisoners Going Post to Post in Melbourne Cup

Mark Smith - Tuesday November 3

A seventh Lexus Melbourne Cup for Lloyd Williams, a second for Joseph O'Brien, a second for Teofilo (IRE) and a first for Jye McNeil as Twilight Payment (IRE) ran them into the ground in Tuesday's $8 million feature.

Setting brutal, energy-sapping fractions, Twilight Payment (IRE) kept up a relentless gallop to defeat the lightly raced Galileo colt Tiger Moth (IRE) by a long-neck after following the winner for most of the race. It with a short-neck back to the fast-finishing Shirocco gelding Prince Of Arran (GB) who made it three consecutive Melbourne Cup placings after a third to Cross Counter in 2018 and second to Vow And Declare last year.

After looking a winning chance at the 200 metres, The Chosen One clocked in fourth ahead of the hard-charging Persan.

There was a tragedy in the race when English Derby winner Anthony Van Dyck (IRE) broke a fetlock and had to be euthanized.

Eleventh in the race 12 months ago, Twilight Payment (IRE) has been racing in fine form in Europe this year.

Jye McNeil celebrates (racing Photos)

The 8yo son of Teofilo (IRE) won the Group III Vintage Crop Stakes at the Curragh in June before backing that up with an 8-length flogging of his stablemate Master Of Reality in the Group II Curragh Cup in July.

The Joseph O'Brien trained gelding prepped for his Australian assignment with a third in the Group 1 Irish St Leger on September 13.

"I have got goosebumps, and I'm overwhelmed with emotion, it's a miracle," McNeil said.

"I had to be positive because he was a bit slow into gear. He jumped with them but was slow to find his rhythm.

"I encouraged him to go forward because that was the plan, and he found a lovely tempo. It was a matter of ramping the tempo up at the right stage.

"That's what Joseph wanted. To be a step ahead of the rest of the field and get them chasing. What he lacks in class he makes up in his staying ability.

"I was peaking on my run 200 metres out, it was very surreal passing the winning post."

Advertisement

Co-owner Nick Williams was confident Twilight Payment (IRE) in better form than last year.

Dad said to me two or three months ago that Jye was the best young jockey in the country. Dad's a genius, and he has proven to be right again," Nick Williams said.

"There is no doubt the ride won the race. It may not have been pretty, but it was a very effective ride. He had the horse under him to do the job.

"It is a wonderful achievement from Mark Power who is Joseph's travelling Foreman and Sean who has been riding this horse every day in the 18 months we've owned him. We were having dinner Sunday night and he said this horse is lengths and lengths and lengths better than he was this time last year."

Speaking from his home in Ireland, Joseph O'Brien told the racing Post;

"Jye gave the horse a fantastic ride. All credit goes to the team of lads we have down there in Australia for the last month or so. They have done a fantastic job with the horses down there, they have all run with credit. This is the icing on the cake for them.

"This was his first year with a full preparation with us. He came to us halfway through last season. He ran a couple of huge races at the Curragh. I was a little bit worried today he might have got a little bit of pressure for the lead a bit more than what we had hoped, but the horse has got incredible heart and Jye gave him a fantastic ride, and he kept fighting all the way to the line.

"I can't thank Lloyd and Nick Williams enough for everything they do for me. They are both incredible and this is a fantastic result for them also."

Like his sire Teofilo (IRE) Twilight Payment was bred by Jim Bolger who has retained an interest in the Melbourne Cup winner.

A day to remember for Jye McNeil (Racing Photos)

His dam Dream On Buddy (Oasis Dream) was passed in for 38,000 guineas at the 2010 Tattersalls December Mare Sale but sold for 240,000 guineas to BBA Ireland in the same ring 12 months later after her half-sister Bamfire (Holy Roman Emperor) won the Group II Ribblesdale Stakes at Ascot, the Group II Royal Whip Stakes at the Curragh and the Group II Ballysax Stakes at Leopardstown.

Twilight's half-sister Bandiuc Eile (New Approach) was second in the Group II Debutante Stakes at the Curragh last season but has yet to break her maiden.

Dream On Buddy's dam My Renee (Kris S.) was honoured as the Champion Older Female Stayer in Ireland in 2004. She is a daughter of Mayenne (Nureyev) who is a half-sister to Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner and former Darley stallion Carnegie (Sadler's Wells) whose champion dam Detroit (Riverman) also won the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.

Full interview with Joseph O'Brien at Racing Post.

Advertisment

Race Result - Melbourne Cup Gr1 3200m

Flemington Track: Good(3) Time: 3:17.34
1
Twilight Payment
- 8g Teofilo (IRE) x Dream On Buddy (IRE) (Oasis Dream (GB))
Tnr: Joseph O'Brien Rdr: Jye McNeil 55.5
2
0.4
Tiger Moth
- 4h Galileo (IRE) x Lesson In Humility (IRE) (Mujadil (USA))
Tnr: A O'Brien Rdr: K Mc Evoy 52.5
3
0.6
Prince Of Arran
- 8g Shirocco (GER) x Storming Sioux (GB) (Storming Home (GB))
Tnr: Charlie Fellowes Rdr: Jamie Kah 54.5
4
2.3
The Chosen One
- 5h Savabeel (AUS) x The Glitzy One (AUS) (Flying Spur (AUS))
Tnr: M Baker & A Forsman Rdr: D W Stackhouse 53.5
5
2.4
Persan
- 4h Pierro (AUS) x Ofcourseican (AUS) (Mossman (AUS))
Tnr: C Maher & D Eustace Rdr: M J Dee 51
6
3.4
Sir Dragonet
- 5h Camelot (GB) x Sparrow (IRE) (Oasis Dream (GB))
Tnr: C Maher & D Eustace Rdr: G Boss 55.5
7
3.8
Verry Elleegant
- 5m Zed (NZ) x Opulence (NZ) (Danroad (AUS))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: M Zahra 55.5
8
3.9
Russian Camelot
- 4h Camelot (GB) x Lady Babooshka (GB) (Cape Cross (IRE))
Tnr: D T O'Brien Rdr: D Oliver 53.5
9
4.7
Finche
- 7g Frankel (GB) x Binche (USA) (Woodman (USA))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: J B Mc Donald 54.5
10
4.8
Ashrun
- 5h Authorized (IRE) x Ashantee (GER) (Areion (GER))
Tnr: Andreas Wohler Rdr: Declan Bates 53
11
5.5
Oceanex
- 5m Ocean Park (NZ) x Danex (NZ) (Danasinga (AUS))
Tnr: M Price & M Kent Jnr Rdr: D Yendall 51.5
12
6.8
Warning
- 4g Declaration Of War (USA) x Livia (AUS) (Galileo (IRE))
Tnr: A & S Freedman Rdr: L Currie 53
13
8.8
Surprise Baby
- 6g Shocking (AUS) x Bula Baby (NZ) (Kaapstad (NZ))
Tnr: P A Preusker Rdr: Craig Williams 54.5
14
10.5
Miami Bound
- 4m Reliable Man (GB) x Arapaho Miss (AUS) (Danehill Dancer (IRE))
Tnr: D T O'Brien Rdr: D Moor 51
15
10.7
Master Of Reality
- 6g Frankel (GB) x L'ancresse (IRE) (Darshaan (GB))
Tnr: Joseph O'Brien Rdr: B Melham 56
16
10.9
Steel Prince
- 7g Nathaniel (IRE) x Steel Princess (IRE) (Danehill (USA))
Tnr: A & S Freedman Rdr: W Pike 53.5
17
12.7
Etah James
- 8m Raise The Flag (GB) x Etah (NZ) (Danasinga (AUS))
Tnr: C Maher & D Eustace Rdr: W Egan 52.5
18
13.9
Vow And Declare
- 5g Declaration Of War (USA) x Geblitzt (AUS) (Testa Rossa (AUS))
Tnr: D T O'Brien Rdr: J Mott 57
19
14.9
Mustajeer
- 8g Medicean (GB) x Qelaan (USA) (Dynaformer (USA))
Tnr: K A Lees Rdr: M Rodd 55
20
17.9
Stratum Albion
- 8g Dansili (GB) x Lunar Phase (IRE) (Galileo (IRE))
Tnr: W P Mullins Rdr: Jordan Childs 55
21
19.2
Dashing Willoughby
- 5g Nathaniel (IRE) x Miss Dashwood (GB) (Dylan Thomas (IRE))
Tnr: Andrew Balding Rdr: M J Walker 54.5
22
20.9
Avilius
- 7g Pivotal (GB) x Alessandria (GB) (Sunday Silence (USA))
Tnr: James Cummings Rdr: John Allen 57
More Reading...
Tara Talks Racing – Stallion Parades, Old Legends and a Weekend Tip
We’re back in podcast land as the spring unfolds with plenty to talk about following our recent run of visits to the stallion parades, so what stallions did we like?
Sire Power Highlights Quality MM Horses in Training Catalogue
An incredible selection of the country's best proven and hottest young sires will feature at the 2025 Magic Millions Gold Coast Horses in Training Sale in October.
Up and Coming Well Named - So Who Are These Guys?
The $250,000 Group III ATC Up and Coming Stakes (1300m) at Rosehill on Saturday is a race well named with a field of eight colts and geldings set to line up and while none are stakes-winners yet, one of them will be after the weekend.
Happy Retirement Twilight Payment
The 2020 Melbourne Cup hero Twilight Payment has been retired and will live out his days at Living Legends.
Promising Winner and a Star on the Rise
One of the bargain priced sires on the Newgate Farm roster, Cosmic Force has never lacked for company covering 100 plus books of mares in each of his five seasons at stud so far totalling nearly 700 mares.
Melbourne Cup Dreaming for Kiwi Stayer
Peter and Shaun McKay are dreaming of a Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) tilt with their quality stayer Wolfgang, and he will start his journey towards the iconic feature at Wanganui on Saturday.
Spring Trial Watch – Everest Contenders on Show
The Rosehill trials on Thursday morning featured a couple of key Everest contenders with Private Harry winning easily over speedy 3YO North England, while Lady Shenandoah was under a tight grip to finish third in a later heat.
Sires With Winners - Thursday August 28
Here is the full list of 33 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Sir Stanley Goosman’s Impact on the National Yearling Sale
Karaka 2026 will mark the 100th National Yearling Sale in New Zealand, and a prominent buyer during the history of the Sale was Stanley Goosman (later Sir Stanley).  He was a key player at the Sale during the World War II era, and headed the list of winning owners in New Zealand on 10 occasions.
Via Sistina Honoured at NSW Horse of the Year
One of the greatest seasons of all time has secured Via Sistina the TAB NSW Champion Horse of the Year award. The Chris Waller-trained mare was recognised at Racing’s Night of Champions for her outstanding performance in 2024/2025 which included equalling Winx’s record of seven Group 1s in a single season.