Gold Trip (FR) Captures Melbourne Cup - Second Cup Victory for Australian Bloodstock

Mark Smith - Tuesday November 1

Australian Bloodstock’s Gold Trip (FR) had a lap on them in class and in a stable with an unrivalled reputation with stayers, all the son of Outstrip (GB) needed was a top steer by Mark Zahra to make a one-act affair of the $8,000,000 Group 1 Lexus Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington on Tuesday.

Hail the 2022 Melbourne Cup hero (image Grant Courtney)

Allowed to drift back in the field while keeping in the running line three deep, Gold Trip (FR) trucked into the race under his own steam to be in a challenging position on the turn.

When set to an all-out drive, Gold Trip (FR) made light of his 57.5kgs to defeat the Geelong Cup winner Emissary (Kingman) by two lengths with a further one and a quarter length back to the winner’s stablemate High Emocean (Ocean Park) in third and the favourite Deauville Legend (Sea The Stars) in fourth.

Mark Zahra and the Melbourne Cup winning feeling (image Grant Courtney)

Co-trainer Ciaron Maher said it was a phenomenal result for the stable.

“I don’t think it’s really sunk in yet,” a stunned Maher said.

“Everyone’s had a lot to do with this horse, (farrier) John Bunting - he’s had this horse in very good order all the way along. He’s a great mate, great bloke and he’s very good at what he does.

“Dave and my brother, everyone, it’s just huge. Dave and I are lucky enough to stand up here. Most of our staff are here today and friends and family, it’s just fantastic.

“To run in three of the big ones and have him present in the Cup like that - fantastic.

“It opened up beautifully and we had a plan going out with Mark. He was very good on him in the Caulfield Cup, and we just wanted to wait, wait, wait and we knew he’s got that good turn-of-foot and he was fantastic.

Mark Zahra and Ciaron Maher (image Grant Courtney)

“My mum and dad are here. We’ve got a really big team. I want to thank Will Bourne and Jamie from Australian Bloodstock for finding the horse and there’s a lot of good clients in it.

“It’s a dream come true. I’m just thrilled.”

Mark Zahra said it played out beautifully and it is hard to put it into words what it means to him.

“I’ll start crying. It’s unbelievable. What a day,” he said.

“I got to the front a bit soon, but I didn't give him a chance to think about it.

“That last 100 (metres), I was thinking ‘just piss off’ and no one come near me. It was elation, just elation across the line.

“Mum used to give us the day off (from school) so I could watch it. It’s just surreal. Absolutely surreal.

“My little ones at home. My wife is here. All the folks back in WA - amazing feeling.

“I just got to travel up and up and I thought ‘gee I‘m traveling so good here’.

“I was just waiting for D Lane (Young Werther) to go and obviously he’s a great jockey and he didn’t go too early and I waited.

Advertisement

“With this horse I’ve always said that when you go you’ve got to go to go because I’ve run a few seconds. I was like ‘right ohhhh!’ and then I was thinking I’ve got a fair way to go here.

“This time last year in Byron Bay I think I was getting told off for drinking too much after Verry Elleegant won. That could have been my ride so redemption day today. It’s just a miracle.

“Twelve months ago I felt terrible and I was probably drinking my way out of it and Elise (partner) was saying ‘don’t drink too much’.

“Maybe I could have ridden it (Verry Elleegant), but it hasn’t slipped my mind. I think about it all the time that I could have ridden her.

Your 2022 Melbourne Cup Winner (image Grant Courtney)

“I”ve got good mates in the horse and for Elise to be here, it’s unbelievable.

They’re (Maher – Eustice) the best trainer of stayers. That’s one thing I had confidence in that they trained it.

“I was actually quite vocal that I didn’t think he’d get the trip and thankfully my good mate Jamie Spencer didn’t have much luck on him (in the Cox Plate). Probably just the perfect lead-up run.

“(Glen) Bossy was ringing me the other day going ‘this is the one’, and I said I’m already on it, and he was ringing me last night telling me how to ride it. I said, ‘I’ve got this Bossy, I’ve got this.’

“He picked it straight off the Cox Plate. He was so confident. More confident than me, apparently.

“That probably gave me a bit of confidence too.”

Gold Ship (FR) has some excellent form in the best races in Europe without winning before he was purchased for Australia.

With his second win, the 6yo son of Exceed And Excel’s Group 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner Outstrip (GB) advances his record to two wins, four seconds, and four thirds from 16 starts with earnings of $6,239,914.  

Trained in France by Fabrice Chappet won the Group II Prix Greffulhe (2200m) at Lyon Parilly in 2020. He was third in the Group 1 Grand Prix de Paris (2400m) at Longchamp, behind subsequent Hong Kong International Vase (2400m) winner Mogul and Arc runner-up In Swoop. His three-year-old season ended when fourth, beaten two and a half lengths behind Sottsass in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (2400m) on a heavy track at Longchamp.

Bred by M. Michel Monfort, Gold Trip (FR) made just three starts at four in 2021, placing in the Group 1 Prix Ganay (2100m) at Longchamp on May 2 and Group 1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud (2400m) on July 4 before heading to Australia.

It was the second Melbourne Cup for Australian Bloodstock after Protectionist (GER) in 2014.

 A half-brother to stakes-placed Got Wind (Olympic Glory), Gold Trip (FR) is out of the Dubai Destination mare Sarvana.

After beginning his career at Darley’s Dalham Hall, Outstrip (GB) now stands in Brazil.

Learn more about Gold Trip (FR) here. 

Advertisment

Race Result - Lexus Melbourne Cup Gr1 3200m

Flemington Track: Soft(7) Time: 3:24.04
1
Gold Trip
- 6h Outstrip (GB) x Sarvana (FR) (Dubai Destination (USA))
Tnr: C Maher & D Eustace Rdr: M Zahra 57.5
2
2.0
Emissary
- 6g Kingman (GB) x Soviet Moon (IRE) (Sadler's Wells (USA))
Tnr: M D Moroney Rdr: Patrick Moloney 51.5
3
3.3
High Emocean
- 6m Ocean Park (NZ) x High Joy (NZ) (High Chaparral (IRE))
Tnr: C Maher & D Eustace Rdr: Teodore Nugent 50
4
5.0
Deauville Legend
- 4g Sea The Stars (IRE) x Soho Rose (IRE) (Hernando (FR))
Tnr: James Ferguson Rdr: K Mc Evoy 55
5
6.0
Realm Of Flowers
- 6m So You Think (NZ) x Astral Flower (GB) (Kalanisi (IRE))
Tnr: A & S Freedman Rdr: Damien Thornton 50
6
7.2
Daqiansweet Junior
- 5g Sweet Orange (USA) x Paulette (NZ) (Keeper (AUS))
Tnr: P Stokes Rdr: D Moor 53
7
7.6
Smokin' Romans
- 6g Ghibellines (AUS) x Inferno (NZ) (Yamanin Vital (NZ))
Tnr: C Maher & D Eustace Rdr: Jamie Kah 51.5
8
7.8
Stockman
- 6g Tavistock (NZ) x Crimson (NZ) (Zabeel (NZ))
Tnr: Joseph Pride Rdr: S Clipperton 54
9
8.6
Knights Order
- 8g So You Think (NZ) x Lamanka Lass (USA) (Woodman (USA))
Tnr: G Waterhouse & A Bott Rdr: Tim Clark 55.5
10
8.7
Vow And Declare
- 7g Declaration Of War (USA) x Geblitzt (AUS) (Testa Rossa (AUS))
Tnr: D T O'Brien Rdr: B Shinn 54.5
11
10.9
Arapaho
- 6g Lope De Vega (IRE) x Alzubra (GB) (Dansili (GB))
Tnr: Bjorn Baker Rdr: Rachel King 52.5
12
20.9
Hoo Ya Mal
- 4h Territories (IRE) x Sensationally (GB) (Montjeu (IRE))
Tnr: G Waterhouse & A Bott Rdr: Craig Williams 53.5
13
21.1
Without A Fight
- 6g Teofilo (IRE) x Khor Sheed (GB) (Dubawi (IRE))
Tnr: Simon & Ed Crisford Rdr: W Buick 55.5
14
21.3
Grand Promenade
- 7g Champs Elysees (GB) x Zacchera (GB) (Zamindar (USA))
Tnr: C Maher & D Eustace Rdr: H Coffey 53
15
22.8
Young Werther
- 5g Tavistock (NZ) x Romantic Time (NZ) (Fastnet Rock (AUS))
Tnr: D T O'Brien Rdr: Damian Lane 54
16
23.0
Montefilia
- 5m Kermadec (NZ) x Bana Wu (GB) (Shirocco (GER))
Tnr: David Payne Rdr: J R Collett 55.5
17
30.0
Tralee Rose
- 6m Tavistock (NZ) x Star Of Tralee (NZ) (Zabeel (NZ))
Tnr: Symon Wilde Rdr: D Yendall 51.5
18
38.0
Duais
- 5m Shamus Award (AUS) x Meerlust (AUS) (Johannesburg (USA))
Tnr: Edward Cummings Rdr: J Bowman 55.5
19
73.0
Numerian
- 7g Holy Roman Emperor (IRE) x Delicate Charm (IRE) (High Chaparral (IRE))
Tnr: Annabel Neasham Rdr: Tommy Berry 55.5
20
99.0
Serpentine
- 6g Galileo (IRE) x Remember When (IRE) (Danehill Dancer (IRE))
Tnr: Robert Hickmott Rdr: John Allen 53.5
21
99.1
Camorra
- 6g Zoffany (IRE) x Mauralakana (FR) (Muhtathir (GB))
Tnr: Ben & J D Hayes Rdr: B Melham 55
More Reading...
Nominees Announced for Australian Racehorse of the Year Awards
The nominees for the prestigious 2024/2025 Australian Racehorse of the Year awards have been announced today by Racing Queensland in association with Racing Australia.
Too Darn Hot Mare Claims Third G1
Too Darn Hot (GB) will be a returning superstar to Darley NSW this spring and there is no doubt he can get an exceptional horse with Fallen Angel capturing her third Group I in France on Sunday when taking out the G1 Prix Rothschild (1m) at Deauville.
One to Watch – Ballarat
Last seen contesting the Group I MRC Blue Diamond Stakes, newly gelded three year-old Olatunde bolted in at Ballarat on Monday continuing the fast start to the new season for his sire Farnan.
Trans Tasman Options for La Crique
Trainers Simon and Katrina Alexander are contemplating options on both sides of the Tasman with their multiple Group One winner La Crique following her pleasing trial at Taupo on Monday.
Gold Trip Simply Breathtaking in Turnbull
Last year’s Melbourne Cup hero Gold Trip (FR) has teased a few times that he is back to his best, but few would have predicted his explosive performance in Saturday’s Group 1 TAB Turnbull Stakes (2000m) at Flemington.
Blue Gum Farm Welcome First Foal of the Season
Victorian nursery Blue Gum Farm announced on Monday the arrival of their first foal of the season and there is no mistaking the sire of this gorgeous filly.
G1 Guineas Goal for Unbeaten Snitzel Filly
A quartet of well-performed fillies from Stephen Marsh’s stable took their first steps toward upcoming age group features when they stepped out at the Taupo trials on Monday.
Gold Trip Sidelined With Tendon Injury
Melbourne Cup winning stallion Gold Trip (Fr) has suffered a tendon injury that will require a period of treatment and rehabilitation with his long term future yet to be decided.
Zed 9YO Wins G3 Winter Cup
Saturday’s $110,000 Group Three Winning Edge Presentations Winter Cup (1600m) at Riccarton continued an incredible ride for the connections of Chase (NZ) (Zed), who bought him for only $9,000 from Book 3 of Karaka 2018. Originally a $6,000 purchase by JD Corcoran when offered as a weanling from Valachi Downs in the 2017 National Weanling, Broodmare & Mixed Bloodstock Sale.
G1 Plans for Wexford Stable Mares
Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott have their sights set on the opening Group One of the season with a pair of talented mares, both of which appeared at the Taupo trials on Monday.