The Cup Page #3

- I hope so.

I really do, Dave. You know?

I'm relying on you now

to communicate exactly...

not approximately...

exactly my instructions

to the handlers and jockeys.

Let them know who's boss.

Until I get there,

you're my eyes and ears.

I need to know everything,

absolutely everything now.

- Is that clear?

- Everything.

OK. You have a flight to catch.

See you in Australia.

(Horse neighs)

- Now, you take care down there.

- Of course.

Do watch out

for those Australian women.

Look at your brother Niall.

He went for three weeks.

- We haven't seen him since.

- They did offer him a good job.

Ha! So he says. You just make

sure they don't offer you one.

My job's here with you

That's the way I like it

I hope so.

(Airport announcer

speaks Arabic)

AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLER:

Qantas 7 Melbourne ground.

Taxi freight bay 4.

Godolphin, continue taxi

Melbourne freight bay 5.

PILOT:
Godolphin -

freight bay 5.

Ha! Niall!

- Thanks.

- Hey, brother.

- How are you?

- Could be a whole lot worse.

- How's the flight?

- Good. Long.

- It's good to see you.

- You too.

TV ANCHOR:
Melbourne Airport's

freight terminal

was alive with activity,

as the first group of

international runners

for this year's Melbourne Cup

touched down in planes

from Europe and the Middle-East.

REPORTER:
..three horses

from Sheikh Mohammed's.

Godolphin Stables in Dubai,

English stayer Jardines Lookout,

along with the highly fancied

Vinnie Roe

and stablemate Media Puzzle,

were amongst the group

that arrived from Europe.

Donna Demaio. Melbourne Airport.

What's that?

That would be Henry, Jardines

Lookout's little friend.

Friend?

Apparently, they're inseparable.

Even sleep together.

- How very British.

- (Laughs)

- (Media Puzzle snorts)

- Whoa. Whoa!

That's one toey horse.

- Jet lag?

- Oh, I wish.

Oh, good tucker and a warm stall

will soon settle him.

You think so?

Alright.

Hmm.

This, of course, is the

legendary trainer Bart Cummings,

11-time winner of the

Melbourne Cup, and, Bart,

how do you think Miss Meliss

will race against these

international entries?

Uh... Bit early.

Only just arrived.

The Dermot Welds

and the Sheikh Mohammeds

make our greatest race

even greater.

Got to be good for business.

But how do you rate

their chances, Bart?

Well, they should do well. We

treat 'em like bloody royalty.

Give them their

own bloody track.

You got to remember -

anything can happen.

It's the Melbourne Cup.

(Horses nickering and neighing)

(Media Puzzle snorts)

- Morning, boys.

- Yeah, g'day, Damien.

Nice to see you, Damien.

- (Media Puzzle snorts)

- Whoa, Puzzle. Steady now.

G'day, Dave.

Welcome back to Melbourne.

Damien. Good to see you again.

No prize for guessing

who this is.

- Yeah, I heard he had attitude.

- One thing he's not short on.

Yeah, I don't mind that.

Guess you didn't come here

for the scenery, did you, mate?

Good boy. That's a fella.

How did he go on the trip?

Oh, he did fine. Vinnie Roe,

now, not so handsome...

needs a few more days.

But this one, he's jumping

out of his skin, as you can see.

More than ready

for a decent blow, I'd say.

Come on, big fella.

Let's see what you got. Come on.

Come on!

One can't help wondering what

the ghost of the mighty Phar Lap

would make

of the foreign invasion

and the frenzy surrounding

the Cup.

Perhaps it's not so different

from the days

when he was the toast

of the nation.

- Good morning.

- Morning.

(Beep)

Thirteenth Beach,

famous in surfing circles,

is trainer George Hanlon's

secret weapon

for Mr Prudent

in the Melbourne Cup.

Oh, I don't know about that.

We're always down here.

The girls like it and it makes

a change for the horses too.

REPORTER:

And what about Mr Prudent?

(Chuckles) He's too tactful

to say,

but I think

he likes the bikinis.

- Felt alright.

NIALL:
I'd say you're on target.

Better be. If we don't qualify

at Geelong, we're doomed.

The wrath of God is as nothing

to when Dermot is roused.

(Door closes)

Hey, Dame. How was it?

Yeah. Alright.

TV ANCHOR:

We interrupt this program

with more breaking news

from Bali.

Oh, my God. Bali.

TV ANCHOR:
..subsequent fireball

had levelled an entire block.

INTERVIEWEE:

People are burnt everywhere.

There's people dead.

There's everything.

(Man shouting)

I just don't believe

what happened here tonight.

Anyway, ground zero.

REPORTER:
In Denpasar Hospital,

many of those

fortunate enough to survive

were grieving for those who died

in the bomb blast.

Lost my girlfriend, parents.

REPORTERS:
Dozens of Australians

are among the hundreds

feared dead.

Panic-stricken families

are inundating

the Australian embassy

in Jakarta

for any word on loved ones

in Bali.

Yeah, I would be too.

(Report continues)

Time, gentlemen, please.

Your mounts await.

(Trumpet fanfare,

horses neighing)

JASON:
Good, thanks.

RACE CALLER:
Jockeys about

to be legged up for race 6.

Lady Avonlea well in the

markets. So too Kazz B.

Along with Cossack Angel

and Picture Skew.

About to head out

at Belmont for race 6.

RACE CALLER:
..Miss Domani

last one to move into line.

Last horseriders.

And they're just about to do

the Belmont, race 6. Good line.

The outer range underway quickly

with Kazz B

and also Lady Avonlea.

Rose Of Oakford racing,

handy ride by Cossack Angel.

(Hoofs drown speech)

Kazz B going for the lead.

From the outside, Our Doreen.

It's Cossack Angel,

followed by Miss Domani,

approaching the turn.

Kazz just in front as Jason

Oliver pulls towards the outside

on Lady Avonlea.

Here she comes on the outside.

(Cheering)

Our Doreen.

But Jason Oliver has handled

the field on Lady Avonlea.

Ran from the behind

and has got up to win.

Lady Avonlea.

Perfect ride by J Oliver.

Got up to win from Kazz B.

And Our Doreen makes a third.

TV ANCHOR:
Despite burns

to over 50% of his body,

the North Melbourne star

helped friends escape

from the burning bar,

to await evacuation

by the Australian Air Force.

On two occasions, McCartney...

Me and Jason

were in that game last month.

TV ANCHOR:
..he insisted

someone else go in his place.

Now, Jason McCartney is back in

Australia fighting for his life.

Incredible.

How could anyone be so brave

in the middle of that inferno?

The man's a star.

(Phone rings)

G'day, Jase. Nice win, my boy.

How about McCartney?

Paddy's Bar.

Wasn't that near where you

and Trish stayed last year?

Yeah, yeah. It's a great spot.

Was there every night.

Hey, listen, Dame, I just want

to speak to you about tomorrow.

Now, I know a lot's changed

since my days in Geelong,

but I'll bet you my bottom

dollar that last turn hasn't.

Far as I know.

See, the thing is,

if you're not up front with

the leaders on that last turn,

you might as well ride him

straight back to the stalls.

- What, is that it?

- Yeah, that's it.

'Cause if you blow it, you'll

be making 5% of bugger all,

watching the Cup from an

armchair like the rest of us.

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