The Cup Page #6

Amazing moves.

Right on the money every time,

no matter what.

It's like they're blessed.

And then, for some reason,

they just lose it.

No matter how hard they try...

or maybe because

they try too hard...

they never get it back.

Never ever.

What if that's happened to me?

If I've lost my confidence,

I'll be a danger to myself

and everyone else.

You haven't.

You're not falling apart,

and your family's not cursed.

What you have lost

is your amazing best mate

of a brother.

I can only imagine

how dreadful that must feel,

but I know

you'll get through it.

Maybe.

Take your time.

Any word from Damien?

Not yet.

Five days.

Five days till the big day.

And we've lost our jockey.

Or perhaps worse,

we're carrying one

who's so grief-stricken

he doesn't know

whether he's coming or going.

Damien has an amazing affinity

with this fellow.

Even if we got

a top replacement,

I'm not sure

we'd be any better off.

Hmm.

Remember '93, Dave? Vintage

Crop, what we were up against?

Well, we showed them then,

and we'll show them again.

We've got two brave horses,

and they know it.

When this race turns for home,

they'll be in the thick of it.

I know that.

I also know

this is one very special horse.

The Irish Wizard.

Ah, Saeed.

- Good to see you.

- You too, my friend.

Thanks. From what the boys tell

me, your trio's in fine form.

Well, they should know.

How are yours?

You're saying you don't know?

You tell me.

What about Damien?

That's something we don't know.

Nothing to worry yourself about.

- Trish?

- Hi, Lee.

- How are you?

- Yeah, I'm good.

Glad you could make it.

Looking well.

Yeah. That's what

a week away from riding can do.

You know what they say about

getting back in the saddle.

Hey, listen.

This is Trish's idea.

I really don't know. I'm not

sure I can even get on a horse.

No. We'll take this

one step at a time, OK?

You sleep in tomorrow.

Things will look a lot better

in the morning.

We'll get you a good breakfast,

get you saddled up,

then I'll teach you a thing

or two about riding a horse.

(Damien laughs)

Hey. Hey. That's a boy.

See, that didn't hurt, did it?

Feels surprisingly good,

then this isn't Media Puzzle.

So far so good.

Looks as fit as a fiddle.

No doubt about his ability.

Looked good. How did it feel?

Yeah, OK. I'm not really sure.

It's not just the Cup. I've got

12 rides booked before then.

I just can't stand the idea

of going out there

not doing my best,

and people still cheering me on

for the wrong reasons.

Look, Dame, I just want you

to know I'm here for you.

I love you, and I'll support

whatever you decide to do.

What do you reckon, Pins?

Ollie, you just have

to ask yourself,

what would Jase want you to do?

Hey, shh.

Hey. Hey...

Come here, come here. Shh.

What do you reckon, big fella?

What, you think

I've given up on you?

No way, mate. We'll show 'em.

Jase wouldn't want us sitting

around on our arses sulking,

that's for sure.

Made your mind up?

Yep.

Haven't we?

And Hydrometer

is joined by Davidoff.

Damien Oliver going for

two straight derbies,

but there are

challengers galore.

Here comes Diamond Jake

down the outside,

and Helenus is coming on.

Go, Ollie!

Down 150m to go.

Hydrometer kicking well.

Helenus is coming after him.

Ain't Here is joining in.

And Davidoff...

Come on, Damien!

(Crowd cheering)

Helenus coming at him. Helenus,

Hydrometer, they hit the line.

Photo finish.

Helenus or Hydrometer.

Ain't Here has run third.

And then Maskerado,

Diamond Jake, Davidoff.

Damien gave him every chance,

but he weakens out late.

Rubitano has the flat side

well beaten.

Oh, he's in front overall.

And it's the Newmarket winner,

Rubitano, who scores,

Intelligent Star second,

Cosmic Strike third.

Damien Oliver on Chong Tong -

never a hope.

Do you think

he made the right decision?

By the grace of God.

- Good one, mate.

- Good on you, mate.

CALLER:
And he soon after

took the lead.

Lord Volksraad has a real fight

on his hands.

Delago Brom coming home

the better on the outside.

And it's Delago Brom

who beats Lord Volksraad.

Charlie Bub third.

And Ollie on True Glo, back at

the tail. It's just not his day.

Excuse me.

That's seven losses

on seven top horses.

He couldn't even get a place.

DERMOT:
All very true.

SMURFIT:
Surely enough's enough.

We have to replace him.

Not necessarily.

He's actually riding very well.

SMURFIT:
All I know

is he's not winning.

I put a lot of money

into this venture already.

I'm the owner and I say he goes.

Well, I'm the trainer

and I say he stays.

The man and the horse

are champions.

That has to add up to something.

Both with huge problems.

We don't know if the horse

will go the distance.

The jockey's paralysed

with grief.

DERMOT:
He's still

our best option.

SMURFIT:
Dermot, I've always

backed your decisions.

Are you sure

we shouldn't reconsider?

Yes, I am. Don't forget Geelong.

He's not the same man

who won at Geelong.

I believe he's the only man

to ride that horse in the Cup.

And if it means risking

the copious amounts of money

you've given me to prove it,

I'm prepared to do that.

LEE:
Whole day was one big blur,

wasn't it?

I've had better.

Nice to win the ones

he hasn't won. You know?

(Reporters chuckle)

There's not many, you know?

I mean, nothing compares with

the Melbourne Cup, you know?

It's a breed of horse race

that has no equal,

which is why, of course,

it attracts the very best.

Australia has more race

courses than Ireland, England,

United States and Canada

combined, you know?

I mean, that's a fact.

It makes it pretty special,

doesn't it? Thanks.

Hello, Bart.

Ladies and gentlemen, would you

take your seats, please?

- We all here?

- Everyone except Damien.

Well, he's entitled to run late.

Seven rides is a big day

for anyone.

And in case you don't know it,

they were damn fine rides.

Just wasn't his day.

Ladies and gentlemen,

good evening,

and welcome to the barrier draw

for the running

of the 2002 Melbourne Cup.

And the first to draw tonight

is the trainer of the top weight

in Vinnie Roe...

Mr Dermot Weld.

The luck of the Irish, as Vinnie

Roe comes out at barrier No.7.

- Good one, mate.

- That's great.

And now it's time

for the Cups king himself...

11-time Melbourne Cup-winning

trainer Bart Cummings,

who'll do the honours

for Miss Meliss.

(Applause)

Oh, I know that look.

I've seen that before.

Not on you, though.

On your brother.

The day I had to let him go.

So, anyway, I'm sacking Jason,

I'm sending him back to Perth,

and you know what he does?

He's a cheeky bugger.

He asks me for a favour.

Now, most guys will ask

for a bit of extra pocket money

or others will beg for a second

chance - but not Jason.

He tells me about his younger

brother, just starting out.

You couldn't have been 16,

but even then Jason knew

that you were going to be

a better jockey than him...

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