The Cup Page #8

it's Tarcoola Diamond who wins.

It's You got up for second.

Joy Of Flight third.

Ollie's Toast Of The Coast

dropped out late in the race.

And then Shot At The Title

and Pomme De Here.

Then followed by Light Of Day

and It's Fuji Beauty.

And Damien Oliver's

terrible run continues.

His fifth ride today,

finishing in fourth place.

In all 12 races

on well-fancied mounts

since his return on Derby Day,

Damien Oliver has finished

no better than fourth.

Unusually, he's spent

more time than normal for him

on rides towards the rear

of the field.

Our hearts go out

to this champion.

You realise

this is Damien's 13th ride

and - believe it or not-

his 13th Melbourne Cup.

It makes you think, doesn't it?

I'd say anything would help.

Next up, the event

we've all been waiting for...

the running

of the 142nd Melbourne Cup.

So, we're there in Paris

and Marienbard is...

Oh, he's going really excellent.

The Arc is almost mine. But it's

still a long way to the finish.

And here comes Sulamani on the

outside. He finds another kick.

And I'm searching for the line,

you know?

'Where is the line? Where is

the line? Where is the line?'.

And I... I tell you it later.

Bit of a rough one, eh, Ollie?

Yep.

Anyway, glad you made it.

It wouldn't be the same

without you.

Cheers, Macca.

FRANKIE:
Come on.

I show you the way home, huh?

Riders, please.

Gentlemen, I don't need to tell

you that this is a big race.

The stakes are high.

Prize money of $4 million.

But that doesn't mean

that the usual rules don't apply

and you can get away

with anything silly.

There will be no leniency

for careless riding.

Penalties will be severe.

Now, as you know,

the object is to ensure a fair

go for all riders and horses,

which in turn means a fair go

for punters all over the world.

You all know the rules

and we're relying on you to do

the right thing.

So, good luck to you all.

And safe riding.

ALL:
Thank you, sir.

- Damien.

- G'day, Pat.

I've been wanting

to talk with you.

Yeah.

It's as simple as this - the Cup

is won or lost in the turns.

No, I mean about

what happened last week.

We race differently

to you guys in Europe.

There the tracks are wider.

Things develop more slowly.

Here, you make your move

in the straight,

watch your back in the turns.

- Got it?

- I have, Damien. Thanks.

Good. Because once things start

to bunch up, the gloves are off.

There's nothing us Aussie boys

love more

than a bit of rough and tumble.

- (Chuckles)

- Good luck.

SPORTSCASTER:
It's as busy

as Bourke Street here,

and there's a hive of activity

here in the mounting yard...

colour and, as I said,

a lot of nervous tension.

There still is, of course,

the big question mark

how a lot of the international

horses may handle this track

that we've got here today.

The toppy, Vinnie Roe,

and what an exciting horse.

He came across here...

Thank you, gentlemen!

Mount up, please!

..The stable, that wouldn't be

in the same event as he...

he has got so much ability

and he's such a better horse.

But bottom line is he still has

to carry the top weight of 59.

He's got Patrick Smullen

on board.

The interesting runner

is Media Puzzle,

the second

of Dermot Weld's chances.

Boy, didn't he win that

Geelong Cup with authority?

He broke the track record.

With Damien Oliver on board,

wouldn't we love a win

from Ollie and Media Puzzle?

SPORTSCASTER:
Any minute now

they'll be making their way

to the start.

Here, love.

Park yourself on that.

Will the European invaders

steal the Cup,

or can the legendary trainers...

Go on - help yourselves.

SPORTSCASTER:

And imagine the scenes

should champion jockey

Damien Oliver salute.

They're heading for the track,

and take...10.

RACE CALLER:

Ladies and gentlemen,

the Victoria Racing Club

presents

the 142nd running of the

Tooheys New Melbourne Cup.

The field is being led out

by Vinnie Roe,

prepared by Dermot Weld,

ridden by Patrick Smullen.

Comes across

as Europe's champion stayer.

No.1 is Vinnie Roe.

Vinnie Roe at $5.50. Who wants

him now? Place your bets here.

Here you go. $20 to win.

Media Puzzle.

Vinnie Roe will start favourite

in this year's Melbourne Cup,

and a firm favourite, too,

at $5.50.

There's been very good

late support for Pugin.

He's firmed in

from $10 to $8.50.

And also Beekeeper,

who has firmed from $10 to $9.

RACE CALLER:
No.9- Pugin.

(Applause)

Ridden by Frankie Dettori.

SPORTSCASTER:

In a blaze of sunshine,

the horses take to the track.

Could this be Godolphin's year?

There are many who think so.

No.14- Media Puzzle!

Damien Oliver!

(Cheering and applause)

You show 'em, mate.

Show 'em what we're made of.

Fifteen - Mr Prudent.

Corey Brown.

BOTH:
Oops.

DERMOT:
Sorry.

- I demand a stewards' inquiry.

- (Chuckles)

When my horses win,

it will be done in a manner

completely free of controversy.

- Good luck, Saeed.

- Good luck to you, Dermot Weld.

But this time I think

you need it more than Godolphin.

- Has it started?

- No, no. Not yet.

- You haven't missed a thing.

- Hello.

(Gasps) Is that Veronica?

Oh, yeah, it is.

She'd have loved this.

SPORTSCASTER:
Have the local

battlers got enough in the tank

to foil

the international raiders?

Miss Meliss could be

the dark horse of the field

and she's trained

by Cups king Bart...

Bit more right. Bit more.

Getting there. Yeah,

that's good. It's good.

OK, fellas, lucky dip. Go.

MAN:
I got Media Puzzle!

MAN 2:
What have you got, mate?

(Men chat and chuckle)

COMMENTATOR:
..but he says

it's anybody's race.

Other experts say it's

between Dermot Weld's entries

and the highly credentialed

Godolphins.

Both have performed well

in lead-up events

and they look in great shape.

(Sheep bleat)

Sevens or eights on Pugin.

Eights - that's value.

Eights on Pugin.

And seven on Media Puzzle.

Come on, who wants Damien?

- Sounds good.

- Ten, Vinnie. Give me 20.

Twenty on Vinnie Roe. No

worries. What else have you got?

- Twenty on Damien.

- Twenty on Damien. Very good.

(Speaks French)

OK, riders, time to go.

RACE CALLER:

Starter's calling them up now

for the Tooheys

New Melbourne Cup.

The field is getting set.

It's English raider

Jardines Lookout

coming to a gate

near the outside.

The Saab winner, Requiem,

comes in.

Rain Gauge and Mr Prudent

just in.

Just another day at the beach,

mate. You'll be just fine.

Damien Oliver brings

Media Puzzle in.

And Vinnie Roe,

the horse who's been backed into

favouritism on track, comes up.

Easy, there. That's right.

Patrick Smullen and Dermot Weld.

- Now here's Sandmason coming...

- Righto, Cathy. Close race 7.

The field is nearly ready.

Pugin is coming into a place

next to Rain Gauge.

And they're just about ready.

(Horse shrieks)

RACE CALLER:
Trying

to get over the front

of the barrier stalls there,

Helene Vitality.

It's alright, mate. He's just

trying to get the jump on us.

RACE CALLER:
Helene Vitality

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