A Look Back at Flemington’s Closest Finishes

The first Tuesday in November is just around the corner, showcasing the 164th edition of the Melbourne Cup. With each passing day, the excitement grows to see who will win this year’s $8.5 million prize. As the final big race of the calendar, you could be forgiven for thinking that the best was saved for last.

This historic race is so much more than an annual sporting event, and the “race that stops a nation” has seen some fantastic nail-biters over the years. And this year, punters have been busy tracking the successes of the steeds in the lead-up to their showing at Flemington Racecourse. Horses, trainers and jockeys from around the world had made their way to the Garden State to battle it out for the generous prize.

The current favourites are Ciaron Maher-trained Circle Of Fire, a four-year-old UK bay stallion. A local steed, The Map, one of the stronger contenders for the Cup, had kicked off its contest a little earlier in the year at Adelaide’s Morphetville race course, and its most recent win at Lexus Andrew Ramsden secured her place amongst the final 24 contestants in Melbourne.

According to bookmakers, another UK racehorse, a four-year-old bay gelding named Middle Earth, is a prospect with a good chance at success this year. It would be remiss not to mention Pride Of Jenni, a seven-year-old bay mare from Australia, another elite-class contender for the Cup.

The Melbourne Cup has always been a race full of spectacle and unpredictability, something that becomes painfully obvious when you look back at Flemington’s closest finishes:

Gurner’s Lane vs. Kingston Town (1982)

In the 1982 Melbourne Cup, a racehorse named Kingston Town was the favourite, primarily due to its fantastic record as a three-time Cox Plate winner. Right from the start of the race, Kingston and his jockey, Malcolm Johnston, took the lead. With only 600 metres left, everyone thought Kingston would win the race.

However, as Kingston approached the last 200 metres, so did another horse—Gurner’s Lane, and his jockey Mick Dittman. The opponent cut through the other horses and overtook Kingston Town just before the finish line. People still debate whether Johnston pushed Kingston Town too soon.

Empire Rose vs. Natski (1988)

Empire Rose was a popular racehorse and, for years, a favourite to win the Melbourne Cup. After an exciting finish, that finally happened in 1988 (it was her third try). Rose’s jockey, Tony Allen, pushed her to the front early, and at the last 200 metres, it was clear she would win the race.

With only one furlong left, a horse named Natski, trained by Jack Denham, approached from the outside, catching up to Empire Rose in a very tight finish. Even though the photos show Natski’s back end was slightly ahead, Rose’s nose crossed the line first, bringing her trainer, Laurie Laxon, a long-awaited victory.

Might Power vs. Doriemus (1997)

Before winning the 1997 Melbourne Cup, Jack Denham-trained Might and Power won the Caulfield Cup, by a considerable margin, which made him the favourite at Flemington.

However, because the previous race was easy for him, Might and Power had to carry extra weight—56 kilograms—in the Melbourne Cup. Regardless of the horse’s experience and success, that was a heavy ballast for a four-year-old horse.

Despite the added weight, Might and Power justified his name as he had been in the lead since the race had started. But, over the last 100 metres, Doriemus, a Melbourne Cup winner from two years earlier, started catching up quickly.

It seemed like two horses crossed the finish line together. However, the photo finish showed that Might Power’s jockey, Jim Cassidy, had pushed him just ahead, enabling them to walk away with the title that year.

Jezabeel vs. Champagne (1998)

In 1998, a racehorse named Jezabeel brought the jockey Cris Munce and trainer Brian Jenkins their first and only victory at the Melbourne Cup.

Jezabeel came to Flemington Racecourse to redeem herself after an unsuccessful run in the Caulfield Cup a few weeks earlier. However, another horse named Champagne was on the same mission.

Over the last 300 metres, it seemed like both horses had an equal chance to clutch the win. But, with only 100 metres left, Champagne started slowing down, inspiring Jezebel’s jockey, Chris Munce, to push the horse ahead and cross the finish line as winners.

Delta Blues vs. Pop Rock (2006)

The 2006 Melbourne Cup will be remembered by the two Japanese horses, Delta Blues, and Pop Rock, finishing the race as first and second respectively. Although international horses entered the race on previous occasions, this particular outing caught worldwide attention, encouraging racers worldwide to participate in Australia’s biggest race.

The win was also a 1-2 punch for Japanese trainer, Katsuhiko Sumii, who had been responsible for both horses. In the end, Pop Rock and his jockey, Damien Oliver, could not catch Delta Blues, leading his jockey, Yasunari Iwata, to—in his words— the biggest win ever.

Viewed vs. Bauer (2008)

Before winning the 2008 edition of the race, trainer Bart Cummings won the Melbourne Cup with Rogan Josh in 1999. Nine years later, Cummings’s horse, Viewed, won in a very close finish with a young jockey, Blake Shinn.

Once Viewed took the lead in the final stretch, Shinn pushed him hard to stay ahead. It was not easy with Luca Cumani’s horse, grey Bauer, as the opponent, determined to win the last part of the race. Viewed, however, managed to hold on, bringing Cummings his 12th and final Melbourne Cup victory.