As the wide brown land came to a standstill, shops, schools, all workplaces paused to witness this year's running of the Melbourne Cup wondering if the great mare Makybe Diva could create history by winning an unprecendted third time.
For a few minutes each year almost ninety million people around the globe turn their attention to the greatest horse race on our planet, the Melbourne Cup. This year a quiet mare would astound the racing world by dong what no other horse had done, and perhaps never will again.
3200 metres is no walk in the park, even for a thoroughbred racehorse, and the approaching Australian summer turned up the wick in Melbourne this afternoon at Flemington racecourse and temperatures rose.
The horses entered the gates without incident and in no time at all the race was on. The pack settled beautifully and the pace was fair for the entire journey, barely punctuated by mid-field jostling, this was to be a clean cup.
The business end of the race approaches - the home turn. Unlike the previous year no horse seemed to be too unsettled or fenced in as the field thundered around the home turn, and all of the main chances were giving a good turn of speed, it would be any horse's race this year, or would it?
As divots of turf and soil shot into the air, propelled by the hoofs of some of the world's strongest stayers all making their own mark on this historical race, the racing world's collective heart was in their mouths as the incredible Makybe Diva launched her attack too early...... but they needn't have been concerned. In what can only be descibed as "jaw dropping", the quiet mare absolutely slaughtered the entire field leaving all in her wake bar one brave horse (On A Juene) who may have won if the race were fifty metres longer. It wasn't, On A Juene, didn't, and history was made then and there.
For those to whom this has no import today's feat is no major event, but for those who are involved or follow horse racing, this is indeed one of those historical moments that you will pass on to your grandchildren.
What a mare!
For a few minutes each year almost ninety million people around the globe turn their attention to the greatest horse race on our planet, the Melbourne Cup. This year a quiet mare would astound the racing world by dong what no other horse had done, and perhaps never will again.
3200 metres is no walk in the park, even for a thoroughbred racehorse, and the approaching Australian summer turned up the wick in Melbourne this afternoon at Flemington racecourse and temperatures rose.
The horses entered the gates without incident and in no time at all the race was on. The pack settled beautifully and the pace was fair for the entire journey, barely punctuated by mid-field jostling, this was to be a clean cup.
The business end of the race approaches - the home turn. Unlike the previous year no horse seemed to be too unsettled or fenced in as the field thundered around the home turn, and all of the main chances were giving a good turn of speed, it would be any horse's race this year, or would it?
As divots of turf and soil shot into the air, propelled by the hoofs of some of the world's strongest stayers all making their own mark on this historical race, the racing world's collective heart was in their mouths as the incredible Makybe Diva launched her attack too early...... but they needn't have been concerned. In what can only be descibed as "jaw dropping", the quiet mare absolutely slaughtered the entire field leaving all in her wake bar one brave horse (On A Juene) who may have won if the race were fifty metres longer. It wasn't, On A Juene, didn't, and history was made then and there.
For those to whom this has no import today's feat is no major event, but for those who are involved or follow horse racing, this is indeed one of those historical moments that you will pass on to your grandchildren.
What a mare!
illepall 