Berliner Boersenzeitung - Outsider Knight's Choice wins Melbourne Cup photo-finish thriller

EUR -
AED 3.996506
AFN 72.900955
ALL 98.308217
AMD 421.18485
ANG 1.962247
AOA 992.329453
ARS 1080.181434
AUD 1.648531
AWG 1.958544
AZN 1.857939
BAM 1.951173
BBD 2.198287
BDT 130.111476
BGN 1.956591
BHD 0.410043
BIF 3149.991364
BMD 1.08808
BND 1.432642
BOB 7.540328
BRL 6.302264
BSD 1.088718
BTN 91.571688
BWP 14.498022
BYN 3.563249
BYR 21326.366401
BZD 2.194656
CAD 1.511963
CDF 3094.499133
CHF 0.940172
CLF 0.037633
CLP 1038.41996
CNY 7.73222
CNH 7.746362
COP 4803.87284
CRC 558.775019
CUC 1.08808
CUP 28.834118
CVE 110.603516
CZK 25.336699
DJF 193.3737
DKK 7.458603
DOP 65.774638
DZD 144.733286
EGP 53.392866
ERN 16.321199
ETB 131.77079
FJD 2.476416
FKP 0.832565
GBP 0.839508
GEL 2.975906
GGP 0.832565
GHS 17.800855
GIP 0.832565
GMD 77.8544
GNF 9390.129613
GTQ 8.412053
GYD 227.985681
HKD 8.458929
HNL 27.278588
HRK 7.495815
HTG 143.28025
HUF 408.070771
IDR 17161.033261
ILS 4.081584
IMP 0.832565
INR 91.532868
IQD 1425.384693
IRR 45813.605196
ISK 148.925795
JEP 0.832565
JMD 172.032073
JOD 0.771557
JPY 165.731956
KES 140.362613
KGS 93.357036
KHR 4433.92573
KMF 492.35874
KPW 979.271681
KRW 1500.402352
KWD 0.333431
KYD 0.907373
KZT 532.008489
LAK 23872.473319
LBP 97491.960445
LKR 319.203098
LRD 208.748593
LSL 19.05177
LTL 3.212817
LVL 0.658168
LYD 5.233375
MAD 10.714325
MDL 19.43545
MGA 5021.488734
MKD 61.626889
MMK 3534.041131
MNT 3697.295593
MOP 8.716771
MRU 43.523418
MUR 50.084443
MVR 16.759449
MWK 1888.364769
MXN 21.88825
MYR 4.748922
MZN 69.534196
NAD 19.052337
NGN 1788.575322
NIO 40.014105
NOK 11.970859
NPR 146.514621
NZD 1.818666
OMR 0.418924
PAB 1.088848
PEN 4.100157
PGK 4.362659
PHP 63.604756
PKR 302.322999
PLN 4.35896
PYG 8574.667539
QAR 3.961265
RON 4.975758
RSD 117.039324
RUB 107.716482
RWF 1484.141009
SAR 4.086665
SBD 9.037832
SCR 14.742944
SDG 654.466525
SEK 11.670305
SGD 1.435493
SHP 0.832565
SLE 24.726642
SLL 22816.488369
SOS 621.293686
SRD 37.980509
STD 22521.057486
SVC 9.526411
SYP 2733.833729
SZL 19.052206
THB 36.642724
TJS 11.595724
TMT 3.819161
TND 3.371955
TOP 2.548391
TRY 37.375003
TTD 7.380702
TWD 34.80169
TZS 2933.325215
UAH 45.127108
UGX 3984.551734
USD 1.08808
UYU 45.362435
UZS 13943.744408
VEF 3941626.666042
VES 46.573125
VND 27577.385532
VUV 129.179066
WST 3.047912
XAF 654.423259
XAG 0.032257
XAU 0.0004
XCD 2.94059
XDR 0.817883
XOF 653.386429
XPF 119.331742
YER 271.856803
ZAR 19.061414
ZMK 9794.022753
ZMW 29.20655
ZWL 350.36129
  • CMSC

    0.1100

    24.64

    +0.45%

  • CMSD

    0.1103

    24.92

    +0.44%

  • RBGPF

    66.4100

    66.41

    +100%

  • BCC

    0.0500

    134.26

    +0.04%

  • NGG

    0.1900

    64.45

    +0.29%

  • SCS

    0.1100

    12.25

    +0.9%

  • RELX

    -0.0200

    47.06

    -0.04%

  • RIO

    -0.3200

    65.01

    -0.49%

  • JRI

    0.0500

    13.1

    +0.38%

  • GSK

    0.0900

    36.97

    +0.24%

  • VOD

    -0.0300

    9.32

    -0.32%

  • RYCEF

    0.0100

    7.11

    +0.14%

  • BCE

    -2.9800

    29.12

    -10.23%

  • BTI

    0.0400

    35.11

    +0.11%

  • BP

    0.5000

    29.73

    +1.68%

  • AZN

    0.0100

    71.43

    +0.01%

Outsider Knight's Choice wins Melbourne Cup photo-finish thriller
Outsider Knight's Choice wins Melbourne Cup photo-finish thriller / Photo: William WEST - AFP

Outsider Knight's Choice wins Melbourne Cup photo-finish thriller

Rank outsider Knight's Choice upset favourite Buckaroo on Tuesday to win the Aus$8 million (US$5.25 million) Melbourne Cup, earning Irish jockey Robbie Dolan a debut victory in Australia's "race that stops a nation".

Text size:

The five-year-old Australian-bred gelding came home by a nose in a photo finish ahead of Japanese raider Warp Speed and the Jamie Kah-ridden Okita Soushi in the energy-sapping 3,200-metre (two-mile) handicap at Flemington.

"Pinch me, I'm dreaming," said 28-year-old Dolan, a part-time singer who was riding in the famous race for the first time.

"It is incredible. I can't believe it. I don't even know what to say.

"I didn't know what to expect, but I feel like I've ridden it 10 times because I have ridden it in my head 100 times.

"I can't put it into words. It is the biggest race in the world."

It was a huge breakthrough for Dolan, who was previously best-known for appearing on The Voice, an Australian singing show.

"I'll be singing tonight after a few beers," he said, overcome with emotion.

Buckaroo, priced as the $7.00 favourite, finished ninth while the fancied Vauban could only manage 11th on a warm and sunny day, with the track firm.

A cultural institution in Australia, the Melbourne Cup has been run since 1861 and is considered so important it is a public holiday in its host state of Victoria.

- 'What a thrill' -

Held in front of a bumper crowd, drinking and socialising took priority over racing for many, with the sound of popping champagne corks accompanying the thundering of hooves.

Breaking from barrier six, the John Symons and Sheila Laxon-trained Knight's Choice, an 80-1 shot, settled towards the back of the 23-strong pack behind early leader Just Fine.

With 1,000m to go, Just Fine was still ahead but was slowly reeled in down the home straight and finished last, with Knight's Choice surging from 20th at the final turn for a thrilling victory.

It was a second win for Laxon, who became the first woman to train a Melbourne Cup winner in 2001 with Ethereal.

"He did, he did," she said, lavishing praise on Dolan. "We didn't give him instructions, he knew what to do."

Symons added: "I was worried. He got further back than we talked about, but great ride. What a thrill. What a thrill."

Mark Zahra, who rode the last two Melbourne Cup winners -- Without a Fight and Gold Trip -- was denied a hat-trick aboard Circle of Fire, finishing sixth.

And Kerrin McEvoy's bid for a record-equalling fourth win was also unsuccessful, with his horse Absurde fifth.

A record four women jockeys took part with Kah faring best on Okita Soushi.

Michelle Payne is the only woman rider to win the Melbourne Cup after she steered Prince of Penzance to victory in 2015.

There was one withdrawal by stewards before the race started with French import Athabascan found to have an irregular heartbeat, reducing the field to 23.

(T.Burkhard--BBZ)