2015 Melbourne Cup
Horse raceMelbourne Cup
LocationFlemington Racecourse
Melbourne, Australia
Date3 November 2015
Winning horsePrince of Penzance
Starting price$101
Winning jockeyMichelle Payne
Winning trainerDarren Weir
SurfaceGrass
Attendance101,015[1]
Previous2014
Next2016

Coming past the 300 meters, Excess Knowledge went to the lead narrowly, here's Prince Of Penzance coming on down the outside, Prince of Penzance for Michelle Payne. Now Max Dymanite starts to charge home. Prince of Penzance from Max Dymanite, Prince of Penzance it's history at Flemington, Michelle Payne! Prince of Penzance beat Max Dymanite.

— Commentator Greg Miles describes the climax of the race

The 2015 Emirates Melbourne Cup was the 155th running of the Melbourne Cup, a prestigious Australian Thoroughbred horse race. The race, run over 3,200 metres (1.988 mi), was held on 3 November 2015 at Melbourne's Flemington Racecourse. The date is a public holiday in the state of Victoria. The final field for the race was declared on 31 October.[2] The total prize money for the race was A$6.2 million, the same as the previous year.[3]

The winner was Prince of Penzance, ridden by Michelle Payne, who became the first female jockey to win the Melbourne Cup. He was trained by Darren Weir, who has since been banned from horseracing & charged with animal cruelty offences.[4]

Max Dynamite ran second and Criterion third.[5]

Background

Prior to the race, racehorse advocacy groups and animal rights activists attempted to highlight the number of racehorse deaths due to injuries sustained during a race.[6] The deaths of two horses in Melbourne Cup 2014 race[7] has called into question the use of the whip and whether it results in unnecessary harm to the animal.[8] Racing Australia has since amended its rules governing the use of the whip, effective from 1 December 2015.[9]

Race summary

Prince of Penzance, ridden by jockey Michelle Payne, won the race. He was trained by Darren Weir, who has since been banned from horseracing & charged with animal cruelty offences.[4]

Max Dynamite ran second and Criterion third.[5]

Prince of Penzance pulled ahead of the front-runners only around 100m from the finish of the race,[10] surprising many, including Payne.[11] Payne's technique focused on galloping, due to her belief that doing so was key to winning.[11]

Field

No.HorseTrainer(s)JockeyWeightBarrierPlace
1Snow SkySir Michael StouteRyan Moore58 kg1623rd
2Criterion
David Hayes
Tom Dabernig		Michael Walker57.5 kg43rd
3Fame Game†Yoshitada MunakataZac Purton57 kg1213th
4Our IvanhoweLee Freedman
Anthony Freedman		Ben Melham56 kg2210th
5Big OrangeMichael BellJamie Spencer55.5 kg235th
6HartnellJohn O'SheaJames McDonald55.5 kg1715th
7Hokko BraveYasutoshi MatsunagaCraig Williams55.5 kg2017th
8Max DynamiteWillie MullinsFrankie Dettori55 kg22nd
9Red CadeauxEd DunlopGérald Mossé55 kg8DNF
10Trip To ParisEd DunlopTommy Berry55 kg144th
11Who Shot ThebarmanChris WallerBlake Shinn54.5 kg611th
12Sky HunterSaeed bin SuroorWilliam Buick54 kg722nd
13The OfferGai WaterhouseDamien Oliver54 kg138th
14Grand MarshallChris WallerJim Cassidy53.5 kg1521st
15PrefermentChris WallerHugh Bowman53.5 kg1120th
16Quest For MoreRoger CharltonDamian Lane53.5 kg219th
17Almoonquith
David Hayes
Tom Dabernig		Dwayne Dunn53 kg1018th
18KingfisherAidan O'BrienColm O'Donoghue53 kg919th
19Prince of PenzanceDarren WeirMichelle Payne53 kg11st
20Bondi BeachAidan O'BrienBrett Prebble52.5 kg1816th
21SertoriusJamie EdwardsCraig Newitt52.5 kg512th
22The United StatesRobert HickmottJoão Moreira52.5 kg314th
23Excess KnowledgeGai WaterhouseKerrin McEvoy51 kg247th
24Gust Of WindJohn SargentChad Schofield51 kg196th

† Indicates race favourite

Fatalities

Three-time cup runner-up Red Cadeaux did not finish,[12] suffering a suspected fracture in the left fetlock,[13] a joint above the hoof similar to an ankle in humans.[14] The gelding was taken to a veterinary clinic for surgery.[15] Red Cadeaux's trainer initially announced that the horse would likely recover, but retired from racing.[15] However, on 21 November, Red Cadeaux was euthanised, due to complications from the injury.[16][17]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Track records and Attendances". Flemington.com.au. Archived from the original on 20 March 2021. Retrieved 3 November 2019.
  2. ^ 2015 Melbourne Cup Horses – racenet.com.au. Retrieved 28 October 2015.
  3. ^ 2015 Melbourne Cup – HorseRacingInfo.com.au. Retrieved 28 October 2015.
  4. ^ "Darren Weir charged with animal cruelty offences". abc.net.au. Retrieved 2019-10-09.
  5. ^ "Melbourne Cup 2015: Michelle Payne first woman to ride winner as long shot Prince of Penzance wins – as it happened". Guardian Australia
  6. ^ "127 horses killed on Australian tracks in a year". News. Retrieved 2015-11-03.
  7. ^ "Cup runner Admire Rakti died of heart attack, initial autopsy finds". ABC News. Retrieved 2015-11-03.
  8. ^ Chang, Charis (3 November 2015). "Courier Mail". Retrieved 4 November 2015.
  9. ^ "Whips". 2015 media releases. Racing Australia. 23 October 2015. Retrieved 4 November 2015.
  10. ^ "Fly Emirates Melbourne Cup 2015 Race (video)". Retrieved 3 November 2015.
  11. ^ "Melbourne Cup: Michelle Payne lauds 'incredible' Prince Of Penzance after historic win". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 3 November 2015.
  12. ^ "Melbourne Cup 2015 results: finishing order". The Age (Australia). Retrieved 4 November 2015.
  13. ^ "Red Cadeaux breaks down: Trainer Ed Dunlop confirms retirement of popular Melbourne Cup runner". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2015-11-03.
  14. ^ "Red Cadeaux 'alive and well'". NewsComAu. NewsComAu. Retrieved 2015-11-03.
  15. ^ "Red Cadeaux to retire after Melbourne Cup injury". 9news. Retrieved 2015-11-03.
  16. ^ "British Stayer Red Cadeaux Euthanized". bloodhorse.com. 20 November 2015. Retrieved 20 November 2015.
  17. ^ "Red Cadeaux euthanised after succumbing to injuries". Sydney Morning Herald. 21 November 2015. Retrieved 21 November 2015.