Australian Bloodstock’s Gold Trip (FR) had a lap on them in class and in a stable with an unrivalled reputation with stayers, all the son of Outstrip (GB) needed was a top steer by Mark Zahra to make a one-act affair of the $8,000,000 Group 1 Lexus Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington on Tuesday.
Allowed to drift back in the field while keeping in the running line three deep, Gold Trip (FR) trucked into the race under his own steam to be in a challenging position on the turn.
When set to an all-out drive, Gold Trip (FR) made light of his 57.5kgs to defeat the Geelong Cup winner Emissary (Kingman) by two lengths with a further one and a quarter length back to the winner’s stablemate High Emocean (Ocean Park) in third and the favourite Deauville Legend (Sea The Stars) in fourth.
Co-trainer Ciaron Maher said it was a phenomenal result for the stable.
“I don’t think it’s really sunk in yet,” a stunned Maher said.
“Everyone’s had a lot to do with this horse, (farrier) John Bunting - he’s had this horse in very good order all the way along. He’s a great mate, great bloke and he’s very good at what he does.
“Dave and my brother, everyone, it’s just huge. Dave and I are lucky enough to stand up here. Most of our staff are here today and friends and family, it’s just fantastic.
“To run in three of the big ones and have him present in the Cup like that - fantastic.
“It opened up beautifully and we had a plan going out with Mark. He was very good on him in the Caulfield Cup, and we just wanted to wait, wait, wait and we knew he’s got that good turn-of-foot and he was fantastic.
“My mum and dad are here. We’ve got a really big team. I want to thank Will Bourne and Jamie from Australian Bloodstock for finding the horse and there’s a lot of good clients in it.
“It’s a dream come true. I’m just thrilled.”
Mark Zahra said it played out beautifully and it is hard to put it into words what it means to him.
“I’ll start crying. It’s unbelievable. What a day,” he said.
“I got to the front a bit soon, but I didn't give him a chance to think about it.
“That last 100 (metres), I was thinking ‘just piss off’ and no one come near me. It was elation, just elation across the line.
“Mum used to give us the day off (from school) so I could watch it. It’s just surreal. Absolutely surreal.
“My little ones at home. My wife is here. All the folks back in WA - amazing feeling.
“I just got to travel up and up and I thought ‘gee I‘m traveling so good here’.
“I was just waiting for D Lane (Young Werther) to go and obviously he’s a great jockey and he didn’t go too early and I waited.
“With this horse I’ve always said that when you go you’ve got to go to go because I’ve run a few seconds. I was like ‘right ohhhh!’ and then I was thinking I’ve got a fair way to go here.
“This time last year in Byron Bay I think I was getting told off for drinking too much after Verry Elleegant won. That could have been my ride so redemption day today. It’s just a miracle.
“Twelve months ago I felt terrible and I was probably drinking my way out of it and Elise (partner) was saying ‘don’t drink too much’.
“Maybe I could have ridden it (Verry Elleegant), but it hasn’t slipped my mind. I think about it all the time that I could have ridden her.
“I”ve got good mates in the horse and for Elise to be here, it’s unbelievable.
They’re (Maher – Eustice) the best trainer of stayers. That’s one thing I had confidence in that they trained it.
“I was actually quite vocal that I didn’t think he’d get the trip and thankfully my good mate Jamie Spencer didn’t have much luck on him (in the Cox Plate). Probably just the perfect lead-up run.
“(Glen) Bossy was ringing me the other day going ‘this is the one’, and I said I’m already on it, and he was ringing me last night telling me how to ride it. I said, ‘I’ve got this Bossy, I’ve got this.’
“He picked it straight off the Cox Plate. He was so confident. More confident than me, apparently.
“That probably gave me a bit of confidence too.”
Gold Ship (FR) has some excellent form in the best races in Europe without winning before he was purchased for Australia.
With his second win, the 6yo son of Exceed And Excel’s Group 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner Outstrip (GB) advances his record to two wins, four seconds, and four thirds from 16 starts with earnings of $6,239,914.
Trained in France by Fabrice Chappet won the Group II Prix Greffulhe (2200m) at Lyon Parilly in 2020. He was third in the Group 1 Grand Prix de Paris (2400m) at Longchamp, behind subsequent Hong Kong International Vase (2400m) winner Mogul and Arc runner-up In Swoop. His three-year-old season ended when fourth, beaten two and a half lengths behind Sottsass in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (2400m) on a heavy track at Longchamp.
Bred by M. Michel Monfort, Gold Trip (FR) made just three starts at four in 2021, placing in the Group 1 Prix Ganay (2100m) at Longchamp on May 2 and Group 1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud (2400m) on July 4 before heading to Australia.
It was the second Melbourne Cup for Australian Bloodstock after Protectionist (GER) in 2014.
A half-brother to stakes-placed Got Wind (Olympic Glory), Gold Trip (FR) is out of the Dubai Destination mare Sarvana.
After beginning his career at Darley’s Dalham Hall, Outstrip (GB) now stands in Brazil.
