Twilight Payment has won the 2020 Melbourne Cup. In a rare, rare occurrence, the Joseph O’Brien-trained galloper led for pretty much the entire race, building up a big lead before holding out the rest of the field down the straight to take home the Cup.
One of the pre-race favourites, Tiger Moth, surged late but couldn’t quite bridge the gap and finished second, while Prince Of Arran ran third.
Unfortauntely there was a sour note to the race, with Anthony Van Dyck, another one of the favourites, loaded into an ambulance on track after pulling up.
1st: Twilight Payment
2nd: Tiger Moth
3rd: Prince Of Arran
The Melbourne Cup will today be run and won without fans at Flemington Racecourse. Join The Roar for live race updates and commentary of the race that stops a nation from 3pm (AEDT).
Unlike many sports, racing has soldiered on throughout 2020 and the pandemic, but this year’s running of the Melbourne Cup will still be an unusual one: despite the much-improved infection rates currently being registered in Victoria, fans will not be in attendance to witness Australia’s most famous equine event.
A total of 24 runners will navigate the most famous 3200 metres in the land and with continued warm and sunny weather, the track looks likely to be a Good 4; destined to favour horses that enjoy a firm surface and others blessed with a brisk turn of foot.
Last year’s winner, Vow and Declare, looks in nowhere near the same form, there are serious questions around Anthony Van Dyck considering the weight he will carry and his unproven record at the distance, and Avilius’s Caufield Cup run was somewhat unconvincing.
Master of Reality appears a length or two off the best of the Melbourne Cup field, Cox Plate winner Sir Dragonet will dislike the firm going, and Twilight Payment does look in better form this time around.
Elsewhere, Verry Elleegant may also prefer softer ground, Mustajeer will be looking for a vast improvement on last year’s run, Stratum Albion may well lack the aforementioned turn of foot, and the popular local-trained galloper, Finche, gets in with a light weight and a real chance to feature in the Melbourne Cup finish.
Eight-year-old Prince of Arran looks likely to make up the numbers along with Surprise Baby, Steel Prince, The Chosen One, Warning. Unfortunately King of Leogrance, trained by Danny O’Brien, was a race-day scratching with a lame off foreleg.
Some value can be found in Persan, Tiger Moth and Etah James, yet Ashrun appears to be one of the tipsters’ favourites, although has sadly been hampered by drawing barrier 24. Along with Cox Plate favourite Russian Camelot, they appear likely to be in the vicinity when the runners reach the famous Flemington clock tower.
Prediction
The Melbourne Cup rarely disappoints and this edition will no doubt prove as exciting as any other, despite the silence that will emanate from the stands.
1st: 18. Ashrun
2nd: 11. Finche
3rd: 15. Russian Camelot
Catch all the Cup action with our live race updates, highlights and commentary right here on The Roar from 3pm (AEDT).
Start time: 3pm (AEDT)
Venue: Flemington Racecourse
TV: Ten Network
Live stream: 10Play, Kayo Sports
1. Anthony Van Dyck (IRE)
2. Avilius (GBR)
3. Vow And Declare
4. Master of Reality (IRE)
5. Sir Dragonet (IRE)
6. Twilight Payment (IRE)
7. Verry Elleegant (NZ)
8. Mustajeer (GBR)
9. Stratum Albion (GBR)
10. Dashing Willoughby (GBR)
11. Finche (GBR)
12. Prince of Arran (GBR)
13. Surprise Baby (NZ)
14. King of Leogrance (FRA)
15. Russian Camelot (IRE)
16. Streel Prince (IRE)
17. The Chosen One (NZ)
18. Ashrun (FRA)
19. Warning
20. Etah James (NZ)
21. Tiger Moth (IRE)
22. Oceanex (NZ)
23. Miami Bound (NZ)
24. Persan
Stuart Thomas
Expert
In a disappointing post script to the race, it appears Anthony Van Dyck pulled up lame in the later stages. The international runner was loaded into the ambulance and we await a full diagnosis of the extent of his injuries.
The Late News
Roar Rookie
Bugger...had the trifecta but wrong order!
Stuart Thomas
Expert
Twilight Payment has won the 2020 Melbourne Cup after jockey Jye McNeil took the horse to the lead early in the race and was never headed. The tempo was pleasantly more true in this edition of Australia’s greatest horse race and the result was a true staying test that was won convincingly by another Lloyd Williams owned horse. Joseph Pride adds a second cup to his trophy cabinet and Jye McNeil rode a superb front running race to hold of the late charges of Tiger Moth and Prince of Arran down the famous Flemington straight. The race never fails to disappoint and despite the absence of fans, it has delivered again. Stick with the Roar for all the post race analysis and be sure to tune in to all the remaining spring racing action. Results 1st – Twilight Payment 2nd – Tiger Moth 3rd – Prince of Arran
Stuart Thomas
Expert
Another Melbourne Cup story has been written, in the most unusual edition of the race ever run. 1st – Twilight Payment 2nd – Tiger Moth 3rd – Prince of Arran
Stuart Thomas
Expert
Joseph O'Brien has produced a brilliant training performance and if you managed to find the winner, get in the queue. At near 30/1, the win is well worth celebrating.
Stuart Thomas
Expert
That was a stunning performance from Twilight Payment. Jye McNeil took the race on and proved the best stayer in a race run at a good tempo.
Stuart Thomas
Expert
Tiger Moth runs second and Prince of Arran swooped home late to run third.
Stuart Thomas
Expert
Twilight Payment wins the Melbourne Cup, leading all the way. What a stunning run.
Stuart Thomas
Expert
They hit the straight, 500 to go. Twilight Payment still leads, Tiger Moth after it and Prince of Arran down the outside.
Stuart Thomas
Expert
Twilight Payment slams on the accelerator and leads with Finch. They put five lengths on the field.
Stuart Thomas
Expert
Twilight Payment continues to lead, Finch and Tiger Moth close by and Etah James in fourth.
Stuart Thomas
Expert
Vow and Declare is also close by. Finch handy and Prine of Arran in the first half near the rails.
Stuart Thomas
Expert
They cross the finishing post the first time and Twilight Payment takes the lead, Tiger Moth right there.
Stuart Thomas
Expert
The pace is steady early and Finche leads from Vow and Declare.
Stuart Thomas
Expert
Racing in the 2020 Cup!
Stuart Thomas
Expert
Ashrun comes forward last.
Stuart Thomas
Expert
Just a few horses remain outside the gates and we are almost ready for a start.
Stuart Thomas
Expert
This is such a wide betting race, perhaps a host of mystery trifectas is the wise play. I simply cannot pick the winner. Can you?
Stuart Thomas
Expert
The horses begin to load and we are just a moment or two away from the 2020 Melbourne Cup.
Stuart Thomas
Expert
Both favourites remaining firm in betting and Prince of Arran remains in single figure odds.