The race, which took place at the Flemington Racecourse, saw the participation of three New Zealand-trained horses – Sharp ‘N’ Smart, Positivity, and Trust in You. This was a rare occurrence, as three Kiwi-trained horses had not competed in the race since 2009, with the last New Zealand-owned and trained winner being Ethereal in 2001.
Punters at the TAB were particularly interested in the Kiwi contenders, with Sharp ‘N’ Smart priced at $41 for a win, while Positivity and Trust In You had odds of $81 each. TAB spokesperson Matt Smith highlighted that a victory by any of these horses would result in a substantial payout for bettors.
One punter placed a $10,000 bet on Onesmoothoperator to win, potentially earning $85,000. It was estimated that Kiwi horse racing fans would spend up to $30 million on the event.
Notably, four female jockeys participated in the race, including New Zealander Winona Costin. Sixteen of the 24 horses in the field were bred in the Northern Hemisphere.
Here is a brief overview of the New Zealand-trained horses in the race:
– Sharp ‘n’ Smart: A five-year-old multiple group one winner trained by Graeme and Debbie Rogerson, with jockey Mick Dee.
– Positivity: A four-year-old mare trained by Andrew Forsman, who made it into the field following several withdrawals.
– Trust In You: Trained by Bruce Wallace and Grant Cooksley, with jockey Mark de Plessis.
The Melbourne Cup was truly a thrilling event with unexpected outcomes and strong Kiwi representation.
