Day 27, Level 1: Ellerslie, the 2020 Melbourne Cup, and AVD

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A bit of work in my office in the morning (while the contractors continued working on the driveway). 

And then it was off to the races. Ellerslie always has a race day on Melbourne Cup Day - and it's one day that is always blocked out in my diary as Ellerslie is where I will be on the second Tuesday in November. Unless, of course, I'm somewhere a little more exotic ... or at Flemington. But this year, Ellerslie was the place to be (no one allowed on course at Flemington). 

I've been to the Melbourne Cup once back in 2004 - it was Makybe Diva's second MC win. It was a boiling hot day and it was glorious fun!

Today at Ellerslie is was blowing but it was warm. Later in the afternoon it began to spit a little, and the temperature dropped. But we were warm and happy in the Members' Takanini Lounge. We were a group of 8, coming and going, and there were plenty of regulars there too who I've got to know. It was busy on course, but not seething.

The racing at Ellerslie was great - and Frank, who trains our Saintly Way, had two horses running today. They both won, so that was a great thrill.



 

At 5pm all eyes were on the various screens around the course to watch the big race. No one was on course at Flemington so the atmosphere was quite different to usual. And very different to that at Ellerslie. Not even owners were allowed on course over there, which is a great shame for the connections.


 

I backed Finche, ridden by top NZ jockey James McDonald, now based in Sydney. It was looking likely at one point but faded.

I also put a last minute $1 each way on Twilight Payment - and it led virtually from start to finish, crossing the line strongly in front to win the 2020 Melbourne Cup - one that will be remembered forever as the MC in the year of Covid. Yahoo, I was very happy. I never do any good in the MC, but this year I was on the winner - it paid $27!

We also had a group bet for a trifecta on the Cup - and we got a small percentage of that so were very happy indeed. 

All in all a fabulous day. After the races I went to quiz, where we finished first equal but lost on the tiebreak. So we ended up coming second again - the third time in a row! 

SHARE-NOTE OF THE DAY:
Anthony Van Dyke ...

As has been reported, Anthony Van Dyke, No. 1 in the race and one of the favoured runners, broke down in the home straight and had to be humanely euthanised after the race. This is not good at all, but when a horse breaks its leg there is rarely any other choice. It's really gutting but it's a risk of racing. 

He was an Irish horse who raced in the UK, France and Hong Kong before heading to Australia to tackle the MC. He had great form and a lot of talent. This was his first race at this distance. It was to be his last. 

RIP AVD. 😢


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