Melbourne Cup and Spring Carnival

[Drvmb1ggl3]

Lovely touch in the trophy presentations after the race, connections come to the mic and give a little speech including his young groom, Natasha Boucher, who was also presented with a trophy and got to have a few words.
They showed footage of her as the horses raced to the line.... looked like she was going to have a heart attacked she was so excited.

[Drvmb1ggl3]

The replay, not the greatest quality, something a bit better will probably show up on youtube in the next 24 hours, but should do the trick for now for those that haven't seen it yet.

[Drvmb1ggl3]

A better quality replay.

[Drvmb1ggl3]

Interesting to hear an article on NPR this morning about Ramzan Kadyrov, the Chechen leader, former seperatist leader, thug and general all round unpleasant individual with blood on his hands. In the NPR piece they talk of his support for the institution of a more oppressive interpretation of Islam in Chechnya, including his support for such things as honour killings, and how much of this new found support for hardcore Islam is political expediency.
Wouldn't surprise me if he was at Flemington yesterday to whopping it up with a hooker on each arm, watching his horse, Mourilyan, run third. Really leaves a bad taste on a fine performance by a nice horse.

[Glimmerglass]

In another thread before the Melbourne Cup there were loud calls of banning Kadyrov and his horses from any participation. (Kadyrov did not attempt to go to Australia to watch the race) There were concerns with not only the image of the sport but also suggestions of this being money laundering.

Now that his horse took 3rd - and $420,000 in AU$ there are calls to have the money frozen.

Greens' leader Bob Brown said in a statement: ''There should be no flow of profits out of Australia to this brutal character. The money should be quarantined until the Government knows exactly where it is going and can guarantee it won't be buying Mr Kadyrov another Lamborghini or gold-plated revolver.'' Brown wants racing authorities to set up a system to assess the credentials of overseas owners who seek to profit from Australian racing.

Experts previously suggested the Cup could become part of an international money laundering system if Mourilyan, which raced in the red, white and green of the Chechen flag, won any prizemoney. Kadyrov is believed to have watched the race in the Chechen capital, Grozny.

[Glimmerglass]

Possible next stop for Melbourne Cup winner Shocking: the Dubai World Cup in 2010 which will be on synthetics for the 1st time

Shocking completed a remarkable training performance from Mark Kavanagh when he took out yesterday's race, beating home internationals Crime Scene and Mourilyan.

The four-year-old had cruised home in Saturday's Lexus Stakes to firm into Cup contention.

The Queensland-based Lawrence Eales bought Shocking for $64,000 in 2007 and moved him into Kavanagh's new Flemington stables shortly after.

The four-year-old stallion's stud value has risen markedly following yesterday's win, but Eales wants to continue chasing on-track success.

Shocking is expected to be invited to Dubai's lucrative World Cup meeting in March, along with stablemate Whobegotyou.

"I'd like to race him on," said Eales, who has only been in the industry for three years.

[Polydor]

WEEEE! Bit late coming in since i was away travelling and wasn't anywhere a tv or computer when it ran.

I heard the other day that it was a unknown horse who came from behind and won. Super excited that it was a Kavanaugh horse. Don't think he's been at our farm but super excited either way.

The farm did have a winner on cup day in Majestic Music ( 3 yrs old filly) winner of the Group 2 VRC Edward Manifold Stakes. Really like this filly.

P.