Twilight Payment gave Irish trainer Joseph O’Brien a second triumph in the Melbourne Cup but victory was overshadowed by the death of 2019 Derby winner Anthony Van Dyck.
The 25-1 winner, ridden by Jye McNeil, led from start to finish and held on from Tiger Moth – trained by O’Brien’s father Aidan – and Prince Of Arran.
Tiger Moth’s stablemate Anthony Van Dyck, winner of the Derby at Epsom in 2019, broke down in the home straight.
The horse broke a leg in the incident.
“It is with sadness that we confirm that Anthony Van Dyck had to be humanely euthanised after sustaining a fractured fetlock during the running of the Melbourne Cup at Flemington,” said Racing Victoria spokesman Jamie Stier.
The race, which usually attracts a crowd of around 100,000, was held behind closed doors because of the coronavirus pandemic.
It was a winning debut Melbourne Cup ride for McNeil and a seventh triumph for owner Lloyd Williams in the two-mile handicap that has a first prize of more than £2.3m.
O’Brien, 27, also landed the race at Flemington with Rekindling four years ago.
Melbourne Cup result
1 Twilight Payment 25-1
2 Tiger Moth 11-2
3 Prince Of Arran 17-2
4 The Chosen One 40-1
23 ran
More to follow
