Without A Fight has become the first horse since Ethereal in 2001 to claim the Caulfield Cup-Melbourne Cup double.
Soulcombe crossed the line second, ahead of Sheraz in third.
Jockey Mark Zahra was vindicated in his decision to cut ties with last year’s Melbourne Cup winner Gold Trip and stick with the horse who won last month’s Caulfield Cup.
Without A Fight ran 13th in the Cup last year in his Australian debut for British trainers Simon and Ed Crisford, but joined the Flemington stable of father-son pair Anthony and Sam Freedman after that carnival and has flourished since.
He won back-to-back races in Queensland over the winter months, relishing the dry ground, and has been in good form in Victoria, running sixth in the Underwood Stakes before his Caulfield Cup triumph.
Anthony is the brother of champion trainer Lee Freedman, a five-time Melbourne Cup-winning trainer.
Right You Are failed to finish the race and will be assessed by Racing Victoria’s veterinary team. He was under pressure at the 600-metre mark, and his jockey decided to pull him up with 400 metres to go.
Virtuous Circle was also pulled up in the straight.
