Unlike other greats from Western Australia like champion Damien Oliver, Mark Zahra left his home state unsung but yesterday produced one of the great Melbourne Cup rides on Without A Fight against world-class opposition.
Zahra also franked his judgment by making a controversial call in declaring that Gold Trip, which he triumphed on in the Big One last year, would not be suited by the firmer track.
While Without A Fight romped clear in the straight, Gold Trip tottered at the tail. Gold Trip’s co-trainer Ciaron Maher later commented that jockey James McDonald said the horse “pulled up a bit sore”.
Some quotes indicate that Maher reckoned McDonald “rode the horse too close”, but he finished 17th and beaten 24 lengths on a surface that possibly had a negative effect on other major contenders.
For instance, the boom Irish raider Vauban, which was favourite and ridden by the man regarded regarded the world’s best jockey Ryan Moore, and stablemate Absurde, which was assisted by Zac Purton, failed to flatter. The navigators said their mounts were disappointing, but they were distanced. Vauban went down by more than 13 lengths, thus joining the highly boomed band of imports to fail dismally.
Again it was a result for an Irish import trained by Australians – Anthony Freedman and son Sam – who have turned Without A Fight around from a Melbourne Cup dud last year into a topline stayer.
But Zahra, 41, deserved centre stage with the significant ploy of getting Without A Fight onto the fence from the 16 alley after going about 400 metres. The jockey stressed that Without A Fight relaxes best on the rails.
Mark Zahra gets a kiss from wife Elyse after winning the Melbourne Cup as he lifts the trophy with trainer Sam Freedman.Credit: Eddie Jim
“Ryan Moore, Damien Oliver and J-Mac were in front of me,” Zahra later commented. “That’s a tick. I waited for these three excellent jockeys to make their move … you need to get up him but he’s got a turn of foot, can take needle eyes, and I was right behind the right horses.”
Zahra, though, went through rucks with rumps with daring. Yes, Without A Fight scored easily, but a check as he weaved a passage could have brought him undone.
Great rides take the Melbourne Cup and every winner requires a measure of expertise, but Zahra’s effort ranked with my best – Mick Dittman on Gurner’s Lane (1982), Jim Cassidy’s effort guiding Might And Power (1997), and Craig Williams getting Vow And Declare home in 2019. Vow And Declare was ninth yesterday.
On recent saddle form, Zahra went into the Melbourne Cup a worthwhile opponent for the best. Another highly regarded international hoop, Joao Moreira, couldn’t get a clean break at the start on Soulcombe, which chased home Without A Fight but never looked the winner.
Soulcombe is prepared by Chris Waller, as was the third-placed Sheraz, confirming the trainer’s knack with metric two milers.
Of course, Zahra notched the first leg of the major Melbourne double by taking the Caulfield Cup on Without A Fight.
Ollie’s last ride in the Melbourne Cup, Alenquer, which was under a fitness cloud, finished even further back then Gold Trip. Hard track issues?
Zahra was regarded as more of a country jockey when he left the West. He was tempted to Wodonga in Victoria and then upgraded to a stint at Lindsay Park with Tony McEvoy before becoming established in Melbourne.
Oliver, although an apprentice when he moved to Victoria, arrived with a big reputation, as did Damian Lane, who has done so well in the major centres recently.
Maybe Banjo Paterson reckoned as judges of racing jockeys are the “absolute worst”, but he never had one the calibre of Mark Zahra, who yesterday went wherever horse and man could go.
