A sixth Melbourne Cup for owner Lloyd Williams, a second for jockey Corey Brown and a first for 24-year-old trainer Joseph O'Brien when the youngest horse in the race Rekindling (GB) finished best to defeat Johannes Vermeer (IRE), trained by Aidan O'Brien, and claim the lion share of the $6.2 million on offer for the Emirates Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington.
On a track playing to on pace runners close to the fence, Brown had Rekindling (GB) perfectly placed four back on the fence as Cismontane and Gallante cut out the early running.
Ben Mellham also gave Johannes Vermeer (IRE) a peach of a ride and he looked all over the winner when hitting the front, full of running, at the 200 metres. But Brown had extracted Rekindling off the fence and the son of High Chaparral set off after Johannes Vermeer(IRE) and after a short-sharp battle, gradually got the better of the son of Galileo to win by a long-neck with Max Dynamite (FR), who also had a cushy run, two and a quarter length back in third. (photos Grant Courtney)
The winner drew barrier four, the second barrier three, the third barrier two and the fourth, Big Duke, barrier five, and that may have been the story of the race.
While many have spent a lifetime trying to win the Melbourne Cup, Joseph O'Brien won at his first attempt and deny his world famous father a first win.
"Lloyd and Nick have been very good to me since I started training and I still can't quite believe it to be honest," O'Brien said.
"Unbelievable effort by the horse and Corey gave him an unbelievable ride. It hasn't really sunk in yet, to be honest."
Celebrating his sixth win in the cup, Lloyd Williams said he thought he had a contender after the English St Leger.
"I thought this horse had some chance because his run in the Leger was good and I've been saying to people the three-year-old form over there is very good," Williams said.
"I wanted somebody who could ride the weight and I wanted an experienced rider so I had Corey Brown.
"He is a Sydney Cup winner, he's a Melbourne Cup winner, I wanted that sort of rider."
Winner of the 2009 Melbourne Cup on Shocking, Corey Brown said he and his agent had chased the ride on the son of High Chaparral.
"I'm so thankful I chased Lloyd and sent my resume in, I thought a while ago this horse with a lightweight was a really good chance," Brown said.
"I've been back from overseas for about nine months and I'm slowly but surely getting back to where I was.
"I always thought I would catch him (Johannes Vermeer) with the lighter weight.
"It wasn't easy but it's all worth it when you do things like this."
On the retirement of Wachman, Rekindling was transferred to Joseph O'Brien earlier this year with immediate success, winning the Group Ballysax Stakes at Leopardstown.
Following a fourth in the Group II Dante Stakes, Rekindling failed in the Group 1 Epsom Derby.
A month later he won the Group II Curragh Cup then finished second in the Group III St Leger Trial before prepping for Melbourne with a fourth in the English St Leger won by Capri.
Rekindling was knocked down to Camas Park Stud for 60,000 guineas at the 2014 Tattersalls December
He is a full brother to Group III Chester Vase winner and Group 1 Irish Derby runner-up Golden Sword who is now a sire in South Africa.
Rekindling is also a half-brother to the unraced Mark Of Esteem mare Skimmia who is the dam of stakes winner and multip0le Group placed Julie's Love (Ad Valorem).
They are out of the winning Salse mare Sitara a half-sister to Listed winner Puce (Darshaan) the dam of Pongee (Barathea) the Champion Older Female Stayer in GB in 2004 whose 6 wins included the Group II Lancashire Oaks and was runner-up in the Group 1 Yorkshire Oaks.
Sitara is also a half-sister to the dam of Irish Oaks, Epsom Oaks, and Yorkshire Oaks winner Alexandrova (Sadler's Wells) and Group 1 Cheveley Park Stakes winner Magical Romance (Barathea)
Alexandrova (Sadler's Wells) is the dam of Group II winner and Group 1 placed Somehow (Fastnet Rock) and the Group II Prix Kergorlay winner Alex My Boy (Dalakhani).
Magical Romance is the dam of Listed Warrnambool Cup and Werribee Cup winner Tall Ship (Sea The Stars).
As recent as three days ago when Ace High romped in the Victoria Derby, we expressed our admiration for the sadly missed High Chaparral (IRE) whose progeny have excelled in Australasia.
His final crop hit the racetracks this season.
