The $240,000 Group III VRC Maribyrnong Plate (1000m) got the ball rolling at Flemington for Cup Day with a brilliant debut victory for Home Affairs filly Amelia’s Affair.
Trained by Annabel and Rob Archibald, Amelia’s Affair showed talent with a second in a Randwick barrier trial last month and had the services of champion jockey Damian Lane.
She showed natural brilliance to jump and lead, then kicked away to win by nearly three lengths over Alabama Express colt Roayl Press with a wide margin back to third place La La Lilly, a daughter of Nicconi.
Catch her if you can ?? AMELIA'S AFFAIR runs away with the Darley Maribyrnong Plate, giving @LaneDamian a winning start to Lexus Melbourne Cup Day. #MelbourneCup https://t.co/YreHfdKppP
— Victoria Racing Club (@FlemingtonVRC) November 2, 2026
Annabel Archibald was on track to greet her charge when she returned to scale.
"That was a massive thrill. We had a couple of seconds on Saturday and we were getting frustrated so great to start the day with that,” she said.
"Didn't necessarily want to lead but they're first starters and in two-year-old races you'd like to have a bunny to follow first time down the straight, but it’s a great asset to have that gate speed and she relaxed beautifully.
"She’s put them away pretty easily and it’s a good ownership group. We only finished selling her a couple of weeks ago. She's going to take us on a good ride, very talented."
A $700,000 Magic Millions purchase from Segenhoe Stud for Archibald Racing Pty Ltd/William Johnson Bloodstock, Amelia’s Affair is Magic Millions eligible so the Gold Coast may be on the radar going forward.
"You would imagine so, we’ll probably make that decision. It's either Magic Millions or you put her away for the autumn,” Archibald added.
“There's obviously a lot of big two-year-old races, one big two-year-old race (Golden Slipper) in March that we'd love to win as well, but we'll just see how she comes through this.
“She only travelled down two days ago, so she'll go straight back home and we'll assess her from there."
Bred by Amelia Park Racing, Amelia’s Affair was the highest priced yearling by her sire sold at the Gold Coast this year and is the second foal and first winner for Dance Music, a tough Group III winning sprinter by War Chant (USA) that won 12 races in Perth and over $1million in prizemoney.
Dance Music has a yearling filly by Capitalist and has foaled this spring producing a colt by Harry Angel (IRE).
Amelia’s Affair is the seventh stakes-winner for Coolmore’s young flagship sire Home Affairs and is his fourth in Australia this season.
