Trainer and jockey quotes following the Group 1 Lexus Melbourne Cup at Flemington won by Twilight Payment.
Race Result:
1st: Twilight Payment (J McNeil/J O'Brien) - $26
2nd:Tiger Moth (K McEvoy/A O'Brien) - $6.50
3rd: Prince Of Arran (J Kah/C Fellowes) - $9.50
Winning Time: 3:17.34 Last 600m: 36.23
Margins: Long Neck x Short Neck
An unbelievable performance from Twilight Payment who has won the Lexus #MelbourneCup.
Jye McNeil is now a Cup winner, what a star. @FlemingtonVRC @RacingInsider pic.twitter.com/GMoXvNdRhG
— Racing.com (@Racing) November 3, 2020
Winning Trainer: Joseph O'Brien
"Very special. Obviously it's quite different and not what we would have liked - we would have loved to have been there.
"It's incredibly special. Jye gave the horse an incredible ride and all credit has to go to Lloyd and Nick Williams. They really thought this horse had a big chance in the race this year.
"Mark Power, Sean Corbey and my team of lads that have been down in Melbourne for the last number of weeks have done an incredible job. Not only him but all the horses there and having them in fantastic condition. All credit has to go to them.
Beating dad both times to win: "When the horses are around the track they're all doing their best and dad is delighted for me to have a winner as I'm delighted for him when he wins a race. It's very special to be able to compete in these bigger races. This year in particular.
"There was a time when we weren't sure whether we were going to be able to have runners in the race this year. Very special that we were able to compete in the race. All credit and a huge thanks to all the people behind the scenes making that happen and make it possible.
"We're very lucky to take part in those races with the horses and support of the owners - Lloyd and Nick. Jye gave the horse the most wonderful ride.
Winning Jockey: Jye McNeil
"Too many emotions. It's a very big moment.
"Jess and the boy, Oakley, will be watching from home today. Unfortunately they couldn't be here. I'm sure that they along with a lot of other people will be very proud.
"I'm not worried about the (empty) grandstand at all. To be able to get the opportunity from the Williams family to partner Twilight Payment today, not only them, but Joseph O'Brien who has done a fantastic job preparing him. It is very overwhelming.
The ride: "It was the plan to always be forward. Obviously with here he was in the market I wasn't feeling a lot of pressure but when you've got to go forward like that there is some pressure in getting it right. Thankfully it all came together.
At the clock tower: "I was confident. I had to think not to use the whip too many times. Also I was trying to use my voice to encourage him as much as possible. It was a matter of hanging on and he was very tough.
For his son when he's old enough to watch it one day: "Well, if he follows in my footsteps, work hard and you can achieve your goals and this has been one of mine since day one.
"Massive congratulations to Mr Williams and his family."
"I'm overwhelmed with emotion at the moment. It's a miracle."
The run: "I had to be positive. He was a little bit slow into gear. He jumped with them but he was a touch slow to really find his rhythm. I encouraged him to go forward and that was the plan and then he found just a lovely tempo. He got into a fantastic rhythm, breathing really well and then it was a matter of amping the tempo up at the right stage."
Amping up the tempo got others off the bit: "That's exactly what Joseph wanted, to be at the head of the field and really get them chasing because what he lacked in class he makes up for in his staying ability. That was always the plan that Joseph expressed to me and I'm glad it worked."
Thinking 200m out: "I'm peaking on my run 200 metres out. I'm using all my might not to use too many whips, very vocal to encourage him and it is very surreal crossing the line line.
"It's been a lifelong dream to get this moment and to get this winner is very surreal."
People that have helped: "There's too many to thank. I would like to give Jess and Oakley, mum and dad, my manager Reece (Murphy), Deane Lester who helps me with my form, Jordan Dean, who helps me put my gear together and also to all the Williams family."
Watching first Melbourne Cup: Now I can't, but I can distinctly remember the build up to the Melbourne Cup and the day off school etc. I'm sure the home town are all very proud as well."
Jess and Oakley were watching: "They're at home watching. I'm sure she'll be very emotional."
Fellow riders cheering you in: "That's what it's all about. There's a few mates down by ramp and a few in the mounting yard, and that's what makes the moment."
Beaten Jockeys:
Jamie Mott on Vow And Declare: "He had a beautiful run. He felt quite strong with the blinkers but he just didn't have anything to offer today once they quickened. Hopefully he can come back and get into his good form."
Willie Pike on Steel Prince: "He ran well."
Michael Rood on Mustajeer: "There might be an issue with him."
Daniel Moor on Miami Bound: "We had a perfect run in transit but it seems she needs wet ground to find her best."
James McDonald on Finche: "He's gone super. He's stayed on really well."
Billy Egan on Etah James: "She gave me a lovely ride."
Luke Currie on Warning: "He couldn't quicken as well as some of those better ones."
Jamie Kah on Prince Of Arran: "He was super unlucky. He really deserves it. He just had no luck on the turn."
Daniel Stackhouse on The Chosen One: "I couldn't be happier with the horse. He tried his heart out. He gave a bit of a scare coming into the corner and was travelling really well. He gave a good kick and tried really hard, but he just found the end just a little bit tough. He did well.
Kerrin McEvoy on Tiger Moth: "We were able to get across into a nice spot. We dropped in and got a nice lead and he travelled really well. The winner kept running, I just had to pick up to get into the race, which he did, but the winner was just a bit strong today. It was a great run for a young horse having only his fifth start in a race. He's run really well."
Declan Bates on Ashrun: "He's run really well. He was a bit slow to muster from the wide gate so I just came back. It probably took a while for him to warm up into it, but the further I went the better he was going, but I was probably too far back. He didn't have the gears to get there. He's run well."
Michael Dee on Persan: "If he's going as good next year he's going to be right in it. It was a massive effort. We wanted to go forward but in the end we didn't have the speed, so I just had to tuck back and find cover where I could, ride the fence. He got a lovely run through and hit the line strong. To run so well, it was a huge thrill and it's a credit to Ciaron (Maher) and Dave (Eustace) to keep the horse going for so long. And a massive credit to Jye McNeil as well."
Ben Melham on Master Of Reality: "He felt the ground."
Michael Walker on Dashing Willoughby: "He's not right, the horse. He's not right. Action-wise he's not right."
Craig Williams on Surprise Baby: "He looked like he was a little bit stressed when he was unsaddled. It'll be really interesting to see how he pulls up. His performance was well below par for him and it will be interesting to see how he comes through the run physically."
Jordan Childs on Stratum Albion: "He ran ok. We got up on a nice spot, travelled good. They were just a bit slick for him when the pace quickened."
John Allen on Avilius: "Probably didn't run the trip in the end."
Damien Oliver on Russian Camelot: "He ran well. The two miles was just a bit far for him but he ran very brave."
Mark Zahra on Verry Elleegant: "Ran really well. Just ended up too far back."
Glen Boss on Sir Dragonet: "Just didn't step. He just missed it a length which put me at a disadvantage. Ideally I would have liked to have been two or three pairs closer. There'll be people that will say that he didn't run the trip but unfortunately, at the 1200 (metre mark), when I'm 12 lengths away, I had to do a lot of work just to get myself into a winning position. Even if I just came through on the fence, I'm still using carrots up to get to that point. But he ran very well."
Dean Yendall on Oceanex: "She went super. I rode her to run the top twelve. I got her into a lovely position, had cover, it was always going to be tricky from the barrier 17. I knew the spee was drawn outside of me but I still had the task of getting across and finding the right spot, which she did. She switched off lovely and I rode her to get the journey and also to help the owner get some prizemoney."
Hugh Bowman on Anthony Van Dyck: <Offered no comment>
Winning Owner: Nick Williams at Prince Of Wales Hotel, St Kilda
"He was fantastic. He aided by a fantastic ride from Jye McNeil.
"Dad said to me about two or three months ago when there was doubts about Sydney jockeys (coming), 'I've booked Jye McNeil for Twilight Payment. He's the best young jockey in this country.'
"Yet again, as it so often happens with me, Dad's view gets proved right. He's a genius and there's absolutely no doubt the right one won the race.
"He rode the horse exactly how Joseph had been telling him over the last two or three nights to ride him in their long conversations. We were a bit worried about Jye doing that because if you don't win when you ride a horse like that, people aren't exactly praising you for it. You've got to get it right in that situation.
"It wasn't a pretty ride, but it was a very effective ride. From the great european jockeys, none of them could ride it any better than he did today. He had the horse under him to do the job.
"Sean, who rides him out, on Sunday night he said this horse is lengths and lengths and lengths better than he was last year.
On Anthony Van Dyck: "I want to send out all my sympathies to Coolmore. They put in a lot of money into our sport. They're great sportsmen. They go to every dance, take their best horses everywhere in the world. They've had this bad luck with such a great horse. I just feel terrible for them. To the Magniers, the Smiths, Tabor families, and of course the O'Briens, I feel terrible for you. It's a shocking thing to happen at any time."
On Joseph O'Brien: "He's an amazing young man. People often say he's an inexperienced trainer and things like that, but he's not really. He's grown up in Ballydoyle with Aidan, he's been around training horses since he could walk. He won 33, I think Group 1 races, a bunch of classics before the weight got the better of him at 23 and then took up training.
"He's got the world at his feet. If he was in a yearling sale he'd top the sale with his pedigree. They're a wonderful family. They just live and breath horseracing.
On beating Aidan O'Brien yet again: "I had just got off the from Aidan. He called me. I said to Aidan, and I genuinely mean it, that there would be nothing more I enjoy more in racing than winning the Melbourne Cup, but the last two time we have won it, we have beaten you but that doesn't really suit us at all. I would love to see Aidan win it, I would love to see the Magniers and the Tabors win it as they put so much into the game. I would prefer they didn't run second to us, to be honest, because I feel a bit guilty given how much they put into our great industry.
"It's a pity we couldn't all be on course today. The VRC have done a great job in trying to make the experience as good as they can. It's been a challenging year for everyone around the world and we've just got to do the best of it.
"We're fortunate we're here at Melbourne's best pub, the Prince Of Wales here in St Kilda and I reckon we'll give it a fair hammering tonight."
Other Trainers:
Charlie Fellowes on Prince Of Arran from the UK: "He was behind a wall of horses at the wrong time and got out a bit too late. He flew. He's run a massive race again. He is an incredible horse."
On looking gutted: "You can't be gutted running third in the Melbourne Cup. I'm not gutted at all. I'm incredibly proud of him. I felt we got our run stopped at a really bad point in the race and the way he was running home at the end, it wouldn't have had to be too much further and we would have given Twilight Payment something to think about.
"It's a remarkable performance from Joseph. He's a wonderful trainer, he is a great guy, to win two Melbourne Cups, aged 27 is remarkable. He'd better not make a habit of this because other people want to win it as well.
