{"id":294457,"date":"2023-11-07T05:24:10","date_gmt":"2023-11-07T05:24:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportstoft.com\/?p=294457"},"modified":"2023-11-07T05:24:10","modified_gmt":"2023-11-07T05:24:10","slug":"mark-zahra-wins-melbourne-cup-2023-aboard-without-a-fight","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportstoft.com\/horse-racing\/mark-zahra-wins-melbourne-cup-2023-aboard-without-a-fight\/","title":{"rendered":"Mark Zahra wins Melbourne Cup 2023 aboard Without a Fight"},"content":{"rendered":"<h1>Mark Zahra goes back-to-back to win Melbourne Cup 2023 aboard Without a Fight after winning the Caulfield Cup a fortnight ago<\/h1>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Was the\u00a0163rd running of the Melbourne Cup<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>23 local and international horses raced over 3200m<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Race that stops a nation had $8million in prize money\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Mark Zahra has claimed the Caulfield Cup and Melbourne Cup double after storming home to win at Flemington on Tuesday.<\/p>\n<p>Zahra rode the 2022 winner Gold Trip and made it back-to-back after gambling on Without a Fight this Spring Carnival.<\/p>\n<p>The win makes Without a Fight only the 12th horse in history to claim the Caulfield Cup\/Melbourne Cup double.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Without a Fight stormed home to beat the field of 23 local and international horses races over 3200m for a massive $8million in prizemoney.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>The Irish gelding paid $7 for the win, with Soulcombe finishing second and $100 outsider Sheraz claiming third in a huge shock.<\/p>\n<p>But Zahra was the talk of the day, after making the huge call to ditch Gold Trip after winning the Melbourne Cup aboard the French stallion last year.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/1s\/2023\/11\/07\/04\/77489281-12718265-image-a-32_1699332315481.jpg\" height=\"423\" width=\"634\"><\/p>\n<p>Zahra signals two for his second Melbourne Cup win in a row, before scolding himself and calling himself an &#8216;idiot&#8217;<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/1s\/2023\/11\/07\/04\/77489303-12718265-image-a-33_1699332319289.jpg\" height=\"423\" width=\"634\"><\/p>\n<p>Zahra celebrates with the crowd after making the bold call to ride Without a Fight instead of Gold Trip at the Melbourne Cup<\/p>\n<p>It was a decision that paid dividends, after pipping Gold Trip to win the Caulfield Cup and then claiming the big prize at the Melbourne Cup.<\/p>\n<p>It was also a decision that was rewarded with a\u00a0$4.4 million payday.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>&#8216;I said to Mum all these years where he couldn&#8217;t get a ride because he&#8217;s a heavyweight and now he had to choose between the two favourites. Unbelievable. That is unbelievable,&#8217; trainer Emma Freedman said.<\/p>\n<p>Commentator Michelle Payne, who famously won the 2017 Melbourne Cup aboard 100-1 outside Prince of Penzance, praised Zahra for his composure down the straight.<\/p>\n<p>&#8216;You have to handle the big races and occasions and treat it like another race. That&#8217;s basically what it is,&#8217; she said.<\/p>\n<p>&#8216;You can&#8217;t let the occasion get to you. Interesting to hear Mark was so confident at the 400m mark. You wouldn&#8217;t hear many jockeys say that.<\/p>\n<p>&#8216;He was so lucky to be on a horse that could take him there. You could see he navigated it to perfection.&#8217;<\/p>\n<p>Zahra was lost for words, scolding himself for holding up two fingers for winning two Melbourne Cups and calling himself an &#8216;idiot&#8217;.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>&#8216;The stars aligned for Gold Trip last year and aligned for this horse this year. Just a few things and the way he won the Caulfield Cup, I was confident he would run it,&#8217; Zahra said.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/1s\/2023\/11\/07\/04\/77488851-12718265-image-a-29_1699331198561.jpg\" height=\"423\" width=\"634\"><\/p>\n<p>Zahra chose Without a Fight over Gold Trip this Spring Carnival and has now claimed the Melbourne Cup for the second time in a row<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/1s\/2023\/11\/07\/04\/77488853-12718265-image-a-30_1699331203901.jpg\" height=\"423\" width=\"634\"><\/p>\n<p>Zahra rode Gold Trip to victory at the 2022 Melbourne Cup, but changed horses to Without a Fight this year<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/1s\/2023\/11\/07\/04\/77488857-12718265-image-a-31_1699331207061.jpg\" height=\"432\" width=\"634\"><\/p>\n<p>Zahra and Without a Fight went head-to-head with Gold Trip at the Caulfield Cup in a memorable finish<\/p>\n<p>Speaking later, Zahra admitted to giving Gold Trip &#8216;a bit of a pat&#8217; before the Cup, but said he had moved on from last year&#8217;s glory.<\/p>\n<p>I still give him a wink but I&#8217;ve moved right on. My sole focus was to win again on this horse&#8217;\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Fellow trainer Sam Freedman described Zahra&#8217;s ride as &#8216;extraordinary&#8217;.<\/p>\n<p>&#8216;He got him onto the rail from a wide gate, relaxed, swimmed him off and pretty confident probably the 800m he was travelling. He just needed\u00a0the brakes to come. He&#8217;s a freak. No doubts on the trip there late. He was excellent.&#8217;\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Before the race even jumped there was plenty of drama preceding the 163rd running of the Melbourne Cup at Flemington.<\/p>\n<p>Cleveland was scratched on Monday on the advice of vets after the horse recorded an elevated temperature.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/1s\/2023\/11\/07\/03\/77488091-12718265-image-a-17_1699329087979.jpg\" height=\"424\" width=\"634\"><\/p>\n<p>Thousands of revellers turned out for the 2023 Melbourne Cup despite the threat of rain and thunderstorms on the day<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/1s\/2023\/11\/07\/03\/77488095-12718265-image-a-18_1699329093953.jpg\" height=\"423\" width=\"634\"><\/p>\n<p>There was a full day of racing action including the\u00a0Subzero Handicap won by\u00a0Daniel Stackhouse riding The Maggstar<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/1s\/2023\/11\/07\/03\/77488099-12718265-image-a-15_1699329082938.jpg\" height=\"423\" width=\"634\"><\/p>\n<p>The race that stops a nation didn&#8217;t disappoint once again to the delight of the capacity crowd at Flemington<\/p>\n<p>New Zealand-trained hope Alenquer was also in doubt, which would have been disastrous as it would have robbed retiring champion jockey Damien Oliver of one final ride in the Cup.<\/p>\n<p>He only passed a vet examination at 3.30am on the day of the race with\u00a0Racing Victoria saying: &#8216;the gelding had improved significantly overnight and as a result was passed suitable to race&#8217;.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>European superstar Vauban was the early favourite to win and attracted massive bets including almost $1million\u00a0placed by one punter.<\/p>\n<p>It was also a special day with Frank Reys honoured at Flemington with a tribute to the only First Nations jockey to win the Melbourne Cup.<\/p>\n<p>He was also the only jockey to win from barrier 24 when he saluted in 1973 aboard Gala Supreme.<\/p>\n<h3>MELBOURNE CUP 2023 FINAL FINISHING ORDER ALL HORSES\u00a0<\/h3>\n<p>1. Without a Fight<\/p>\n<p>2. Soulcombe<\/p>\n<p>3. Sheraz<\/p>\n<p>4. Ashrun<\/p>\n<p>5. Daqiansweet Junior<\/p>\n<p>6. Interpretation<\/p>\n<p>7. Absurde<\/p>\n<p>8. True Marvel<\/p>\n<p>9. Vow and Declare<\/p>\n<p>10. Military Mission<\/p>\n<p>11. Okita Soushi<\/p>\n<p>12. More Felons<\/p>\n<p>13. Lastotchka<\/p>\n<p>14. Vauban<\/p>\n<p>15. Future History<\/p>\n<p>16. Breakup<\/p>\n<p>17. Gold Trip<\/p>\n<p>18. Virtuous Circle<\/p>\n<p>19. Serpentine<\/p>\n<p>20. Kalapour<\/p>\n<p>21. Alenquer<\/p>\n<p>22. Magical Lagoon<\/p>\n<p>Failed to finish. Right You Are<\/p>\n<p>Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dailymail.co.uk\/sport\/racing\/article-12718265\/Melbourne-Cup-2023-winner-results-field-Without-Fight-Flemington.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read Full Article<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<div class=\"mh-excerpt\"><p>Mark Zahra goes back-to-back to win Melbourne Cup 2023 aboard Without a Fight after winning the Caulfield Cup a fortnight ago Was the\u00a0163rd running of <a class=\"mh-excerpt-more\" href=\"https:\/\/sportstoft.com\/horse-racing\/mark-zahra-wins-melbourne-cup-2023-aboard-without-a-fight\/\" title=\"Mark Zahra wins Melbourne Cup 2023 aboard Without a Fight\">[&#8230;]<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":294456,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[20],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-294457","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-horse-racing"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v24.1 - 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