Without A Fight sliced through the field to win the 2023 Melbourne Cup and give jockey Mark Zahra a second victory in “the race that stops a nation” over 3,200 metres at Flemington Racecourse.
Without a Fight, trained by Anthony and Sam Freedman, overhauled pre-race favourite Vauban down the home straight to win by a comfortable margin ahead of Soulcombe in second and Sheraz in third.
The victory completed a Caulfield Cup-Melbourne Cup double for Without A Fight, who becomes the first horse to do so since Ethereal in 2001.
For Zahra, it was remarkable back-to-back wins after the Australian’s success at last year’s Melbourne Cup aboard Gold Trip.
“Unbelievable,” Zahra said. “If I could have thought I’d have that run from [barrier] 16 I would have said he’s unbeatable. But Sam and Lee and all their team, he was a gentleman for me today. Went to the rail and switched off and probably got to the front earlier than last year.
“In front of him was Gold Trip and Vauban. I thought I’d stay here. They all made their moves and it opened up for me. I was on a horse you can sit on. He’s got an electric turn of foot and he pulled me all the way to the line. Giving the two fingers [signal] for two winners. I don’t know what I was thinking. Idiot.”
Race seven of the annual festival was run in front of more than 80,000 racegoers, with forecast rain holding off for the main event as temperatures topped 30C on a warm spring day in north-west Melbourne.
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