by Brian Cain
CHAPTER FIFTY THREE
"And in goes the favourite Flaxmead, astonishing scene's here at this year's cup. If we ever have another lead up year and race day to top this then I can't wait. Just waiting for Won-Tolla and Sanda Warrior to go in next to the favourite. The first official record here today is over two hundred and fifty thousand in attendance, the biggest crowd ever to attend a race meeting in the country, the opening of areas previously closed due to unprecedented demand. Perfect conditions here today the track rated at very good, and were about to see if history will be made here today."
Lindy Cumberland slowed her breathing sitting forward behind Flaxmead's ears ready to jump, her mouth was bone dry, things passed in slow motion. Flaxmead stood motionless in concentration, his gaze fixed on the gates ready to react at the slightest movement.
"And they are all in and we are with the starter." Flemington was again graced with perfect silence. "And they're away in this years Melbourne Cup." The crowd roar could be heard clearly at Caulfield. "And it's the thunderbolt from gate twenty gets the drop his white front socks easily visible in the sunlight with jockey Lindy Cumberland's hair streaming out the back of the pairs wake, the Delores runner Sanda Warrior on his tail next to Won-Tolla the only white horse in the cup today making for a good landmark to track the field. And as they cover the first four hundred Flaxmead still holds the lead and is starting to close to the rail."
Lindy yelled at Flaxmead and tugged at the right side of his bit. "Stay, let them in and hold!" Flaxmead responded pushing out a little wider to the middle of the track.
The race caller continued running through the fields, suddenly went back to the leaders. -"And Won-Tolla the new Zealand stayer that chased the thunderbolt in the Cox Plate has got loose, she's rounded up Sanda Warrior and takes the lead on the inside against the rail well to the left of Flaxmead holding steady pace."
Lindy peered under her arm to see Sanda Warrior right behind her just back to the left. She tugged the left rein. "Pocket the bugger and hold the pace, hold the pace!" Flaxmead responded closing towards the rail to within a metre of Won-Tolla just as they past the winning post for the first time and into turn one.
The race caller continued. "Won-Tolla holds the lead by a nose as they enter turn one, Sanda Warrior tagged on behind followed by the Prendergast trained Brazen Heart and I remember this horse was the first horse ever to run second to Flaxmead at their first maiden in Scone and has the same Jockey Simon Adams on board today. Following Brazen heart is Roman Rage, Blunderbuss Prendergast well represented at the front of the field at present. Barons Pride, Laura Lee and Chimney Sweep black but no where near as black as the thunderbolt sitting three wide, all Leroy trained mounts well place for when the fun starts. Royal Rose the British steeplechaser going out wide behind this three showing she's in the race, everybody looking for action here today. Centrepiece, Wolf Sheppard and Perfection, a Leroy trio sitting across the track hugging the rail, Wolf Sheppard ruled out of a good place when weights were given still sitting in the middle of the action. Rampage the other British runner has gone out wide lining up its British counterpart. Mansfield following the British stayer for some of the action, Mansfield ran last in the maiden in Scone that found Flaxmead and Brazen Heart and here she is in the middle of the action also from the hunter valley. Homeland, Watch the Watch and War Wagon well up under the pack all staying in touch anyone could break from here. Loosing ground is Abbots Run, had a big lead up schedule to the cup and looks like it was to much for him, his odds tell it all paying a hundred dollars for the win, always seems to be there but dropping right away at the rear of the field. Finally Labours Pride given two group one starts she didn't really deserve, her trainer and syndicate will be disappointed with her showing here today, rumoured a stable mate was knifed in the back so she could run here today. Very disappointing for her fans, I can't see her making any ground and being in the race at all. But back at the pointy end of the field as they come off the back straight rounding the final wide turn with a little under fifteen hundred to go Flaxmead sitting rock solid along side Won-Tolla holding the rail, and the crowd's getting edgy we could be in for an upset here. Brazen Heart moves to the outside of Flaxmead and Sanda Warrior moves up on the far outside, four wide around the turn now. This pack pulling away from the rest of the field as they bear down on the thousand, neck and neck stride for stride it's never over till the fat lady sings. And Flaxmead just holds out Brazen Heart as she pulls up a nose, Brazen Heart makes a run and Flaxmead goes with her, - twelve hundred to go and they pull just clear of Won-Tolla and Sanda Warrior slows going wide. He's broken down and the pack swallows him up and leaves him standing. Sanda Warrior slows to a walk. And coming up on the thousand its Brazen Heart with a nose on the thunderbolt, this could be the upset of the century."
Lindy looked under her left arm, she saw only one white horse, and they were on the thousand she tucked in behind Flaxmead's ears. "Right! Break! Go Flaxy go you're home!" She touched Simon Adams arm and waved, he patted her on the back as she thundered away, and he wore a big smile as the black stallion made its run. Lindy laughed and cried as she hung on to the thundering bullet.
The race caller got to his feet. "And the pocket rocket's let the monster loose, Flaxmead draws clear of Brazen Heart and Won-Tolla can't go with either of them. Look at him go, he crosses the track to the outside rail out of the turn, ten lengths already. How much as he got in the tank." The crowd roared as Flaxmead ran along the rail directly alongside and below them. The deafening roar of the people drove the champ on. "We talk about the Jorrocks gene, I hear a whisper the thunderbolt has it. Fifteen lengths ahead now and Brazen Heart has not given up and puts five lengths on Won-Tolla. I can't hear much the crowd is deafening but I can see two children waving their arms in the air on the rail at the wining post its the run of the century. He's three hundred metres from home, twenty lengths on Brazen Heart, Flaxmead doesn't even look like slowing up. What an incredible ride by the pocket rocket and a commanding win by the thunderbolt. It's all over, the hunter valley thunderbolt carves a furrow of commanding devastation into the history books. There he is, the world's number one stayer. The lights will burn long and bright tonight in the hunter valley."
Flaxmead screamed at the children as he thundered past, Lindy dropped the reins, stood up and did a shimmy with her rear end standing in the stirrups screaming at the sky. "Yes!! You bloody beauty!"
"And Brazen Heart crosses the line ahead of Won-Tolla, the jockey coasting the white mare in the last fifty giving up the chase. The three place getters well ahead of the rest of the field. And the thunderbolt, by a massive twenty five lengths ahead of Brazen Heart and breaking the race record by over two seconds. Heading back to the hunter valley in the hands of schoolchildren Anna and Dylan Fields, will be the Holy Grail. Flaxmead has won the Melbourne Cup."
The hunt for Rose could begin.
