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Joseph O’Brien dispatched his second Lexus Melbourne Cup winner when Twilight Payment triumphed in the Group One contest in Flemington.
O’Brien claimed the two-mile event with Rekindling in 2017 and was on the mark again when Jye McNeil’s mount fended off Tiger Moth, trained by O’Brien’s father, Aidan, to take the award.
Charlie Fellowes’ British raider Prince Of Arran, qualified in the last two Melbourne Cups, again finished with a flourish to take third place.
More glory to @ JosephOBrien2 in the big one! Twilight Payment is the winner of the 2020 Lexus Melbourne Cup! pic.twitter.com/NkmrX2Kg6V
– At the races (@AtTheRaces) November 3, 2020
But the race was overshadowed by the death of Epsom Derby winner Anthony Van Dyck, coached by Aidan O’Brien.
The four-year-old boy was euthanized after fracturing a fetlock.
Anthony Van Dyck carried the maximum weight after being outscored in the Caulfield Cup in his most recent outing, but Hugh Bowman took him out in the main race.
Racing Victoria Executive General Manager – Integrity Services Jamie Stier said: “We sadly confirm that Anthony Van Dyck had to be humanely euthanized after sustaining a fetlock fracture during the Melbourne Cup race at Flemington.
“The horse received immediate veterinary attention, however it could not be saved due to the nature of the injury sustained.
“We extend our condolences to the owners of Anthony Van Dyck, trainer Aidan O’Brien and all his staff who cared for the horse and are very saddened by his loss.”
Stier added that the RV Integrity Services team will now prepare a fatality report as is standard practice.
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