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Irish raider Twilight Payment under Jye McNeil has made his owner Lloyd Williams very happy after his dramatic 2020 Melbourne Cup win.
Twilight Payment won ahead of Tiger Moth and Prince of Arran. While Kiwi raider The Chosen One in fourth.
McNeil had made an early commitment to ride the galloper for Joseph O'Brien and his judgment proved perfect as he rated the pace to perfection on a horse that all concerned knew would stay every step of the grueling 3200-meter journey.
At the turn, it looked as though Tiger Moth would grind over the top of Twilight Payment, but the son of Teofilo just kept kicking.
Prince Of Arran, under Kah, flew home down the outside to grab third. Not since Makybe Diva has a horse placed in three consecutive Cups. Red Cadeaux also placed three times, in 2011, 2013, and 2014.
The first spectator-less running of the Cup ended in victory for trainer Joseph O'Brien and jockey Jye McNeil and gave Williams his seventh Cup triumph.
Not since champion Might And Power led from start to finish under Jimmy "Pumper" Cassidy in 1997 has a horse dictated the race from upfront in the 3200-meter classic.
The Irish-trained galloper was unplaced from a wide draw last year, but he made every post a winning marker this time as he took the lead soon after the start and had enough in reserve to hold off another Irish raider in Tiger Moth, trained by Joseph's father Aidan.
Epsom Derby winner and topweight Anthony Van Dyck broke down during the race and was euthanized later in the day.