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Top 10 Key Moments of the 2020 Spring Racing Carnival

| November 22, 2020

The 2020 Spring Carnival in Melbourne was conducted under highly unusual circumstances yet nothing could stop the incredible feats by both horse and jockey. The Spring Racing Carnival in Melbourne is one of the greatest events in world sport. Millions of fans view the proceedings from all corners of the globe. Many of sport’s greatest moments play out at the Melbourne Spring Carnival and capture the hearts and admiration of fans and the general public.

The world’s richest men compete with locals to capture marquis races. Not only for the money on offer, which they can easily get at new casino websites, but for the prestige and fame that success in Melbourne can bring. At the conclusion of the carnival each year, I reveal what I consider the best moments of the carnival and this year I’m going the extra step and revealing my Top 10 in increasing order!

Without further ado, here are my Top 10 most epic moments of the 2020 Spring Racing Carnival. Of course, there are many moments that didn’t quite make it into my shortlist, and I’ll mention a couple at the end. But I can only fit in 10, so here they are in reverse order:

10. Coolmore Stud Stakes – September Run

A dominant victory for the filly, a daughter of Exceed and Excel, to beat the males in this famous Group One Sprint race at Flemington. Formerly the Ascot Vale Stakes, the race has been won by champions over the years and this filly may prove their equal.

9. Underwood Stakes – Russian Camelot

Arguably the most important win for the big Russian and put himself firmly in the picture for later Spring riches. Still only a 3YO by Northern Hemisphere standards, the son of Camelot is pure quality and this was an arrogant display of his immense talent.

8. VRC Oaks – Personal

It was a sixth VRC Oaks for Damien Oliver as he piloted Personal to a hard-fought victory. In the absence of Wakeful conqueror Victoria Quay, the daughter of Fastnet Rock from the Galileo mare Personify, Personal simply outstayed her rivals down the straight to win by 1 ¼ lengths.

7. Caulfield Cup – Verry Elleegant

Lumped her big weight to record her 6th Group One victory and place herself firmly alongside another 10 mares in the last 50 years to win this great race. By Zabeel stallion Zed from the famous Eight Carat family, Verry Elleegant has proven to be a champion staying mare in this part of the world. 

6. Victoria Derby – Johnny Get Angry

The fairytale came true for dual AFL premiership coach Denis Pagan as his horse Johnny Get Angry won the Victoria Derby. The unlikely horse, ridden by first-time G1-winning jockey Lachlan King, stole the show as he powered to a length victory over the fast-finishing Hit The Shot.

5. Caulfield Guineas – Ole Kirk

The son of Written Tycoon from a full sister to champion Black Caviar, and half-sister to previous Caulfield Guineas winner All Too Hard, put the final stamp on his future stallion brochure with terrific win in this time-honoured classic. In the equivalent of the English 2000 Guineas, Ole Kirk powered home to defeat the country’s best 3YO’s, following his brilliant win in the G1 Golden Rose in Sydney.

4. Melbourne Cup – Twilight Payment

Once again an epic to go down in the history books. The Irish 8YO gelding took up the running soon after the start and held off all challengers to hand a 7th Cup to Mount Macedon-based owner Lloyd Williams. Jockey Jye McNeil rode a perfect judged race to keep the two-time Curragh Cup winner strong at the finish.

3. WS Cox Plate – Sir Dragonet

The one-time English Derby favourite scored a brilliant win in 100th running of Australia’s weight-for-age championship. The Irish colt was from Aidan O’Brien’s stable before his sale to the Ciaron Maher and David Eustace operation in Australia earlier in the year. The 4YO son of Camelot is from Sparrow, a daughter of Galileo’s full sister, an incredible stallion’s pedigree.

2. Mackinnon Stakes – Arcadia Queen

A crowning achievement for Perth star Arcadia Queen who had previously won the Caulfield Stakes but nearly fell in the Cox Plate. A daughter of Pierro, Arcadia Queen sat out the back before storming home to register an amazing victory.

1. Sprint Classic – Bivouac

The most spectacular moment of the entire Spring was saved for the last day of the VRC Carnival. Godolphin’s 4YO colt Bivouac totally demolished the field of crack sprinters to take the Group 1 VRC Sprint Classic. Jockey Glen Boss was clearly gobsmacked by the performance, shaking his head as he crossed the line. Already the winner of the famous Newmarket Hcp down the straight, Bivouac atoned for his narrow defeat in the Coolmore Stud Stakes a year earlier, by smashing his way to becoming the country’s champion sprinter. It was a breathtaking performance, and clearly my top-rated key moment of the Spring. 

Final thoughts

There you have it. The top 10 key moments of the 2020 Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival. Honourable mentions go to Odeum in the Thousand Guineas and Mr Quickie in the Toorak Hcp at Caulfield. Mr Quickie, a $26 longshot, was identified by our Racing Tips and Best Bets page as the top selection. Punters enjoyed the winnings, just like you would at the best online casino. For all the great moments of the 2020 Spring Carnival, I can’t wait for next year’s renewal where, hopefully, fans will be able to attend the racetrack and witness the country’s best thoroughbreds in action.

Category: Racing

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