WITHOUT A FIGHT powers to Melbourne Cup glory for Mark Zahra!

Without A Fight and Mark Zahra charge clear to win the Melbourne Cup for Anthony and Sam Freedman!
-------------------
Enjoy the best of Sky Sports Racing on the free and award-winning At The Races app:
iPhone: apple.co/1I4NxAV
Android: bit.ly/1VPIcEz
#Subscribe
/ attheraces
/ attheraces
/ at.the.races

[@binnahboo5977]

Epic AF. That was magic how he just cut through. Splendid in yellow, coming out of nowhere and a portend of good vibes winning the heart of Australia. I had my imaginary money on 21, but no one can deny the god like glory of this win Today, I love being an Aussie

[@binnahboo5977]

Without a doubt, without a fight, Love Wins ❤🌹🐝

[@linusboyz]

Without a fight won easing up, if soulcombe did not miss the start and if he found clearer galloping room instead of switching lanes like 5 times in the straight , he might have given the winner a fight 🎉

[@Tom-hn5hn]

He had WAF’s back the the whole race, he probably could of just followed him through instead of panicking and going out then back in. Obviously this is just guesswork but seems like it might have worked.

[@wayneanderson8034]

This is the best Melbourne Cup since that other one a year ago.

[@user-nj2fy5rc7k]

Zahra at his best. Such a cool customer. You will not see a better Melbourne Cup ride.

[@wayneanderson8034]

The chances of the jockey making it out of that traffic in time was maybe 5%. In these huge fields, the best horse does not always win because they sometimes get boxed in & by the time they get out its too late to win. The jockey gave a tremendous ride.

[@johnwalton3743]

It's a fantastic race at a fantastic racecourse

[@Zarkava8]

Martin Lewis under his rock again after his Vauban flop. 😂

[@frankelforever14]

@Boogieman30 and worse still he was beaten by what he calls listed class yaks that are trained by useless Australian trainers who wouldn't hold a torch to Willie Mullins in his opinion 😂

[@sallybluett-boyd9510]

What a run from soulcombe

[@SvendBosanvovski]

A great win by Without a Fight. Alenquer and Gold Trip were found to be lame after the race, and keep an eye on Interpretation for future races. The gelding was held up until after straightening and came home like a genuine 3 miler.

[@user-mw1tt5mm9q]

Really heavy pace and the winner did it well. Not sure Vauban actually saw the trip out but it is a concerted risk sending him there as change of season and time is a thing not every horse readily adjusts to. Congratulations to connections for a great training feat

[@yeahmatewhatever2054]

Mate, didn’t see the trip out?? He’s a jumper he’s won multiple group 1’s past 2 miles over jumps. Don’t send a jumper and expect to win our big race simple

[@user-mw1tt5mm9q]

@@yeahmatewhatever2054 You forget that often jumpers are 12 furlongs horses. He was in the mix but dropped away, might have been the class, possibly the change of hemisphere or as they went a really heavy gallop that he didn’t fully see the trip out. 2 miles over jumps is equivalent to 2.5 miles over the flat i think.

[@robertdelacy3434]

😂you haven't a clue

[@yeahmatewhatever2054]

@@user-mw1tt5mm9q that’s what I mean, he’s a 2 mile horse so impossible he didn’t see the trip out as hes won over longer. It’s a class issue he’s definitely not a group 1 flat horse that’s all, and to send him to the other side of the world to try do it was just silly,

[@nightowl7459]

​@@yeahmatewhatever2054jumpers go no where near this pace.

[@davidhounslow7845]

Great horse and same about the ride always travelled in the run. When he hit the go button, it surely responded. A very good win 😀😀

[@2btribal]

Good waiting race by winning jockey

[@jabulanimalose9891]

Soulcombe was very unlucky Moreira didn't have clear running on the straight, but congrats to M Zahra

[@austhaitravela]

Should have won by a country mile

[@WeirsBane]

@@austhaitravela hahahaha

[@broccolilady9878]

Wow I was there and couldn’t see the tv. I didn’t know how lucky I was all my numbers came threw in the last 20 seconds

[@adminbigg6493]

It was really a great fight by without a fight, cutting in from behind on the last stretch to win the race🏇

[@vijayanratnam7276]

Ho! Ho! Ho! Soulcombe smelled & even almost licked all the backsides before he finished 2nd. The Winner & Rider deserve the convincing victory - Congrats,it shows The Melbourne Cup is still the worlds masterpiece in hore racun.

[@vijayanratnam7276]

corr... in horse racing.

[@rolyat093]

Keep your plodders to hurdle races 🤠

[@yosingh7479]

What is meaning of without a fight in horse race?

[@frankelforever14]

Impressive win by Without a fight, seems to thriving in the Australian sun. Absurde ran a solid enough race but its back to the drawing board for connections of Vauban, where does he go after this latest blowout?

[@elgransenor1472]

Just running up to his previous best form at G3 and Lidted level in the UK That’s all it takes to win G1s in Australia, just reproduce English G3 level form and you’ve got a top flight G1 horse in Australia They don’t need to improve

[@frankelforever14]

@@elgransenor1472 if it's that easy how come Aidan, Willie and a lot of other top trainers in Ireland and the UK haven't won it???

[@elgransenor1472]

@@frankelforever14 Because travel and weeks of quarantine takes its toll. You can’t guarantee a horse will run to its peak in that situation. Some handle it, some don’t. It’s a lottery. There’s years of evidence to show that a G3 winning horse in England or Ireland is equivalent to G1 level in Australia

[@elgransenor1472]

@@frankelforever14 Plus, only one horse can win it every year. If there are 180 European bred runners over a ten year period only 10 can win it, 170 won’t.

[@yeahmatewhatever2054]

Back to the jumps where he belongs

[@Carol-Ann-zz3ur]

How many horses have both cups, the Caufield and Melbourne cups?

[@evertonianwalker3635]

12

[@Carol-Ann-zz3ur]

thanks@@evertonianwalker3635

[@JD-767]

Without a Fight best horse in the race. Group 1 winner, not sure why Vauban was even favourite, hadn’t raced a group 1 flat race in its life. Flogged a bunch of donkeys at Royal Ascot in an average 2800m race. Great training performance by Aussie Sam Freedman to win Caulfield and Cox Plate in 2.5 weeks.

[@johnnyboy6608]

I couldn’t bring my self to back him even though he was the class horse in the race as when he raced in England I had him down as a non stayer, how wrong I was.

[@elgransenor1472]

Might have managed about 12th if he’d run in the Arc de Triomphe

[@LamaTheGod]

​@elgransenor1472 who hurt you? You always have something bad to say about Aussie horses :(

[@elgransenor1472]

@@LamaTheGod He’s not an Aussie horse

[@paulspalding6880]

​@@elgransenor1472 Last year's Cup winner Gold Trip waltzed by a couple of spuds like Stradivarius and Enable in the Arc from memory.

[@dennispicone6801]

Well we don't have a flat three mile race in Australia. So unless you want to change him to hurdle racing and take him to Warrnambool in May, there's nothing suitable for him.

[@brendanbarnes3404]

Soulcombe! I wasn't on Soulcombe but it Should've won this. Stood there and missed the start by 3 lengths. Then "The Magic Man" at about the 600 piloted him wide. Not sure why? But anyway,what a terrific ride by M.Zahra (soft hands) on the winner. He has been quoted as saying that at the 200 Without a fight pulled him to the line. Impressive win. Beautiful ride.

[@alangreaves7317]

Mullins said it was going to be ridden up with the pace it’s a front runner as shown by its two wins in U.K. it won group races and Triumph Hurdle with the Cheltenham hill I thought Moore rode a stinker riding a true stayer and having it off the pace and many lengths behind

[@galdessa1]

Overpaced race the front 5 finished no where the first 3 were at the back.

[@johnbatch9276]

Watch the race it couldn't go the pace

[@Im_not-the_father]

Vauban💔

[@myfrobert]

Not a suitable target for Vauban at all. IMO, his connections should have kept him trained for hurdling and been preparing for the Fighting Fifth or the Christmas Hurdle instead of this one here even if he would still have to face to the likes of Constitution Hill. His form in the previous two flat races now seems to be overhyped and made his connections became overconfident and had such a wrong choice. BTW, congrats to WAF and his connections, since there are not too many horses could complete the Caulfield and Melbourne Cup double, especially in the same season. And, more importantly, glad to see all gallopers returned home safe and sound, at least there has been no tragic news by now.

[@gregorymorton3783]

When you see who owns these horses it's mainly the manktom family again they own godolphin.

[@kieranbehan9395]

Get in I backed the winner of the Melbourne cup 2023

[@Carol-Ann-zz3ur]

Me too, Antipost, had him at 50 to 1, party time tonight, this is the only race I bet on and I am from England. I have huge respect for this race.

[@matt26nz]

I backed him too well done without a fight pockets are full 😅

[@kieranbehan9395]

@@matt26nz well done mate it looks like the dinners are on you and me tonight pockets are full how are you doing today I hope you are well

[@kieranbehan9395]

@@Carol-Ann-zz3ur well done Carol and yeah I got him at 50-1 too its dinner and a party on us and yeah that is even better that you only bet on this race which is very sensible

[@masumlover]

I am not an expert but soulcombe would have won if jockey run it straight last 400m rather then going sideways. Suspicious?

[@mattdavis7274]

Without a fight dome it easy loves a fast paced race let's him sit back and boom home. Great ride great run great training performance. Thanks for the 9 grand pay out also haha

[@StFidjnr]

Move over Ethereal

[@duffman3569]

How did nobody spot Sheraz was a stupid price , just look at his 3000m form. His run was outstanding and somewhat unlucky. Look out Sydney cup 2024

[@Mr_Nigeria100]

Vauban DID run it’s race. He was in front turning for home but he has never ran against that level of horses on the flat b4. In the early part of the race he was forced to run sectionals faster than he has ever ran b4. which meant the he emptied out to the MAX in the home straight, going from 1st to almost last in the space of two furlongs. Not saying National hunt horses are plodders but they are not bred for speed. It's one thing Vauban winning average handicaps at Ascot where they dawdle around at no pace but it's another thing running against battle hardened tough G1 flat horses on their home turf who can run fast from gate opening to the line. It's like if you put Eliud Kipchoge in a Olympic final 800m race. He'd look like he lacks stamina but it's speed he lacks as other speedier runners would pass him easy. Same is true of Vauban. Respect to Ryan Moore, winning the Breeders turf on Augutus Rodin on Sat and then doing a 14hr flight to Oz to ride Vauban on Tuesday but well deserved winner

[@yeahmatewhatever2054]

Exactly he’s only a jumper, inferior to flat horses

[@ross4970]

A public holiday for the big dance? Was looking to see Vlandys doing a streak down the home straight at Flemington but narcissists arent allowed.

[@VictorYong36]

The Cups double is rare and is the first in 22 years and only the 12th horse to win it. Vauban was the favourite but never raced in Australia and finished 14th after the hype during the week. A huge disappointment and failure

[@tonypine3434]

Hardly a huge disappointment and failure lol what a daft overreaction.

[@Notappening-hl4df]

Article after article, tipster after tipster, none stop news in your face claiming Vauban the winner before they even stepped on course. Everything claimed that the horse had settled well and had been a machine on the gallops and took so much money there was zero value on the price. No wonder people are pissed. It's one thing getting beat but a whole other watching that shambles.

[@csbcsb4458]

​​@@Notappening-hl4df gulliable flogs, jumped at almost $6 despite being $3.70 the night before. Of course all the online bookies and bookie backed 'experts' told the gimps to back it. Imagine mug punters thinking you can rock up in 30 degree heat and running 3200m in a country you have never raced in. Pathetic

[@markryder1400]

First 4 home all by European based sire's

[@sgooloo8457]

The whole field is European. 18 of the 22 are European. 1 x Japanese 1 x Australian and 2 x Kiwis

[@gerrymcguire7382]

Galileo all over it

[@ngyuen1688]

Never mind.the favourite lost but they still won z lot of money.........

[@alanoconnor365]

Bunch of children in the comments arguing over horses racing, hilarious. My country is better then your country 😂😂😂😂

[@user-nj2fy5rc7k]

Do they not teach spelling in your country?

[@alanoconnor365]

@@user-nj2fy5rc7k WTF you on about?

[@janetmarshall7171]

Well, Janet and I, lost out on this race, My horse, came second, Janet's came fourteen, Vauban, just didn't have any kind of momentum. My horse, did finished second, I wish he would have been first, but it wasn't meant to be. So, we congraulate, Without A Fight, because he fought and never gave up. Great Job 👍👍

[@Dave-wh3hw]

😂

[@janetmarshall7171]

@@Dave-wh3hw Did you happen to win anything?? Or do you just reply?? My husband and I, might not have did anything in The Melbourne Cup, but we did at The Breeders Cup!! So what did you do?? We try to keep money 🤑💰 in our pockets.

[@Zarkava8]

​@@janetmarshall7171There's only one winner and that's the Bookie!

[@janetmarshall7171]

​@@Zarkava8No, Man, there is one Bookie,and it's not you!! Don't try to compete with Janet and I, because you will NEVER be where we are!! Just keep replying like you do, every time that we say something, you are making us RICH!! You just keep making our day and night 🌃🌉!! Keep it up!! And we will be going all the way to the 🏦🏧!! Have a great night 🌃🌉.

[@johnnyboy6608]

Vauban clearly hasn’t run its race and maybe it’s just how I’m inclined to think but if he did run his race and potentially win, the bookies would have took a battering they couldn’t let that happen.

[@Elliot-T]

It probably wasn't fixed, no shot Ryan goes over there to put in a non trier for the bookies. Ground too quick for Vauban

[@johnnyboy6608]

@@Elliot-T yeah you’re probably right im just reaching, could be something to do with that piece of work he done last week. All the aussie fans were raving about it how good he looked maybe it left it’s mark on him.

[@robertdelacy3434]

​@johnnyboy6608 why say stupid things like that because you lost

[@Zarkava8]

You lost, get over it. 🙄

[@harddriven1344]

Oh what a surprise!....an ex European horse wins the Melbourne Cup. Spare me from this big yawn.

[@paradisehotel5005]

Unbearable sh*t.

[@alwaysfair4991]

I notice this one wasn't sold to an Aussie. Sheikh it all about decided to keep ownership of this donkey.

[@jeanlawley6483]

Another Average UK horse wins Australia's top race

[@frankelforever14]

If it was that easy how come Aidan, Willie and many other top trainers in Ireland and the UK haven't won it?

[@gordonrundell3260]

Average?? Melb cup is one of the hardest races to win so many good horses have went it for it over the years & been beaten

[@csbcsb4458]

Australias top race? Lol, tell me how many Australian bred horses ran today, please. Tell me ANY trainer in Australia that trains genuine stayers in Australia.....waiting. nothing more than a public holiday in Victoria.

[@jeanlawley6483]

@@gordonrundell3260 ... Without a fight was Average in the UK ... he has won Group 1's in Australia ... best he could achieve in the UK was a Group 3 ... he is not the only UK horse to have won Group 1's in Australia (Side Glance & Dubai Honour to name 2) and yet could be nowhere near winning a Group 1 in the UK ... as I said average UK horse ... ... Australia has good sprinters but that where it ends currently ... why do you think owners have started sending UK middle distance horses to Australia ... yes the prize money is better but the opposition is not ... as for the Melbourne cup it has been won before by Irish and UK horses who have been not out of the top tier, Group 3 winners in the UK at best (Cross counters, Rekinding) ... This is a race that comes at the end of a Northern hemisphere season and on top of the Breeders cup ... prize money is great but the class is not ...

[@JD-767]

@@jeanlawley6483 Without A Fight was on its way up in the UK. He’d won group 3’s and was progressing through the grades. That’s exactly why he was bought and sent to Australia. Why on earth would Australian’s. it horses that are past their prime with no progression? And why would UK owners sell horses that are at their prime? Without A Fight showed a lot of promise and it has started to deliver. Stop talking rubbish, it’s not that simple. Without a Fight has shown here he likes to run on top of the ground too, hates soft heavy bog tracks that you find in the UK.

[@JP.Travelz]

Soulcombe would have won by8 lengths had they not missed the start