'It was a huge thrill for the McManus family' - Joseph O'Brien reacts to Melbourne Cup runner-up effort of Goodie Two Shoes

Joseph O'Brien expressed his pride in Goodie Two Shoes's runner-up effort in the Lexus Melbourne Cup, describing it as a "huge thrill" for the McManus family.

Wayne Lordan's mount was sent off a 40-1 shot but hit the front in the home straight before being headed with a furlong to run by the winner Half Yours.

Goodie Two Shoes, who was bred by JP McManus's wife Noreen, was winless in three mares' beginners' chases in Ireland last winter but has excelled since returning to the Flat.

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The six-year-old daughter of Fastnet Rock secured a black-type hat-trick in the summer, winning a Listed event at Gowran Park by six lengths, following up at the same level at Down Royal and striking in the Group 3 Stanerra Stakes at Fairyhouse. She was third in the Group 2 Lillie Langtry Stakes at Glorious Goodwood before heading to Australia.

O'Brien, who won the Melbourne Cup with Rekindling in 2017 and Twilight Payment in 2020, said: "Wayne gave her a wonderful ride but there was one horse better handicapped than us.

Goodie Two Shoes: runner-up in the Melbourne CupCredit: George Sal (Racing Photos)

"I'm very proud of her and delighted for all the McManus family. They got a huge thrill out of competing in the Melbourne Cup and getting such a good run. It looked like she was right in the mix at the furlong marker, but a furlong is a long way in racing."

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Lordan managed to gain a prominent position from a wide draw in stall 20 and the rider was full of praise for his mount.

He said: "She ran an absolute blinder. I jumped nice from a wide draw and I was able to get a beautiful position. She travelled nicely and then went to put the race to bed, but one just got by me. It was an unbelievable run. I'm delighted."

Al Riffa, who was the subject of a A$500,000 (£248,000/€282,000) bet on the eve of the race, failed to trouble the principals, with the topweight held up out the back off a slow pace under Mark Zahra. He stayed on in the straight to finish a never-nearer seventh of the 24 runners.

O'Brien said: "Al Riffa didn't run a bad race and he kept coming all the way to the line. From where we were early, with his weight and given how the race was set up, it was always going to be tough. It was no-one's fault but we didn't get the rub of the green. He'll have other days." 

How did the British and Irish runners fare?

2nd Goodie Two Shoes 40-1 (Joseph O'Brien)
7th Al Riffa 7-1 (Joseph O'Brien)
8th Absurde 18-1 (Willie Mullins)
10th Meydaan 25-1 (Simon and Ed Crisford)
11th Furthur 40-1 (Andrew Balding)
16th Onesmoothoperator 40-1 (Brian Ellison)

Willie Mullins was unable to complete a quickfire Breeders' Cup-Melbourne Cup double with Absurde, though he ran creditably to finish eighth under Kerrin McEvoy. 

The rider said: "He ran well. The pace wasn't that strong through the first part of the race and we had to give them a start. He picked up into it well and ran an honest race."

The Simon and Ed Crisford-trained Meydaan finished tenth, with his rider James McDonald feeling the two-mile trip was a "fraction too far", and the Andrew Balding-trained Furthur was a further place back in 11th.

Onesmoothoperator failed to improve on his 12th from last year. He finished 16th and his rider Harry Coffey said: "He had a lovely run but when the pressure came at the three-furlong marker, he failed to quicken. The wheels were spinning on the soft ground."

Read more . . .

Jamie Melham seals historic Caulfield Cup-Melbourne Cup double on Half Yours - with JP McManus-owned Goodie Two Shoes in second 

Who is Jamie Melham? A lookback at the rollercoaster career of a rider making history in Australia 

There was the Covid scandal and an induced coma but Jamie Melham can now be remembered first and foremost as a Melbourne Cup winner 

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