Son beats father as Rekindling reels in Vermeer in Melbourne Cup

Winning owner Lloyd Williams believes Joseph O'Brien will emulate his father and become the greatest trainer in the world after sending out Rekindling to lead home an Irish one-two-three in the Emirates Melbourne Cup at Flemington on Tuesday.

O'Brien will not get the chance to brag about many things his father didn't do, but he beat him to the world's richest handicap and, at 24 years of age, became the youngest ever winning trainer in the race.

And, in one of the most compelling chapters in the race's 157-year history, all of those remarkable feats were achieved at the expense of his father, Aidan, as Johannes Vermeer finished second. Max Dynamite, runner-up in 2015, took third.

"I have been telling anyone who will listen to me that Joseph will be the leading trainer in the world in years to come, his father needs to watch out," said Williams.

"You have just seen the start of an amazing career kick off right here in Melbourne. He's an absolutely extraordinary young man and this is an amazing achievement."

Rekindling won the Ballysax at Leopardstown on the second Sunday in April. This was his his seventh start of the season. He is only three and endured some bruising battles in the Derby and St Leger. To win the Melbourne Cup at the end of such a gruelling campaign is a remarkable training achievement by O'Brien, but he deflected the praise onto the horse.

"I can't quite believe it," said a visibly-shocked O'Brien. "This is unbelievable. He's a tough horse and he's very easy to train. We have to do very little with him so he deserves all the credit. He's a tremendous horse.

"He had a very light weight and a lovely draw. It's not often in a big race that things go so well but the whole way through the race I was delighted. I couldn't have been any happier at any stage and I'm just so pleased it all worked out."

Rekindling is the youngest horse to win the race since 1941. Jockey Corey Brown, 17 years older than the trainer, was enjoying a second success after partnering Shocking to victory in 2009.

O'Brien snr looked like ending his Melbourne Cup hoodoo 100 metres out as Johannes Vermeer swept to the front, but Rekindling had too much staying power and reeled him to score by half a length.

How was the runner-up's trainer feeling? Gutted? Dejected? Not even remotely. He was even happier than he would have been if Johannes Vermeer had held on.

"It's absolutely marvellous and I couldn't be any happier," he said. "It's the perfect result. I was hoping and praying we'd finish second all the way up the home straight. I was delighted that was the way it turned out."

He watched the race in the comfort of his sitting room with his wife Annemarie and other three children, who were all very much in the Joseph corner.

"All I know is that there was a lot of cheering and roaring for Joseph," admitted his dad. "We now know who the most popular member of the family is! I'm delighted for him. He works hard and it's a very proud day.

"Johannes Vermeer has run a terrific race once again and I'm delighted with him, but he was just beaten by a better horse on the way. It's absolutely marvellous."

Max Dynamite was placed again for Willie Mullins a further two and a half lengths away, with another two and three-quarter lengths back to Big Duke, the best of the home contingent.

Ebor winner Nakeeta was an excellent fifth for Iain Jardine, ahead of Max Dynamite's stablemate Thomas Hobson, who was partnered by 18-year-old Ben Allen after Joao Moreira was injured earlier on the card.

Olivier Peslier's first ride in the race, Tiberian, was seventh, with the Hughie Morrison-trained Marmelo ninth, one place ahead of Mullins' third runner Wicklow Brave.

Last year's winner Almandin, the mount of Frankie Dettori, was 12th, with the Hugo Palmer-trained Wall Of Fire 16th, and Redkindling's stablemate US Army Ranger 18th of the 23 runners.

Who Shot Thebarman's bid to make history as the oldest Melbourne Cup winner was scuppered by the nine-year-old being withdrawn due to an elevated temperature.

Rekindling was a sixth winner of the $6 million (approximately £3.5m/€4m) race for owner Williams, who had Almandin last year and already held the owners' record for race wins. Johannes Vermeer also carried his colours.

Mullins said of third-placed Max Dynamite: "I was delighted with him. There was a point up the straight where I thought he might get out and do it, but I think age just caught up with him in the end."

This year at least it paid to have youth on your side in the Melbourne Cup.

Result and and analysis

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