Murphy to miss Melbourne Cup after picking up ban on runner-up Spirit Of Valor

Oisin Murphy will miss the ride on Red Verdon in the Melbourne Cup after picking up a ban when finishing runner-up on the Aidan O'Brien-trained Spirit Of Valor in a thrilling finish to the Group 1 Manikato Stakes at Moonee Valley on Friday.

Hugh Bowman lifted Brave Smash to a last-gasp victory at the expense of Murphy, who was penalised for careless riding.

The Moonee Valley straight may be less than a furlong but a lot can change. Murphy looked to have done enough when taking the lead turning in, but Bowman, who will partner the mighty Winx in the Cox Plate, came swooping late to steal the A$1 million (£550,000/€620,000) contest.

Murphy and Spirit Of Valor broke smartly, unlike two of O'Brien's other runners US Navy Flag and Intelligence Cross, and from a wide draw had to post his mount three wide rounding the early turn.

Murphy kicked before the home turn and might well have won but for Bowman's alertness. Having let Murphy come across the front of him from the stalls he followed him all the way through aboard Brave Smash, who travelled powerfully into the turn and hit the front.

Spirit Of Valor rallied and looked like he might hold on, but Brave Smash was just too strong. There was a head in it at the line, with half a length back to Godolphin's Kementari in third.

O'Brien's travelling head lad TJ Comerford said: "Ever since Spirit Of Valor got here he's been thriving and he seems to have improved a lot in Australia. He jumped and got straight into it from a bad draw, and you'd like to think if he'd had a better draw he might have done even better. He ran a hell of a race and Aidan's very happy with him. He was just a little unlucky and bringing a sprinter here's not easy.

"He seems to find getting out and into races a lot easier. We'll let Aidan decide if he wants to go to Flemington, but it looks a no-brainer on what he's done. He travelled into the straight like the winner. We're delighted."

Intelligence Cross and US Navy Flag finished 13th and last of 14, with stablemate Fleet Review ninth.

Comerford added: "Intelligence Cross didn't jump well again and US Navy Flag was a bit slow away. I'm sure we'll have another go and see what comes of it. There's more we can do with him to get him out quicker and we'll have to do more practice with him. Fleet Review ran better than last time."

Speaking later, O'Brien said: "Spirit Of Valor ran a very good race, just as he had done at Caulfield two weeks ago. He might run again at Flemington during the carnival.

"US Navy Flag missed the break and Ryan [Moore] said the horses on either side of him came in a bit on him and then pulled back off the pace. He was never able to get into the race. We'll see how he comes out of the race and he too might go to Flemington."

Murphy, like James Doyle and Pat Cosgrave before him, felt the wrath of the Melbourne stewards for careless riding at the 50-metre mark.

The stewards banned him for 15 meetings but Murphy deferred the suspension until after the Breeders' Cup so will not miss the rides on Roaring Lion and Lightning Spear but will be forced to sit out the Melbourne Cup.

Brave Smash's trainer Darren Weir said: “He got a great ride. He pinged the gate and got a nice spot. We thought we had him right going to Sydney for the Everest and obviously it was the track as he's run big tonight.”

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