MYALL-raised jockey Jye McNeil stunned Australia with a winning ride on the Joseph O’Brien-trained Irish stayer Twilight Payment in today’s Melbourne Cup.
In his first ride in the big race, McNeil led the big field into the straight and held off all challengers in the long run to the post.
Twilight Payment beat home the well fancied Tiger Moth and Prince of Arran.
McNeil fought back tears after the race, confessing there were “too many emotions” after passing the post.
“A very big moment,” he said.
Asked about the lack of a crowd at locked-down Flemington, McNeil told Channel 7: “I’m not worried about the grandstand.”
McNeil said the race plan had been to go forward and run near the front.
“Joseph O’Brien’s done a great job preparing him,” he said.
Twilight Payment paid $27 for the win.
McNeil rode Steel Prince to a narrow Geelong Cup win last Wednesday but was firm in his commitment to trainer O’Brien to ride Twilight Payment today.
Steel Prince, in his second Melbourne Cup, ran 16th, ridden by West Australia’s William Pike.
It has been a huge year for McNeil, who won his first Victorian jockeys’ premiership with 143 Victorian wins and became a first-time dad.
