A seventh Lexus Melbourne Cup for Lloyd Williams, a second for Joseph O'Brien, a second for Teofilo (IRE) and a first for Jye McNeil as Twilight Payment (IRE) ran them into the ground in Tuesday's $8 million feature.
Setting brutal, energy-sapping fractions, Twilight Payment (IRE) kept up a relentless gallop to defeat the lightly raced Galileo colt Tiger Moth (IRE) by a long-neck after following the winner for most of the race. It with a short-neck back to the fast-finishing Shirocco gelding Prince Of Arran (GB) who made it three consecutive Melbourne Cup placings after a third to Cross Counter in 2018 and second to Vow And Declare last year.
After looking a winning chance at the 200 metres, The Chosen One clocked in fourth ahead of the hard-charging Persan.
There was a tragedy in the race when English Derby winner Anthony Van Dyck (IRE) broke a fetlock and had to be euthanized.
Eleventh in the race 12 months ago, Twilight Payment (IRE) has been racing in fine form in Europe this year.
The 8yo son of Teofilo (IRE) won the Group III Vintage Crop Stakes at the Curragh in June before backing that up with an 8-length flogging of his stablemate Master Of Reality in the Group II Curragh Cup in July.
The Joseph O'Brien trained gelding prepped for his Australian assignment with a third in the Group 1 Irish St Leger on September 13.
"I have got goosebumps, and I'm overwhelmed with emotion, it's a miracle," McNeil said.
"I had to be positive because he was a bit slow into gear. He jumped with them but was slow to find his rhythm.
"I encouraged him to go forward because that was the plan, and he found a lovely tempo. It was a matter of ramping the tempo up at the right stage.
"That's what Joseph wanted. To be a step ahead of the rest of the field and get them chasing. What he lacks in class he makes up in his staying ability.
"I was peaking on my run 200 metres out, it was very surreal passing the winning post."
Co-owner Nick Williams was confident Twilight Payment (IRE) in better form than last year.
Dad
"There is no doubt the ride won the race. It may not have been pretty, but it was a very effective ride. He had the horse under him to do the job.
"It is a wonderful achievement from Mark Power who is Joseph's travelling Foreman and Sean who has been riding this horse every day in the 18 months we've owned him. We were having dinner Sunday night and he said this horse is lengths and lengths and lengths better than he was this time last year."
Speaking from his home in Ireland, Joseph O'Brien told the racing Post;
"Jye gave the horse a fantastic ride. All credit goes to the team of lads we have down there in Australia for the last month or so. They have done a fantastic job with the horses down there, they have all run with credit. This is the icing on the cake for them.
"This was his first year with a full preparation with us. He came to us halfway through last season. He ran a couple of huge races at the Curragh. I was a little bit worried today he might have got a little bit of pressure for the lead a bit more than what we had hoped, but the horse has got incredible heart and Jye gave him a fantastic ride, and he kept fighting all the way to the line.
"I can't thank Lloyd and Nick Williams enough for everything they do for me. They are both incredible and this is a fantastic result for them also."
Like his sire Teofilo (IRE) Twilight Payment was bred by Jim Bolger who has retained an interest in the Melbourne Cup winner.
His dam Dream On Buddy (Oasis Dream) was passed in for 38,000 guineas at the 2010 Tattersalls December Mare Sale but sold for 240,000 guineas to BBA Ireland in the same ring 12 months later after her half-sister Bamfire (Holy Roman Emperor) won the Group II Ribblesdale Stakes at Ascot, the Group II Royal Whip Stakes at the Curragh and the Group II Ballysax Stakes at Leopardstown.
Twilight's half-sister Bandiuc Eile (New Approach) was second in the Group II Debutante Stakes at the Curragh last season but has yet to break her maiden.
Dream On Buddy's dam My Renee (Kris S.) was honoured as the Champion Older Female Stayer in Ireland in 2004. She is a daughter of Mayenne (Nureyev) who is a half-sister to Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner and former Darley stallion Carnegie (Sadler's Wells) whose champion dam Detroit (Riverman) also won the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.
Full interview with Joseph O'Brien at Racing Post.
