The 2021 Melbourne Cup will be remembered as an all-Kiwi affair, after a New Zealand horse, jockey and trainer stormed to victory at Flemington.
Very Elleegant, ridden by James McDonald and trained by Chris Waller, has surged home in the race that stops two nations, with pre-race favourite Incentivise second and Spanish Mission third.
Part-owner Nick Bishara is also Kiwi, on a memorable day for New Zealand racing.
Six-year-old Very Elleegant was mid-pack in the early part of the race, before working her way forward around the final bend to pass Incentivise for victory.
"I love her to bits," jockey McDonald told Channel 10. "She's been so good to me.
"She was relaxed out there, she was relaxed the whole way. When I looked at the 600m, I was blowing kisses to her the whole way.
"I don't know, I just can't believe what's just happened.
"I never thought I would ever win one, you know. I always dreamed of winning one, but it's so hard to win."
The result gives trainer Waller his first victory at the Melbourne Cup, as Verry Elleegant's win brings with it $8.3 million.
Despite unprecedented success with champion horse Winx, Waller had never achieved the Melbourne Cup, but that winless run ended, adding to his four Cox Plates.
Verry Elleegant is the first Kiwi-bred horse to win the Melbourne Cup, since Prince of Penzance in 2015.
