The internationalisation of racing was evident less than 24 hours after the Melbourne Cup when French trainer Mikel Delzangles was the only one of the winning Melbourne Cup team left in Australia.
Jockey Christophe Lemaire was on his way to United States for the Breeders’ Cup meeting at Churchill Downs in Kentucky while Qatari owner Sheikh Fahad Al Thani was en route to New Zealand.
The sheikh was due to visit Westbury Stud south of Auckland where his stallion Makfi stood his first southern hemisphere season this year.
Delzangles was left to accept the ceremonial whip on behalf of Lemaire and take the limelight before he too jetted out of Melbourne.
He said he was amazed by the race, the day and the aftermath.
“It has been quite amazing,” Delzangles said.
“There is nothing like yesterday in world racing.
“French racing doesn’t have the atmosphere. Even the Arc is only half of what the Cup is.”
Dunaden recovered well from his dramatic win over Red Cadeaux which took three minutes for those poring over the photo-finish to decide.
It wasn’t the same for some of the other European visitors with Jukebox Jury among the walking wounded on Wednesday.
Jukebox Jury finished near the tail of the Cup field after injuring his near foreleg during the race.
He has been treated for a knee injury and instead of remaining in Australia in preparation for a trip to Hong Kong, Jukebox Jury is likely to return to England in the near future.
Runner-up Red Cadeaux came through the Cup unscathed and is a possible runner at the Hong Kong International meeting in December.
Godolphin foreman Tommy Strang said both Modun, who finished last, and Lost In The Moment, who was sixth, had pulled up well, if a little stiff.
Delzangles said he was keen to return to Australia with Dunaden next year as long as he was not handicapped out of the race.
“We have no plans yet but if all is well we will try to come back,” he said.
“I will go home tonight. The (racing) season doesn’t stop and I have work to do.”
AAP TURF
