Spillway has beaten his Lindsay Park stablemate Extra Zero in a desperate finish to the $1 million Australian Cup at Flemington.
In one of the closest results in the race’s history, Spillway ($13) held on to beat Extra Zero ($101) by a nose.
Favourite Happy Trails ($4) took the minor placing.
Spillway
The finish was a triumph for the David Hayes and Tom Dabernig training partnership as well as jockey Michael Walker.
Hayes said he was desperate for Walker to break through for his training operation at racing’s elite level.
“He really works hard and I just wanted him to win a Group One for the stable,” Hayes said.
Walker gave Spillway a dream ride and the import seemed set for a convincing victory until the lesser-fancied stablemate started to emerge with his run.
“I had the most beautiful and economical run in the race and I didn’t let him go until 250 metres out,” Walker said.
“But then I saw the stablemate coming and I got worried.”
Last year’s Melbourne Cup winner Protectionist and runner-up Red Cadeaux finished among the unplaced division.
