Maluckyday beaten but not bowed in Melbourne Cup
John Hawkes said disappointment wasn't the right word to describe his young stayer Maluckyday's second behind Americain at Flemington yesterday.
"You can't be disappointed when your horse runs well and is simply not good enough on the day," the Hall of Fame trainer said.
"Maluckyday did get held up for a stride or two at the top of the straight, but there are no excuses - he was beaten by a better horse on the day."
Hawkes, who trains Maluckyday in partnership with his sons Wayne and Michael, has won 98 Group One races during his training career but a Melbourne Cup win has eluded him.
Maluckyday was the closest he has come to winning the great race.
"He's very lightly raced and inexperienced and will be a better horse next year," Hawkes said.
"I hope to be back here in 2011 with him but 12 months is a long time in racing."
What Hawkes didn't say is that with Maluckyday, he has unearthed the staying find of the spring carnival.
If So You Think was the spring superstar, Maluckyday is his heir apparent.
This horse could be anything. Purchased for $625,000 as a yearling, Maluckyday was having only his ninth start in the Cup and his effort to run second, beating So You Think into third, was outstanding.
Owner Nick Moraitis, who has won a Melbourne Cup previously with Might And Power (1997), wasn't complaining despite coming close to winning for a second time.
"John and the boys have done a remarkable job with this horse to get him to the Melbourne Cup because he is still immature," he said.
Hawkes jokingly added: "The only thing that makes second bearable is the prizemoney [$900,000]."
"I'm as happy as you can be to run second," Moraitis said.
Ray Thomas