1978 Melbourne Cup

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1978 Melbourne Cup
Melbourne Cup
LocationFlemington Racecourse
Date7 Nov 1978
Distance3200m
Winning horseArwon
Winning time3:24.30
Final odds5/1
JockeyHarry White
TrainerGeorge Hanlon
OwnerDoon Brothers Syndicate
SurfaceTurf
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Boldness took the lead, Arwon raced to him now with Karu the outside. Arwon just the leader, Karu trying to peg him back from Boldness then So Called and Dandeleith. But it's Arwon in front near the cup, Dandeleith getting though in the centre but Arwon the outside has won the cup about a neck to Dandeleith! A neck away third Karu, fourth Boldness.

Commentator Bill Collins describes the climax of the race

The 1978 Melbourne Cup was a handicap horse race which took place on Tuesday, 7 November 1978 over 3200m, at Flemington Racecourse.

Background

The race was won by the New Zealand bred gelding Arwon, trained by George Hanlon and ridden by Harry White. The runner up was Dandaleith, trained by A P Pringle, and third place went to Karu trained by J Holme.[1] The winning margin was a short neck with a further neck to third place. Dandaleith was ridden by the 16 year old Toby Autridge.[2]

Arwon started his career in New Zealand where he was raced under the name Flash Guy. After one win there he was purchased for $18,000 by the Doon Brothers Syndicate and moved to the Canberra stable of John Morrissey. The name Arwon was a reversal of the New South Wales town Nowra.[3] He was only transferred to George Hanlon four months before the Melbourne Cup and was placed 2nd behind Ming Dynasty in the Metropolitan Handicap. Arwon also won the 1978 Herbert Power Handicap and the 1980 Sandown Cup.[4]

This win was the second Melbourne Cup victory for George Hanlon, his previous success was the outsider Piping Lane in the 1972 Melbourne Cup.

It was the third of four Melbourne Cup wins for Harry White, he also won on Think Big (1974 and 1975) and subsequently Hyperno (1979) for Bart Cummings. Arwon's regular jockey Gary Willetts was unfortunate to miss the ride due to a suspension.[5]

Field

The following are the placegetters in the 1978 Melbourne Cup.

Place Horse Weight (kg) Trainer Jockey
1st Arwon 50.5 George Hanlon Harry White
2nd Dandaleith 50.5 A P Pringle Toby Autridge
3rd Karu 48 J Holme Warwick Robinson

References

  1. ^ "Past Winners - 1971 to 1980 Melbourne Cup Winners - Races.com.au". www.races.com.au. 22 September 2009.
  2. ^ "Top trainer and Melbourne Cup runnerup jockey Toby Autridge dies, aged 60". Stuff. 5 June 2022. Retrieved 8 July 2024.
  3. ^ Manley, Michael (28 May 2007). "Arwon lives on in heart". Fox Sports. Retrieved 8 July 2024.
  4. ^ "Arwon racehorse Melbourne Cup Winner 1978". www.racerate.com. Retrieved 8 July 2024.
  5. ^ New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing Annual 1979 (8th edition).Costello, John, Editor. Moa Publications, Auckland, New Zealand.
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