Montjeu Stayer Wins Melbourne Cup

The Lloyd Williams team leave no stone unturned in endeavouring to win Australia's greatest race and their quest to find the right import to give them victory paid dividends Green Moon realised their dream. Ridden a perfect race by Brett Prebble, the Robert Hickmott trained Green Moon travelled strongly in the run settling just behind the leaders in seventh position before unleashing his trademark turn of foot over the final furlongs. He surged away from Gai Waterhouse’s so called ‘parachute horse’ Fiorente to win by a length with the Marco Botti trained Jakkalberry the first foreign raider to finish. Green Moon bounced back from a seventh place finish in the Cox Plate, recapturing his best form that had seen him win the Group I VRC Turnbull Stakes at Flemington two starts back. “Our operation, Team Williams, is all about being a team and my father is the captain of that team, but every single one of our staff have played their part in this success,” said Nick Williams in his acceptance speech. “I want to pay special tribute to two people that have worked so hard in regards to this horse. “His strapper Adam Chatterton never leaves his side for a minute and it’s his birthday today. When he was born 26 years ago it was also a Melbourne Cup day, so there might be an omen in that. “Also Jason Chandler, who has worked with us for a long time and was the strapper for Zipping. He’s now a foreman and looks after our A grade horses including Greeen Moon and Mourayan.” Winning rider Brett Prebble was having his first race ride on Green Moon, having flown in from Hong Kong, where the former leading Melbourne rider is now based. “I can’t thank Lloyd enough for the ride,” he said. “He was never going to get beaten. He was on the fence and travelling well and he has a great turn of foot." Green Moon came to Australia as a tried horse, having won three races in the UK including the Listed Fairway Stakes at Newmarket for his previous trainer Harry Dunlop and now has the overall record of seven wins and three seconds from 20 starts with prizemoney in excess of$4.9 million. Green Moon is one of 103 stakes-winners for ill-fated sire Montjeu and is the only foal from Group III winning Green Tune mare Green Noon, who comes from the family of champion mare Goldikova.