Hope that clean socks, luck of the Irish will deliver historic win
Noel Greenhalgh, the part-owner of Melbourne Cup winner Gold Trip, knows a thing or two about buying horses.
The managing director of fresh produce wholesaler RW Pascoes and his wife, Maria, already have eight Group 1 winners to their names.
But the Brisbane-based Irishman will be hoping his lucky socks – which are navy with green shamrocks – will be useful on Tuesday as Gold Trip attempts to defy the odds and win a second consecutive Melbourne Cup.
Gold Trip will try and defy the odds to win the Melbourne Cup for the second year in a row. Eamon Gallagher
“I hope they’re clean,” he laughs.
If he succeeds, Gold Trip will be the first horse to win the $8 million race back-to-back since 2005 when Makybe Diva won the Cup for the third time. He will also be the first horse to win the 3200m race with more than 58 kilograms on his back since 1975.
“[Gold Trip] is obviously a hugely live chance,” the Irish businessman tells The Australian Financial Review. “Carrying the weight he’s got to carry is a difficult task over two miles.
“But … the horse is at a career peak. If any horse in the field is capable of doing it, it’s probably him.”
Trainer Ciaron Maher isn’t fazed about the extra weight Gold Trip will carry – it’s only one more kilogram than last year’s race.
“I’m wrapped with him,” he said. “He’s in better order than last year. I’m thrilled with how his prep has gone.”
Trainer Ciaron Maher thinks Gold Trip has a strong chance. Eamon Gallagher
Punters were not overly worried, either. Ladbrokes data on Monday morning showed 9.4 per cent of users were backing Gold Trip for another win, behind favourite Vauban (22.3 per cent) and Absurde (10.6 per cent). Sportsbet said Gold Trip is the horse with the highest number of Melbourne
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