Knight's Choice – Lexus Melbourne Cup – Lexus Melbourne Cup Day, Race 7

Australia's great race about to get underway. One smooth operator is in, Valley and King joins the line. He is just fine. Ridden by Jai McNeil, the winner of the race in 2020. The field just about set. Circle of Fire is going to be one of the last as the map goes up with Rachel King out wide. And that will leave Circle of Fire, Mark Zara, who's won the race over the last two years. The 164th running of the Lexus Melbourne Cup and the field is set to go. We're racing. Trusting you towards the inside. A global Akita Sushi. Just fine, sharp and smart. And from the deep also, Land Legend is showing some speed and intent. They come across towards the inside. Very wide is Circle of Fire, using plenty of the track in the early stages. 600 metres to go on the first round. Just fine is sliding across to lead the cup field. From Land Legend, mostly cloudy, Akita Sushi next on the inside. Circle of Fire progresses around them deeper. And then Fancy Man, sharp and smart. And Zardoz, he tucked away on the rails. Out deeper is Valiant King around Interpretation. Then came Manzois, the fence. From Kovalika, trusting you. Knight's Choice, Vauban, three wide. The map around at four deep. Warp Speed next to the fence. And then came one smooth operator. Some George Positivity, Buckaroo. Second last, Absurd. And Sea King from Barrier One has gone back to last. 2,300 metres to run. And the leader is just fine with Circle of Fire. The outside putting a little bit more speed in the race at the 2,200 metres. And now Perch is outside the leader. Land Legend a length and a half away third. And they get clear. Three lengths, Akita Sushi and mostly cloudy. They're two and a half to Fancy Man, Zardoz. Two lengths, sharp and smart. A length away is Manzois, followed by Interpretation. Then trusting you on the inside of Valiant King as they make their way past the 1,700 metres. Two further back in the field is Kovalika. Warp Speed. And then came the map out three wide. Tracked by Vauban. Then Knight's Choice Positivity. A length and a quarter away then in the field is one smooth operator as they run by the 1,550. Well back is Absurd on the inside of St. George and then Buckaroo. And Sea King is last in the Lexus Melbourne Cup. 1,400 metres to run. Just fine in front at an even speed. By a length and a quarter, Land Legend and Circle of Fire. Akita Sushi next on the inside of mostly cloudy. A length and a half, Zardoz. With every hope on the inside of Fancy Man. A length away to Manzois, sharp and smart. Then trusting you. Further back at the 1,200 metres, Interpretation. Two lengths to Warp Speed. Then came Valiant King who's losing a little bit of ground. Passed by the map then Kovalika Positivity. Vauban is being shuffled back as this field string right out. The 950. The leaders have put the foot down towards the back of Absurd. One smooth operator is about 20 off the lead. Then came Buckaroo about to get going from St. George and Sea King. Just fine is the leader. Coming down towards the 700 metres. By a length and a half to Land Legend. Two lengths away. Circle of Fire. Akita Sushi. Zardoz next on the inside. Waited with Fancy Man under pressure. Then came mostly cloudy Manzois. Buckaroo sweeping up around the outside. About six off the lead. Followed by Vauban. Goes to the front with Akita Sushi on the outside. Then Zardoz. Back behind those. Circle of Fire. Fancy Man. And for the long way back ball. It's Akita Sushi. Zardoz a length away on the inside. Wearing it down. Akita Sushi grabbed by Zardoz. Knight's Choice is coming through it. And Warp Speed as well. Zardoz grabbed by Knight's Choice. And Warp Speed coming at it. Knight's Choice. It's Warp Speed. They hit the line. It's a photo finish. Knight's Choice, I reckon, has won from Warp Speed in a photo. What a magnificent finish to the Cup. Zardoz in a photo for third with Akita Sushi. Absurd. Then Circle of Fire next to finish in the race. Land Legend. Fancy Man. Sharp and smart. Kovalika. Seeking positivity. Trusting you, Manzois. One smooth operator. Interpretation. Back behind those horses. Valiant King. Buckaroo. The map towards the end. Mostly cloudy. With also St George. And just fine at the tail of the field. And Knight's Choice is the winner. Robbie Dolan. John Symons. And Sheila Lackson. It is a rank outsider. Knight's Choice has won the Lexus Melbourne Cup.