15 AUSTRALIAN CUP The 1872 edition produced one of the Cup’s most remarkable moments. The race initially ended in a dead heat between Saladin and Flying Dutchman. A run-off between the pair astonishingly resulted in another dead heat, forcing a second run-off in which Saladin prevailed by half a neck in a time of 4 minutes and 15 seconds for the 3600 metres. 1927 Australian Cup winner Spearfelt has his name proudly etched across several of Flemington’s most prestigious honour rolls. Before his Cup triumph, he had already captured the 1924 VRC Derby, 1925 VRC St Leger and 1926 Melbourne Cup. Spearfelt later proved just as influential at stud, siring 28 black-type winners including 1943 Melbourne Cup hero Dark Felt and 1949 Australian Cup winner New Cashmere. In 1979, the Cup produced one of the great boilovers when 1978 VRC Derby winner, Dulcify, stormed home at 80–1 to defeat champions Manikato and Family Of Man. Trainer Colin Hayes would later name Dulcify as the best horse he ever trained. An even greater upset came in 1988 when Dandy Andy charged through the rain and from last to first at odds of 125–1, toppling two legends of the turf in Vo Rogue and Bonecrusher. Vo Rogue would return to claim consecutive Cups in 1989 and 1990 to cement his standing as one of the era’s equine legends. ABOVE: Northerly claimed his second Australian Cup in 2003, redeeming his narrow defeat to Perth rival Old Comrade a year earlier. (Image: Mark Dadswell/Getty Images) OPPOSITE: Makybe Diva reels in Winning Belle to win the 2005 Australian Cup, setting the course record for 2000 metres in the process. (Image: Mark Dadswell/Getty Images)
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