MELBOURNE, Nov 6: Sheila Laxon became the first woman to train the winner of Australia’s richest horse race when New Zealand mare Ethereal won Tuesday’s A$4 million (US$2 million) Melbourne Cup over 3,200 metres.

Ridden by Scott Seamer, the four-year-old Ethereal stormed home over the final furlong to beat British stallion Give The Slip by three-quarters of a length.

Another British raider, nine-year-old gelding Persian Punch, finished third, a further six lengths adrift, to match his performance of three years ago.

Laxon, whose husband Laurie trained the 1988 Melbourne Cup winner Empire Rose, became the first woman to prepare the winner of Australia’s great handicap since it was first run in 1861.

Another New Zealand woman, ‘Granny’ McDonald, trained the 1938 winner Catalogue but was never credited with the achievement because Victorian state laws at the time prevented women from holding trainer’s licences.

“Some people thought I couldn’t do it so I’m glad to have vindicated everyone who kept faith in me,” said Laxon, who was born in England but has spent the past 20 years in New Zealand.

Ethereal’s owners only decided to enter the mare in the race after she won last month’s Caulfield Cup (2,400m), the traditional lead-up to the major event on the Australian racing calendar.

She was penalised two kilograms for her Caulfield Cup win but made light work of her weight to produce a strong finish on a wet and windy day at Flemington racecourse in suburban Melbourne.

Give The Slip, under the guidance of English jockey Richard Hills, had threatened to emulate Vintage Crop as the only northern-hemisphere horse to win the race when he led from the start and opened up a commanding lead in the final straight.

But Ethereal, which travelled three-wide for most of the journey, reeled in the stallion in the final 200 metres with a wide run to claim the A$2.4 million first purse.

Persian Punch, which was aiming to become the oldest horse to win the race, rounded the turn in second place despite carrying the top weight of 57.5 kg and held on bravely to finish third for Richard Quinn.

Drama surrounded the race when long-time favourite Universal Prince was ruled unfit to run by veterinarians Tuesday morning despite protests from connections.

Another well-backed runner, Kaapstad Way, was scratched an hour before the jump when the track rating was downgraded to dead following hours of heavy rain.

Jockey Corey Brown was taken to hospital for x-rays after his mount Hill Of Grace fell during the race and Seamer injured his ankle when Ethereal reared up and fell back on a fence as she returned to scale.

RESULTS:

1. Ethereal (ridden by Scott Seamer) 52 kilograms; 2. Give The Slip (Richard Hills) 55; 3. Persian Punch (Richard Quinn) 57.5

22 ran.

Distances: Three-quarters of a length, six lengths.

Winner owned by P.J. and P.M. Vella and trained in New Zealand by Sheila Laxon.

Value to winner: A$2.4 million (US$1.2 million)

Betting return (includes A$1 stake): Win 10.00; places 3.70, 12.30, 5.20.—Reuters