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Without A Fight Gives Jockey Second Win in Melbourne Cup; Equinox, Cody’s Wish Top Racing Polls

The jockey created so much chatter in the weeks leading up to the $8.4 million Melbourne Cup (G1), the race that ‘stops the nation,’ a race that draws over 80,000 spectators to Flemington Racecourse.

His name is Mark Zahra, a veteran rider Down Under. A year ago, he won the Melbourne Cup with Gold Trip for trainers Ciaron Maher and David Eustace.

Instead of sticking with the defending champion in a bid for a rare repeat on Tuesday (Nov. 7 in Australia), the 41-year-old Zahara chose to climb aboard Without A Fight, a 7-year-old gelding he rode to victory over Gold Trip (third) in the $5 million Caufield Cup (G1) last month.

Good choice.

November 4, 2023: Cody’s Wish (3), ridden by Junior Alvarado, wins the Big Ass Fans Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile| Casey Phillips/Eclipse Sportswire/Breeders Cup

The latest global rankings from Thoroughbred Racing Commentary (TRC) underwent a few changes following the Breeders’ Cup.

The top 10: Equinox for the 33rd straight week, followed by Elite Power, Cody’s Wish, Ace Impact, Auguste Rodin, Imperatiz, Inspiral, Hukum, and Mostahdaf.

Elite Power and Cody’ Wish, both trained by Hall of Famer Bill Mott, won the BC Sprint and BC Dirt Mile, respectively, in the final races of their careers.

Elite Power moved up from No. 5 to No. 2; Cody’s Wish from No. 6 to No. 3, and Auguste Rodin, winner of the BC Turf, from No. 21 to No. 5. BC Classic winner White Abarrio catapulted from No. 82 to No. 15.

The National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA) released its final top 10 poll, and Cody’s Wish is No. 1 after his dramatic victory in the BC Dirt Mile.

Cody’s Wish edged BC Classic winner White Abarrio in the balloting by 19 points after moving up three spots to finish No. 2.

Idiomatic is third, followed by Elite Power, Up to the Mark, Arcangelo, Goodnight Olive, Master of The Seas, and Auguste Rodin.

 

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