Post time for the 149th running of the Melbourne Cup, the race that stops a nation, was 3 PM local time on Tuesday. HRTV, an America-based racing network, carried the feed from Flemington racecourse. I began watching the broadcast at 9 30 PM on Monday. Melbourne is 16 hours ahead of Chicago.

There was glorious sunshine in Melbourne. There was one scratch and it was Changingoftheguard who failed to pass a veterinary inspection. Twenty-three went to post in the 3200-metre race, a Grade I handicap. Olivia Newton John performed and there was a rousing ovation. The jockeys lined up and stepped forward one after the other as the announcer introduced them. The ceremonial part of the Melbourne Cup is as important as the substantive part. A roar greeted the horses as they left the parade ring.

Viewed, Brad Rawiller up, was the favourite. There was a steady stream of money on Viewed who was the 4-1 favourite as the horses approached the post. The loading process was smooth. It was a good start. Warringah, a Michael Stoute-trained runner at one time, set the pace. There was a strong wind that hit the horses the first time they went past the post. The pace was slow. The wind was a factor again as the field entered the homestretch. Warringah threw in the towel. A 40-1 chance, Crime Scene, the Godolphin runner ridden by Kerrin McEvoy, made a move to be in the mix with 600 metres to go. Crime Scene hit the front with 400 metres left. Coming in wide, Shocking, Corey Brown up, was close behind Crime Scene. Gaining ground with every stride, Shocking began engaging Crime Scene to a duel. In a matter of strides, Shocking began to assert himself. Mourilyan emerged from the pack to salvage third.

Shocking, a four year-old, is by Street Cry out of Maria Di Castiglia, a Danehill mare. In five career starts, Shocking has won twice and been second three times. The Street Cry colt made his debut in early June. He was second. Two runner-up efforts followed. On October 31, Shocking took his chances in the 2500-metre Group III Lexus Handicap Stakes as a maiden and came away victorious. The Melbourne Cup came three day later. Shocking ran 5,700 metres in the two races.

The time for the Melbourne Cup was three minutes 23.87 seconds on a good to soft grass course. Shocking won by three parts of a length. Crime Scene was a length and a half ahead of Mourilyan. Shocking was a 9-1 chance and was part of a four-horse mutuel field. The winner’s share of the purse was 1,674,757 (British) pounds.

Mark Kavanagh, trainer of Shocking, talked about the improvement his trainee had made. “He ran a great race on Saturday. He has improved since. His preparation was perfect. Corey (Brown) gave him a great ride. Shocking won in difficult circumstances.”

In jockey Corey Brown’s case, it was a case of poetic justice. In 2008, Brown was aboard the Luca Cumani-trained Bauer and the pair lost in a photo. Shocking gave Brown his maiden win in the Australian Classic. Based in Sydney, Brown was on Monaco Consul who won the Victoria Derby last Saturday at Flemington. Late Saturday, Vigor, a fancied runner in the Melbourne Cup and Corey Brown’s mount, was withdrawn. That opened the door for Brown to accept the ride on Shocking.

Jockey Brown could not contain his happiness. “It’s unbelievable. This race is a true nation-stopper. It is an Australian celebration. I have finally won the Cup. It is a lifelong dream that has been fulfilled. Every rider wants to win this race. Mark (Kavanagh) has done a terrific job with Shocking. It was a tough job with the headwind in the stretch and to do it without cover. I had to move when I did. About a furlong out, I was confident I will get past Kerrin (McEvoy on Crime Scene) and last year’s loss is a memory now.”

Let us switch gears. Betfair, the Britain-based betting company, has entered into an agreement with the New York Racing Association. Betfair customers will now be able to bet on New York races and there will be a common pool. Betfair has 2.5 million customers worldwide. Charles Hayward, the President of the New York Racing Association, said that Betfair is a cutting-edge organization and the relationship will flourish.

The draw was made for the Breeders’ Cup races on Tuesday. Zenyatta will race in the Classic. Goldikova is favoured to repeat in the Turf Mile. Mastercraftsman will take his chances in the Dirt Mile. Muhannak defends his title in the Marathon. Conduit will attempt an encore in the 2400-metre Turf.

On Friday, six races will be run. There are other non-BC races as well. The first BC race on Friday is the Marathon over 2800 metres. Post time is 12 35 PM Pacific time. It will be 2 05 AM on Saturday in India.

The second race is the 1600-metre Juvenile Filly Turf. The third is the 1600-metre race for Juvenile Fillies. Next comes the Filly-Mare Turf over 2,000 metres. The Filly-Mare Sprint over 1400 metres follows. The Ladies’ Classic over 1800 metres is the last BC race on Friday and will go off at 3 45 PM. New York is three hours ahead of California. That would mean the Ladies’ Classic will be run when it’s 6 45 PM out East.

There are eight BC races on Saturday. The first BC race is the Juvenile Turf over 1600 metres at 10 45 AM Pacific time. The 1300-metre Turf Sprint is next. The Sprint over 1200 metres follows. Then comes the Juvenile Dirt over 1,700 metres. The Mile Turf is next. The Dirt Mile follows. Then we come to the 2400-metre BC Turf. The finale is the $5 million Classic over 2000 metres and post time is 3 45 PM Pacific Time.

Racing Post has reported that Rip Van Winkle has a foot problem. On Wednesday morning, the Aidan O’Brien trainee will get acquainted with Santa Anita’s pro ride track. O’Brien has expressed concern.

I have been keeping myself informed about what is happening in Bangalore. There is reason to be worried. A court-ordered remedy is an option but in the Bangalore conundrum, there is politics involved. I am hoping there is room for diplomacy and negotiation at this point. After all, racing is the goose that lays the golden egg. Don’t you think the Karnataka Government has a keen interest in seeing that racing does not come to a standstill?

I cannot tell you how sad I feel about the fate that has befallen Guindy. It is a great course in a great metropolis. It is languishing and getting close to the point of becoming a relic in Indian Racing History. Is there a knight in shining armour who can rescue Guindy?