1974 Melbourne Cup

1974 Melbourne Cup
Melbourne Cup
LocationFlemington Racecourse
Date5 Nov 1974
Distance3200m
Winning horseThink Big
Winning time3:23.2
Final odds12/1
JockeyHarry White
TrainerBart Cummings
OwnerDato Tan Chin Nam & Rick O'Sullivan
ConditionsGood
SurfaceTurf
← 1973
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Battle Heights is up going for the lead now, on the outside coming out to have a crack at Igloo, Leilani is looking for a run between them will need it and here comes Captain Perri down the outside and Turfcutter, Turfcutter is mowing grass! Battle Heights went to the front at the 200 meter mark, from Leilani, Captain Peri on the outside then is Turfcutter and Think Big. Leilani is getting to Battle Heights and on the outside Captain Perri. Leilani just in front, Think Big is picking it up down the outside and Think Big has got up to win the Cup! Think Big has won, Leilani is second, third in the race then was Captain Perri.

Commentator Bert Bryant describes the climax of the race

The 1974 Melbourne Cup was a handicap horse race which took place on Tuesday, 5 November 1974 over 3200m, at Flemington Racecourse.

The race was won by the gelding Think Big, trained by Bart Cummings and ridden by Harry White. The runner up was Leilani also trained by Bart Cummings,[1] and third place went to Captain Peri.[2] The winning margin was one length with a further length to third place.

This win gave Bart Cummings his fourth Melbourne Cup win and his third quinella of the race. Bart went on to record twelve Melbourne Cup training victories.[3][4]

Bred by the estate of the late L. A. Alexander, Think Big was purchased by Bart for Dato Tan Chin Nam at the Trentham yearling sales in New Zealand at a price of $10,000. Think Big was sired by Sobig and his dam Sarcelle was by Oman. Think Big also won the 1975 Melbourne Cup for Bart and was once again ridden by Harry White.[5]

As well as two victories on Think Big, Harry White also won the 1978 Melbourne Cup on Arwon and the 1979 race on Hyperno.[6][7]

Field

This is the full field that contested the 1974 Melbourne Cup.

Place Horse Trainer Jockey Weight SP
1st Think Big Bart Cummings Harry White 53kg 12/1
2nd Leilani Bart Cummings Peter Cook 55.5kg 7/2 fav
3rd Captain Peri (NZ) J E Wood M Baker 52kg 14/1
4th Lord Metric Merv Ritchie Noel Harris 53kg 20/1
5th Piping Lane R W Trinder J Stocker 53kg 50/1
6th Turfcutter (NZ) Ray Verner David Peake 53kg 7/1
7th Battle Heights (NZ) Tim Douglas Gary Willets 61kg 11/2
8th Igloo (NZ) Tommy Smith N Voigt 57.5kg 33/1
9th Belotta (NZ) R Campbell S Aitkin 51kg 14/1
10th Grand Scale M Willmott P Trotter 53kg 20/1
11th Herminia D Judd B Gilders 50kg 8/1
12th Taras Bulba George Hanlon L Harbridge 47kg 20/1
13th Gala Supreme F Reys R J Hutchins 57.5kg 15/1
14th Corroboree T Howe R McCarthy 55.5kg 80/1
15th Paaetreul Tommy Smith K Langby 56.5kg 40/1
16th Top Order T Hughes Malcolm Johnston 43.5kg 200/1
17th Pilfer (NZ) Colin Hayes J Miller 53kg 40/1
18th Gay Master T Hughes E Didham 51kg 50/1
19th Our Pocket B J Boyle John Letts 53kg 12/1
20th Sequester R Winks R Setches 48kg 250/1
21st Big Angel E W Laing Pat Hyland 52kg 33/1
22nd High Sail (NZ) T Hughes A Cooper 53kg 200/1

Scratched: Quick Answer (16), Stop The Music (23)

References

  1. ^ "Leilani: The one that got away". 10 play. 12 July 2022.
  2. ^ "Past Winners - 1971 to 1980 Melbourne Cup Winners - Races.com.au". www.races.com.au. 22 September 2009.
  3. ^ https://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/image-gallery/2d3ed522011c7441c02d4a5375cb339b
  4. ^ "Bart Cummings – Twelve Melbourne Cups. Thirteen Australian Cups". www.vrc.com.au.
  5. ^ "Think Big racehorse Melbourne Cup winner 1974 - 75". www.racerate.com.
  6. ^ "Melbourne Cup-winning jockey Harry White dies, aged 78". racenet.com.au. 22 October 2022.
  7. ^ "Four-time Melbourne Cup winning jockey Harry White passes away aged 78 > Australia and International Horse Racing news updated daily". www.thoroughbrednews.com.au.