2021 Melbourne Cup Jockeys: Jye McNeil Confirmed to Ride Twilight Payment Again

October 28, 2021

2021 Melbourne Cup Jockeys: Jye McNeil Confirmed to Ride Twilight Payment Again

Last year’s winning combination of Jye McNeil and Twilight Payment will reunite with the hoop confirming he will again partner the Irish raider for a title defence in the Group 1 $8 million Lexus Melbourne Cup (3200m) next Tuesday.

Twilight Payment Horse Form (Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos) | Races.com.au

Twilight Payment and jockey Jye McNeil chase back-to-back wins in Tuesday’s $8 million Lexus Melbourne Cup. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.

Goliath seven-time Melbourne Cup winning owner Lloyd Williams confirmed McNeil would chase back-to-back wins in the 161st edition of the ‘race that stops a nation’ aboard the Joseph O’Brien-trained Twilight Payment.

The Teofilo gelding races as a nine-year-old in Australia and will carry the 58kg top weight in the Melbourne Cup field at HQ on November 2nd.

It will be the veteran galloper’s third run in the two-mile classic after his 11th to Vow And Declare in 2019 with Hugh Bowman in the saddle and his victory over fellow internationals Tiger Moth (2nd) and Prince Of Arran (3rd) in last year’s Melbourne Cup results when ridden by McNeil.

Twilight Payment carried 55.5kg to victory last spring from barrier 12 (of 23).

He returns down under in top form again and was last seen carting a hefty 62kg to a brave second in the Group 1 Irish St Leger (2816m) at The Curragh in early September, the same race he came via the past two years.

Historic three-time champion Makybe Diva (2003-05) was the last stayer to win multiple editions of the Melbourne Cup.

All-in Melbourne Cup odds at Ladbrokes.com.au have Twilight Payment at $13 to be the next and the stable’s travelling foreman Mark Power said the horse’s preparation had been going well.

“Things have gone smoothly since he’s arrived, he’s travelled over brilliant from the start and we got him into that routine straight away, so it’s all been straightforward,” Power told Racing.com.

“He’s in every bit and the same form he was in last year and his form on the track would tell you that as well.

“He feels the same horse to Sean riding him out every day, so he’s every bit as good we think.

“He’s really good and progressing well.

“We will keep going with our canters there now at the minute, all the main work is done and just a bit of maintenance from here on in.

“Sean Corbey is happy with the way he’s moving and the way he’s feeling so we are all set for Tuesday.

“The first year he probably didn’t take to it as well, the whole traveling down thing and each year he’s got better at everything and he’s become an old pro at it.”

He is one of just two remaining international Melbourne Cup horses this year along with the Andrew Balding-trained Spanish Mission ($6).

Melbourne Cup betting is dominated by Peter Moody’s star Caulfield Cup champion Incentivise who is already into $2.40 making him the shortest priced favourite in the race since Phar Lap in 1930.

Racing Victoria meanwhile are scrambling for numbers with the likelihood of under 24 acceptors for the Melbourne Cup high.

If so, it would be the first time since 1997 when Might And Power won that less than 24 horses paid final acceptances for the world’s richest handicap.

Click here for the latest Melbourne Cup 2021 betting markets courtesy of Ladbrokes.com.au.

 

Racing fields and data are copyright 2011-2021 © Racing Australia Pty Ltd (RA) (and other parties working with it).
Racing materials, including fields, form and results, is subject to copyright which is owned by RA and other parties working with it. Full copyright notice.

Spring Racing

Military Mission Fires in 2023...

Zipping Classic 2023 Field �...

Zipping Classic 2023 Field & Odds Update: Vow And Declare Defends Title

Danny O’Brien’s 2019 Melbourne Cup winner Vow And Declare continues to show a...

Overpass Heads 2023 Winterbott...

Overpass Heads 2023 Winterbottom Stakes Field & Betting Markets

Bjron Baker’s The Everest performer Overpass is tipped to return to winning...

Osipenko Leads The Gong 2023 R...

Osipenko Leads The Gong 2023 Race Field & Betting

The Chris Waller-trained Pierro four-year-old Osipenko is firm favourite in...

2023 Railway Stakes Field ...

2023 Railway Stakes Field & Betting Update: Tuvalu Narrow Favourite

The Lindsey Smith-trained top-weight Tuvalu is narrow favourite in the latest...

Horse Racing Today

2024 Coolmore Classic Winner Z...

2024 All-Star Mile Results: Pr...

2024 All-Star Mile Results: Pride Of Jenni Beats Mr Brightside by 2 Lengths

Pride Of Jenni was enormous running her rivals ragged with a blistering...

2024 Pago Pago Stakes Results:...

2024 Pago Pago Stakes Results: McEvoy’s Dublin Down on Golden Slipper Bid

Dublin Down is into Saturday week’s 2024 Golden Slipper field after a gutsy...

Randwick Guineas 2024 Results:...

Randwick Guineas 2024 Results: Celestial Legend Nudges out Militarize on the Line

Celestial Legend put the writing on the wall for a huge year ahead with the...

2024 Canterbury Stakes Results...

2024 Canterbury Stakes Results: Lady Laguna Upsets Think About It, Espiona Third

Top honours in the 2024 Canterbury Stakes results at Royal Randwick went to...

Race Results

2024 Coolmore Classic Winner Zougotcha Dives Late to Salute

2024 All-Star Mile Results: Pride Of Jenni Beats Mr Brightside by 2 Lengths

2024 Pago Pago Stakes Results: McEvoy’s Dublin Down on Golden Slipper Bid

Randwick Guineas 2024 Results: Celestial Legend Nudges out Militarize on the Line

2024 Canterbury Stakes Results: Lady Laguna Upsets Think About It, Espiona Third

Race Previews

2024 Golden Slipper Stakes Field & Barriers: Storm Boy Draws Two

Magic Night Winner Drifting Firms in Golden Slipper 2024 Betting

Zougotcha Heads 2024 Coolmore Classic Field & Odds

2024 All-Star Mile Field & Betting Update: Mr Brightside Odds-On

2024 Adelaide Cup Field & Betting Update: The Map Leads the Way

Fields & Form

2024 Golden Slipper Stakes Field & Barriers: Storm Boy Draws Two

Zougotcha Heads 2024 Coolmore Classic Field & Odds

2024 All-Star Mile Field & Betting Update: Mr Brightside Odds-On

2024 Adelaide Cup Field & Betting Update: The Map Leads the Way

2024 Randwick Guineas Field & Odds Update: Militarize Set to Strike Second-Up