Kingston Rule, Son of Secretariat, Sets Record to Win Melbourne Cup

In the tradition of his fabled father Secretariat, Kingston Rule galloped to victory in record time today, winning horse racing’s $1.8-million Melbourne Cup.

His win gave Australia’s “Cups King,” trainer Bart Cummings, his eighth success in the country’s most prestigious race.

Kingston Rule charged to the lead a furlong out and held off all challenges to beat two New Zealand-bred horses, The Phantom by a length and Mr. Brooker a neck away in third.

Kingston Rule went off as the 7-1 co-favorite with The Phantom. Mr. Brooker was 14-1.

The winning jockey, Darren Beadman, snagged his berth on the 5-year-old stallion practically at the last minute. Kingston Rule’s regular rider opted for another runner, Just A Dancer, only a week ago.

Kingston Rule set a record for the race, covering the two miles in 3 minutes, 16.3 seconds, 8/10 of a second better than the previous best.

Breeder David Haines said he took Rose of Kingston to the United States to mate her with America’s Triple Crown champion Secretariat, and reared Kingston Rule in Kentucky before bringing him to Australia. Rose of Kingston is one of the few fillies to win an Australian Derby.

The winner today received $1,040,000, second $320,000 and third $160,000.

The race was broadcast live to an estimated 60 million people in the United States, the United Kingdom, Malaysia, New Zealand, Japan, Hong Kong and the Middle East.

The 130-year-old trophy was presented by Britain’s Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York, who is in Australia on a private visit, officials said.

A spokesman for the New South Wales state off-track betting service said Monday that an estimated $273 million would be wagered on the race. That is about $15.60 for each of Australia’s 17 million people.

Australians packed pubs and huddled around televisions to watch the Melbourne Cup, Australia’s biggest horse-racing spectacle. It virtually brings the country to a halt for three minutes on the first Tuesday of each November.