Darley’s ever-reliable stallion Teofilo has sired his second G1 Melbourne Cup winner with Twilight Payment leading throughout to win the 160th running of Australia’s greatest race on Tuesday, 3 November at Flemington.
Twilight Payment, racing in the colours of leviathan owner Lloyd Williams, led throughout in the 3,200m race to win by a half-length from Tiger Moth with Prince Of Arran filling a placing for the third year on end, in third place.
Twilight Payment becomes his sire’s 21st individual G1 winner and his second in the past three years in the Melbourne Cup following the success of Godolphin’s Cross Counter in 2018. He us also Teofilo's third winner at the highest level in just 10 days following those of Subjectivist in the Prix Royal-Oak and Gear Up in the Criterium de Saint-Cloud.
Jockey Jye McNeil had the seven-year-old away quickly from his wide gate and led the 23-runner field at the winning post the first time, from which point he maintained a strong gallop and was never seriously threatened.
Bred by Jim Bolger, Twilight Payment provided trainer Joseph O'Brien a second Melbourne Cup victory in the historic race, he (Twilight Payment) last stepped out in September to produce a gallant third placing in the G1 Irish St Leger before flying out to Australia to contend the time-honoured race.
Teofilo stands at Kildangan Stud with his fee for the 2021 breeding season set to be announced in the coming weeks.
