2019 Melbourne Cup: Australia reacts to Cup robbery as Il Paradiso denied a chance at glory

Craig Williams rides #23 Vow and Declare to win race seven the Lexus Melbourne Cup during 2019 Melbourne Cup Day at Flemington Racecourse. Photo / Getty Images.

It was the race that robbed a nation — or so people were saying after Il Paradiso was prevented from making a late dash at victory in the Melbourne Cup by friendly fire.

Jockey Wayne Lordan was charging home behind eventual winner Vow and Declare when Master of Reality, ridden by veteran hoop Frankie Dettori, began veering in its path.

It left Il Paradiso with nowhere to go and he was squeezed back to fourth behind Prince Of Arran. That was until race stewards protested Dettori's movement and flipped the placings, punting him to fourth.

This is how everyone reacted to the controversy.

WHAT THE JOCKEYS SAID

Dettori was a jockey on a mission as he sought to end a Melbourne Cup hoodoo that spans more than 25 years.

Having ridden in Australia's most famous race 17 times, with his best results seconds aboard Central Park (1999) and Max Dynamite (2015), one of the world's most celebrated jockeys was desperate to add the Melbourne Cup to his resume.

Instead he added another disappointing chapter before insisting Il Paradiso still had room to move.

"He was going left. I put both hands on the rein and straightened him up. They had plenty of room to move through," Dettori said.

This is Frankie Dettori's thing. I assume he drives a Volvo too #MelbourneCup

— Simon McLoughlin (@simmomac) November 5, 2019

Not such a great run, it would seem. Dettori buggers up another #MelbourneCup run.

— Caleb Bond (@TheCalebBond) November 5, 2019

Given Aidan O'Brien trains Il Paradiso and his son, Joseph, trains Master of Reality, Lordan was never going to come out swinging against a stablemate and he attempted to defend Dettori.

"I didn't have to stop riding," he said of the contact. "It was very close at the line. I didn't know how much of a difference it made. We have got tight, but I honestly don't know how much of a difference it made.

"It was very close to the line. My horse didn't back out of it. He's a very tough horse and he kept running through it."

"The horse ran a fantastic race, Frankie gave him a perfect ride, but that's horse racing," Jospeh O'Brien said. "We're gutted but we're looking forward to next year."

WHAT THE PUNTERS SAID

I've had some tough beats, but Il Paradiso is up there with the worst of them 😭

— Tim Geers (@Tim_Tips) November 5, 2019

The Australian digital editor Daniel Sankey was adamant Il Paradiso was crippled by the interference, tweeting he "should've won the race".

"If Dettori doesn't lay in; Il Paradiso beats them both in my opinion," added another punter.

WHAT IT COST

The difference in prize money between second and fourth is $750,000, which is sure to hurt the connections of Master of Reality.

Some bookmakers were paying out on place bets for both Il Paradiso and Master of Reality, but it's the belief they were denied a winning ticket that will burn all night for many punters.