Racing: Ethereal makes it a Caulfield/Melbourne Cup double

5:20pm

New Zealand owned and trained horse Ethereal has won the 2001 Melbourne Cup.

She is only the second mare to ever achieve the Caulfield Cup/Melbourne Cup double.

The winning jockey was Scott Seamer.

Give the Slip was second, after leading for almost the entire length of the home straight. Ethereal ran Give the Slip down on the outside, taking the lead with about 100 metres to go.

Persian Punch was third.

The race was run in light drizzle, after a day of steady rain at Flemington. The track was described as 'easy'.

A shock had gone through the racing community earlier in the day when veterinarians found Universal Prince, one of the favourites in early betting, was still lame after an injury last Saturday and had to be scratched.

Number 13 certainly proved lucky for punters and sweepstake holders alike. The Sheila Laxon-trained Ethereal was the pre-race favourite with New Zealand punters.

A total of about $6.5 million was wagered on this year's race, on the New Zealand TAB.