The Whangaehu O'Leary brothers are treating Who Shot Thebarman's third in Tuesday's A$6.2 million Melbourne Cup as a practice run for next year.
All joking aside, Dan, Humphrey, Michael, Shaun and their families were ecstatic after their stayer rattled into third with a powerful finish behind Protectionist and Red Cadeaux.
The Avondale and Auckland Cup winner was carrying the weight of Kiwi punter money when finishing five lengths from German stallion Protectionist.
"Yeah, that was just a practice run for next year," Humphrey O'Leary said from his hotel room yesterday morning.
He was surprisingly sprightly given the brothers, family, friends and supporters partied into the night at a restaurant they had booked earlier in Lygon St, Melbourne's Italian precinct.
"We booked a nice restaurant out and had about 80 people party with us, including family, friends and supporters - it was great to inject a bit of Irish into the Italian precinct."
Youngest brother Shaun, who is normally fairly animated during the final stages of a race, saved his best for the after-party. "Shaun did a few Irish jigs on the bar and I tell you he impressed his elder brothers and even his nieces and nephews. The atmosphere at Flemington was fantastic and it only got better in the streets of Melbourne later. The Aussies lapped up our stories of how the horse was named after one of our aunty Julie's favourite sayings when her glass was empty at family dos. She would ask 'who shot the barman?' and that was a cue to refill her glass," O'Leary said.
On big racedays, the O'Leary's are not difficult to spot with their matching Who Shot Thebarman hats and ties in the family orange colours. "The Aussies loved those too and we had people coming up to us in the street asking for souvenirs. We gave a few autographed caps and ties away and one guy even paid $100 for one."
Once up and about yesterday morning, the O'Leary clan was planning a trip to expat Kiwi trainer Chris Waller's Melbourne stable to give their horse a pat or two.
"He [the horse] appeared to pull up well after the cup and that will probably be his last run this campaign. We have yet to discuss what the plans are and whether he comes home or not, but it is highly likely he will be back for another crack next year. Glen [jockey Glen Boss] said he felt like a next-year cup horse, so that's very encouraging. The horse is only six."
O'Leary said the A$450,000 prizemoney for third was an absolute bonus. "We've got a bit of spending money in our pockets now."
