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A look at some of the action from the support races on Day 4 of the Cup Carnival.
CARTWRIGHT LANDS CUP WEEK WINNER
Matthew Cartwright registered a career highlight when he partnered Flash Feeling to victory in the $150,000 Australian Childhood Foundation Trophy.
The win was the first during the famous Flemington carnival for the top apprentice, who was able to utilise his 1.5kg claim aboard the John Sadler-trained entire in the 2000-metre event.
"It is a thrill, it's my first Spring Carnival winner (Flemington) so I'm very excited.
"I've had a handful of rides (during the Carnival), not many, so it's pretty special to get the win today."
The three-quarters-of-a-length win over $26 chance Wyclif was the third from 11 starts for the four-year-old with Cartwright, who has ridden the son of Iffraaj in all but two starts, in the saddle for each victory.
"Matty has had a long affiliation with this horse and it is very fitting that he's got the win on Cup Week," Sadler's son and assistant trainer Tom said.
The disappointment of the race was $3.20 favourite Aesop, who was under pressure before straightening and could manage only 10th, 4-1/2 lengths from Flash Feeling, but the imported gelding was later found to have bled from both nostrils and is now be banned from racing for three months.
BEGG ATONES FOR DISAPPOINTMENT WITH VICTORY…AGAIN
Grahame Begg is making a habit of atoning for disappointment with victory at this year's Melbourne Cup Carnival.
For the second time this week, Begg had to endure the agony of seeing stable star Lunar Flare scratched on veterinary advice owing to displays signs of lameness.
On Saturday she was withdrawn from the $300,000 Group 3 Queen's Cup (2600m) after being vetted upon arrival due to the same lameness in her off foreleg that forced her withdrawal from Tuesday's $8 million Melbourne Cup (3200m).
But, like Tuesday when he won the final race with Verspertine, Begg brightened his mood with a winner with Magic Time taking her record to two wins from as many starts with a powerful win in the $175,000 Listed The Amanda Elliott (1400m).
The victory followed a five-length debut win on the Pakenham synthetic track and was a mark of her ability according to the Cranbourne trainer.
"She's a very nice filly," Begg said. "I know she's only come off a synthetic maiden win that she won by five (lengths) but the filly that ran second to her won by 10 (lengths) last night, so it kind of franked the form a little bit.
"It was a bloody good effort, second start in a race to be able to beat the colts and now she's a listed winner."
The joy of victory didn't completely wash away the pain of Lunar Flare's second scratching for the week with Begg adamant she was right to race.
"They used technology when it suited them on Tuesday, a lameness locator, and when it came to using the same technology today, they denied me access," Begg said.
"The only thing they did was said they would come out on Friday and look at her, but they said we would still have to look at her again at the races on Saturday.
"What was the point?
"My vet put the same lameness locator on her on Thursday, at our expense, which is technology we have available to us, and she was good to go.
"They have used their eye today and ruled her out."
ATISHU GETS GROUP 2 SUCCESS
Classy Kiwi mare Atishu scored her biggest win since landing in Australia when she justified a strong betting move to win the $300,000 Matriarch Stakes (2000m).
The five-year-old daughter of Savabeel notched a maiden Group 2 success when she made the most of a sweet James Mcdonald ride to score a soft win, seven days after finishing fifth in the Group 1 Empire Rose Stakes (1600m).
It was a satisfying win for trainer Chris Waller, who has had Atishu since midway through last year and has had his patience tested by the mare who, at times, has had a tendency of blowing her chances with poor starts.
"She's always been a bit unlucky and threatened to win a decent one and she's got a good prize today," Waller said.
"Everything's sort of gone wrong with her over the last 18 months and even last Saturday she didn't have a lot of luck in the Group 1 (Empire Rose).
"It's always a great race as a back-up plan and she has won over 2000m in New Zealand before and we finally got her up to the trip today and she certainly appreciated it."
Atishu was one of the better-backed runners of the day, opening $3.10 and being backed into $2.50 in the official prices after around $4 was available when markets first opened.
