Ethereal snatches Caulfield Cup in photo

Ethereal emerged from a photo finish and a protest today to become the first New Zealand-trained horse since Lord Reims in 1987 to win the A$2.25 million Caulfield Cup in Australia.

Jockey Damien Oliver claimed interference rounding the home turn after his second-placed topweight Sky Heights (8-1) lost to the four-year-old mare Ethereal (7-1 equal favourite) by a nose.

Celestial Show (60-1) finished a length away in third while Inaflurry, the other favourite, finished sixth.

Oliver, a four-time Caulfield Cup winner including on Sky Heights in 1999, argued Ethereal caused his mount to change stride and become unbalanced.

Winning jockey Scott Seamer said: 'I think he`s just grasping at straws and his horse had every opportunity to beat me.'

Stewards dismissed the protest to the delight of Welsh-born trainer Sheila Laxon, a former jockey who has been strapper, track rider and trainer for Ethereal.

'I won`t (cry),' Laxon said immediately after the 2,400 metre group one event. 'Fancy that? She`s won the race. He rode her beautifully. It`s just amazing.'

Laxon`s husband Laurie, who is training in Singapore, prepared 1988 Melbourne Cup winner Empire Rose.

It was a fairytale win for Seamer, a macadamia nut farmer from Ballina in northern New South Wales state.

'It`s only a dream. Four years ago I was riding around in Ballina so it`s a big step,' he said.

'I bounced out and had a lovely run. I never had an ounce of worry until we got to the winning post.' - Reuters