The 1981 Melbourne Cup was a handicap horse race which took place on Tuesday, 3 November 1981 over 3200m, at Flemington Racecourse.
Background
The race was won by the Australian bred gelding Just a Dash, trained by the legendary trainer Tommy Smith (also known as T. J. Smith) and ridden by Peter Cook. The runner up was El Laurena, trained by G F Burns, and third place went to Flashing Light trained by Tommy Hughes. The winning margin was two and a quarter lengths with a further length and a quarter to third place.
Just a Dash was spotted by Tommy Smith racing in the Riverina district in New South Wales. He went on to win the 1981 SAJC Adelaide Cup (3200m) and the SAJC St. Leger Stakes. Prior to the Cup he had placed 6th in the Caulfield Cup and 5th in the Dalgety Handicap.New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing Annual 1982 (11th edition). Costello, John, Editor. Moa Publications, Auckland, New Zealand
It was the second Melbourne Cup victory for Tommy Smith and it had been a long wait between wins in the great race for him. Smith's previous success was the New Zealand bred stayer, Toparoa, in the 1955 Melbourne Cup. In between the two wins the best he had managed was Gunsynd's 3rd to Piping Lane in the 1972 Cup.
It was the first Melbourne Cup win for Peter Cook, following his 2nd in the previous year's event with Blue Denim. Cook was the son of Billy Cook who had ridden the winners of the 1941 Melbourne Cup (Skipton) and 1945 Melbourne Cup (Rainbird). Peter went on to win the 1984 Melbourne Cup on Black Knight for George Hanlon.
The 3rd placed Flashing Light had won the Herbert Power Handicap (2400m) and placed 5th in the Caulfield Cup.
The champion Kingston Town could only finish 20th.
Field
The following are the placegetters in the 1981 Melbourne Cup.Official Programme: Melbourne Cup Carnival, Victoria Racing Club, Melbourne, Australia
NumberPlaceHorseWeight (kg)TrainerJockey120thKingston Town60.5Tommy J. SmithMalcolm Johnston2Hyperno58Bart CummingsLarry Olsen34thOur Paddy Boy (NZ)57Colin HayesBrent Thomson4Belmura Lad (NZ)55Bart CummingsMidge Didham5Koiro Trelay (NZ)54.5E TempertonP Smith65thArwon (NZ)54George HanlonB Clements71stJust a Dash53.5Tommy J. SmithPeter Cook8Mr Cromwell (NZ)53J J AtkinsM Pelling92ndEl Laurena52G F BurnsG Killen10Bright Halo (NZ)51Theo GreenRon Quinton11Deck The Halls51R J McGuinessMick Dittman12No Peer (NZ)51Bart CummingsHarry White13Anzaas (NZ)50.5I D HayM Baker14Lord Warden (NZ)50H H RileyGary Willetts15Pelican Point50H R WehlowJohn Letts16Magistrate (NZ)49.5I H SteffertBob Skelton17Red Gun49.5A A ArmanscoM Riley (A)18Sepol49.5A LopesN Barrett193rdFlashing Light49Tommy HughesA Cooper20Cocked Hat48K M KearneyR Heffernan21Diatric46.5T J HarrisonG Doughty22Favoloso46J U PolettiD Short
References