US Navy Flag was well beaten as Redzel made every yard of the running to win the TAB Everest for the second successive year at Randwick.
Having won the inaugural running of the race 12 months ago, his season had not gone entirely to plan this year with a recent setback.
However, drawn in stall one, Kerrin McEvoy pinged the gate and never saw another rival, with Trapeze Artist coming from out of the pack to get second in the richest race in the world on turf.
For Aidan O'Brien's US Navy Flag heavy rain through the week had dampened expectations and when the July Cup winner missed the break from stall three connections knew their fate early.
In fairness, Ryan Moore managed to get him into a challenging position on the home turn but his early exertions in heavy ground took their toll and he faded back through the pack to finish ninth of the 12 runners behind the Peter and Paul Snowden-trained winner.
McEvoy told Sky Racing: "It's such an electric feeling. It's a huge buzz, there's been a big build up and to win it again is unbelievable. It was similar to last year, from the one gate it was Plan A to control it from the front. He's a joy to be a part of.
"He's quite reserved other than on a race day, all he wants to do is gallop and gallop hard."
An emotional Paul Snowden said: "It's a relief, it's been a hard six weeks but to get him back on track again is satisfying. It was hard to try and convince people but in the last week everything has just been right. To do it again with my dad means so much."
Peter Snowden said: "I wanted to run him a few weeks ago but he got cast in his box, the same box he's been in for two and a half years. Then when we did get to run him and he was only fifth it looked a bit disappointing but I was pleased with him as he was fresh.
"When the rain was coming all week and we got gate one I was so relieved, it was meant to be. We'll have to hold him together for one more year."
O'Brien said: "The ground was soft and he missed the break. He is a good ground horse and he'll be okay.
"We will probably leave him there now and come back down to Melbourne. There is a Group One on the same day as the Cox Plate and there is another one in Melbourne a couple of weeks after that."
O'Brien was on the scoresheet at Caulfield, though, where his Yucatan was a very easy winner of the Herbert Power Stakes under James McDonald in which Charlie Fellowes' Prince Of Arran was third.
The trainer said: "I'm delighted with Yucatan and he won very nicely. We were very happy with him going down there and he has had some lovely runs through the year. He had a lovely run last time at Leopardstown.
"He had a lovely bit of ground today. I think he won well and were hoping he would run a good race.
"I think we will speak to Lloyd (Williams, part-owner) and see what he wants to do and see what weight he gets, because he wouldn't have got into the Melbourne Cup if he hadn't of won."
GET THE FULL PICTURE: Don't miss out on FREE video replays and our fantastic My Stable tracker. Log in now and become a Sporting Life Insider.
Related horse racing links
