'He was out of control': Melham exhausted after ride

Champion jockey Jamie Melham was left gasping for breath after a wild ride on King Charles III’s galloper Gilded Water, describing the runaway stayer as “out of control” during a chaotic Group 3 Bart Cummings at Flemington on Saturday.

The $2.15 favourite tore away from the field mid-race, opening up an eight-length lead as Melham wrestled to contain him, before fading late to finish third behind roughies Valiant King ($61) and Torranzino ($71).

“He was out of control, absolutely out of control, we might need to try a different bit on him,” Melham said on Saturday.

“As soon as he got in front and had nothing to follow, I was in a lot of trouble. I’ve never been so exhausted in my life.”

Despite over-racing, Gilded Water passed the first Melbourne Cup ballot clause but only climbed to 50th in the order of entry.

“If he can run that hard and we can harness it, he’s going to be a big chance in the Cup,” Melham said.

“But right now, it’s his decision or nobody’s.”