The apprentice eclipsed the master for a second time as Twilight Payment led home an international clean sweep of a Melbourne Cup marred by the death of one of the world's best racehorses.
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Joseph O'Brien denied his father Aidan once again on Australian racing's biggest stage but the demise of the English Derby winner Anthony Van Dyck cast a shadow over any family celebrations.
Anthony Van Dyck, the most decorated horse O'Brien Sr has sent to Australia for a spring carnival, faltered on the home turn.
His jockey Hugh Bowman dismounted soon after only to discover the stallion had fractured a fetlock.
A valuable entire, Anthony Van Dyck couldn't be saved despite receiving the swiftest veterinarian attention.
"The horse received immediate veterinary care, however, he was unable to be saved due to the nature of the injury sustained," Racing Victoria's Jamie Steir said.
The tragedy added to the curse that seems to hang over O'Brien Sr and his team of Australian spring runners.
On this trip alone, the stable also lost the high-class miler Witchita while The Cliffsofmoher suffered the same Melbourne Cup fate in 2018 as Anthony Van Dyck.
It took the gloss off another famous father-and-son finish in Australia's greatest race after Twilight Payment ($26) held on grimly to beat Tiger Moth, the $6.50 second favourite, by a long neck.
They matched their 2017 achievement when Rekindling beat Johannes Vermeer for a family Cup quinella.
In a desperate finish, Twilight Payment, ridden by Jye McNeil, confirmed Lloyd Williams' place as the most successful owner in Melbourne Cup history with his seventh victory.
Twilight Payment was unplaced in 2019 but with the benefit of another 12 months of Joseph O'Brien's conditioning, he made this year's race a genuine staying test.
The eight-year-old gelding never wavered for one moment under McNeil, brushing off a series of challengers that included one last lunge from Tiger Moth.
As is his way, the English-trained Prince Of Arran ($9.50) saved his premium form for Flemington to take third, a short neck further back.
Despite the familiarity about the result for Williams, one of Australia's best-known businessman, this was a unique Melbourne Cup.
For the first time, the race was run against a backdrop of silence.
As Melbourne's pandemic restrictions remained in place, Flemington numbers were restricted to trainers, jockeys and key personnel.
It was a moment in the Cup's history that wasn't lost on the winning trainer.
"Obviously it's quite different and not what we would have liked and we would loved to have been there, but it's incredibly special," Joseph O'Brien told Network Ten from Ireland.
"It's very special to be able to compete in these big races and this year in particular, there was a time when we weren't sure if we would be able to have runners in Australia this year."
In his first Melbourne Cup, McNeil rode a race that belied his inexperience.
He took Twilight Payment to the lead as the field passed the winning post the first time and allowed his mount to build tempo until establishing a clear break on the home turn.
From there it was a matter of stamina winning out and McNeil was certain Twilight Payment would keep going.
"I was confident. I was trying not to use the whip too many times," the 25-year-old McNeil said.
"And also I was trying to use my voice to encourage him as much as possible.
"It was a matter of hanging on, and he was very tough."
Surprise Baby started the best-backed runner in the race as the $6 favourite but he never raised hopes of an Australian win in finishing 13th.
Australian Associated Press
