2006 Melbourne Cup Result

The 2006 Melbourne Cup was won by Delta Blues giving the Japanese one of their first victories in this race. The ground was considered good and the unusual slow pace meant that the horse that ran prominent held an advantage as main places were filled with horses that ran up with the pace.

The Winner Delta Blues who had proved he stays the 2 miles when winning the Japanese St Ledger and as such his tactics were to take advantage of his stamina and went for home 2 furlongs out. Pop Rock came at him strongly in the final furlong and almost got up, but Delta Blues held on by the narrowest of margins. It really helped jockey Sumii to know he had a stayer as he used this advantage to his best ability as both Pop Rock and Maybe Better had stamina doubts.

The challenge from the UK and Ireland in the form of Yeats and Geordieland did not feature. The race was coming at the end of a long season for the multiple Irish group 1 winner and he had enough by the time he arrived in Australia. As for Geordieland, he is a quirky sort who has his own mind about the game.

2007 Melbourne Cup Result

1 Delta Blues (JPN) 11 Katsuhiko Sumii 5 8-11 Y Iwata 17/1
2 shd Pop Rock 12 Katsuhiko Sumii 5 8-5 D M Oliver 5/1J
3 4½ Maybe Better (AUS) 3 B Mayfield-Smith 4 7-12 C Munce 9/1
4 1½ Zipping 20 G Rogerson 5 8-4 G Boss 9/1