Delta Blues edged Japanese stablemate Pop Rock to win the 3,200m Melbourne Cup yesterday and give trainer Katsuhiko Sumii a one-two finish in Australia's most prestigious horse race.
"Very happy, very happy," said jockey Yasunari Iwata in halting English after he crossed the finish line on six-year-old Delta Blues at Flemington just ahead of second favorite Pop Rock, ridden by Australian jockey Damien Oliver.
Iwata, who has ridden more than 3,000 winners in Japan, said through an interpreter he would celebrate "Australian-style: elbow-bending," indicating he would have a few drinks with friends.
PHOTO: AFP
Australian entry Maybe Better, ridden by Chris Munce, was third, 4 1-2 lengths behind.
Zipping, ridden by Glen Boss, who won the Cup for three straight years aboard the now-retired Makybe Diva from 2003 to last year, was fourth. English horse Land 'N Stars, one of seven foreign horses in the field, finished fifth.
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