Efficient was the winner of the 2007 Melbourne Cup.(credit:
Matthew Dobson)
The 2007 Melbourne Cup was won by Efficient, the first horse since Phar Lap to win a Victoria Derby and to follow up a year later in the Melbourne Cup - a feat that great legend of Australian racing achieved in 1930.
It was also the closest Britain have ever been to winning the race for the first time, with Luca Cumani’s Purple Moon lunging at the winner before a crowd of 102,411 at Flemington Park.
Cumani, whose charge is owned by Craig Bennett and was ridden by Damien Oliver, said: "My heart was in my mouth when he went to the front, but I spotted the winner coming a long way out and I feared our horse was going to be caught."
Purple Moon quickened past the Aidan O'Brien-trained Mahler, who eventually finished third, with more than a furlong to run, before Efficient came powering up the centre of the course and quickened past Oliver's mount in the last 50 yards.
Luca Cumani was understandabley disappointed, but was delighted with his horse’s run: "Second is better than third. Purple Moon could not have run a better race and I was very happy with Damien's ride. He had him perfectly positioned all the way."
Reflecting on Efficient's return to form, Cumani said: "He was entitled to win another big race - I just wish he hadn't chosen today to find his old form!
"Just now, I'm slightly disappointed, having gone so close, but when it all sinks in I'll probably look back on Purple Moon's run as a tremendous achievement.
"To come all this way, for him to run so well and be best of the international runners, is great.
"I'll be back next year, and maybe Purple Moon will be back, although we may look at running him in Group races at around a mile and a half next season."
Result Emirates Melbourne Cup- 2007
1 Efficient 20-1
2 Purple Moon 9-2
3 Mahler 11-1
4 Zipping 6-1
Distances 1/2 l, 2 1/2 l, nk