Perfect weather and ideal racing conditions for the start of Race 7, the 2007 Emirates Melbourne Cup (G1) handicap event, Tuesday 6^th November, AEST. Maybe Better was withdrawn from the race just two prior to start when the owner notice an enlarged vein and the horse in distress. The Fuzz and Gallic were also scratched from the race, leaving a field of 21 starters for the 3200 meters turf event.

The day was marred by an earlier event in race 3 when Bay Story snapped a hind leg 140 meters from the finish injuring jockey Mark Zahra and bringing down another horse Bling Bling in the process. Bay Story was put down on the track and Bling Bling appears to have escaped injury.

Odds favorite for the $5,000,000 event was Master O'Reilly, however Purple Moon ridden by D Oliver and Mahler ridden by S Baster looked to be serious contenders for the trophy at the end of the day.

Race In Review

Tungsten Strike took the lead in the early stages of the race followed by Sculptor, Dolphin Jo and Blutigeroo in fourth as they completed the first quarter mile.

Tugsten Strike continued to lead, with Mahler moving up into second position, followed by Sculptor and Dolphin Jo as they completed the first half mile.

With a mile down and one to go, Tungsten Strike was still comfortably in first place, Mahler in second position, Sculptor in third and Blutigeroo in fourth.

With ¾ of a mile to go, Mahler moves ahead of Tungsten Strike now in second position, followed by Sculptor in third and Dolphin Jo who is looking in good shape in fourth.

Tungsten Strike moves back into first position, Mahler in second, followed by Sculptor in third, as they head into the final turn.

Heading out onto the final stretch Purple Moon back in 8^th place makes a move and quickly surges ahead and leads the field, in the trailing field, Efficient has already made a move going wide on the turn and commences surges past the entire field passing Purple Moon who is hard on the rail in the last 1/16 and holding of that charge to cross the line ½ length ahead of Purple Moon and 2 ½ lengths ahead of Mahler in third position, followed by Zipping and Dolphin Jo in fifth position.

Efficient who hasn't won a race in over a year becomes the first Victorian Derby winner to win the Melbourne Cup since 1951 in front of a massive track-side crowd of 102,411. Efficient is owned by prominent businessman Lloyd Williams, his third Melbourne Cup win.

Final Placings

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