Delta Blues (horse)

Delta Blues (デルタブルース, born 3 May 2001) is a Japanese Thoroughbred racehorse best known for winning the 2006 Melbourne Cup.[2] He was the first Japanese horse to win the Cup. In doing so he defeated Pop Rock, another Japanese horse, also trained by Katsuhiko Sumii.

For the music genre, see Delta blues.
Delta Blues
Delta Blues
SireDance in the Dark (JPN)
GrandsireSunday Silence (USA)
DamDixie Splash (USA)
DamsireDixieland Band
SexStallion
Foaled3 May 2001
CountryJapan
ColourBay
BreederNorthern Farm
OwnerSunday Rac ing Co Ltd
TrainerKatsuhiko Sumii
Record29: 6-2-3
Earnings401,562,000 yen
+A$3,300,000 = $8,492,037.[1]
Major wins
Kikuka Sho (2004)
Stayers Stakes (2005)
Melbourne Cup (2006)
Awards
JRA Best Horse by Home-Bred Sire (2004)
Australian Champion Stayer (2006/07)
Last updated on 1 August 2011

Racing career

Delta Blues was virtually unknown until he had his victory in the 2004 Kikuka Sho.[3] He defeated Heart's Cry and Cosmo Bulk then. Delta Blues placed third in the Japan Cup in November 2004.[4]

Other runs by Delta Blues include wins in the Domestic Grade One Kikuka Sho (Japanese St Leger) in October 2004, the Domestic Grade Two Stayers Stakes in December 2005, a third in the Grade Two Hanshin Daishoten on 19 March 2006 fifth in the Arima Kinen, and 10th in the Domestic Grade One Tenno Sho (Spring) on 30 April 30.[4]

Delta Blues won the Best Horse by Home-Bred Sire JRA award in 2004.[5]

2006 in Australia

Taken to Australia, Delta Blues finished third in the 2006 Caulfield Cup after racing wide throughout the race.[6]

In the 2006 Melbourne Cup, Delta Blues was ridden by Japanese jockey Yasunari Iwata who was the winner of the 2005 19th World Super Jockey Series.[7][8] Delta Blues won the Melbourne Cup by a nose ahead of Pop Rock, with Maybe Better finishing in third place.[9][10] Prior to the race, stable spokesman Keita Tanaka characterised Delta Blues as a "lazy horse", and trainer Sumii characterised him as "tough".[4]

Achievements

Breeding

Delta Blues was sired by Dance in the Dark with the dam Dixie Splash (sire Dixieland Band). The breeder was Northern Farm.[3]

Dance in the Dark won the Kikuka Sho (Japanese St. Leger), and was the son of "magnificent US-bred Sunday Silence, the ill-fated sire who has been unmatched in Japanese breeding history".[11]

Pedigree of Delta Blues (JPN), bay stallion, 2001
Sire
Dance in the Dark (JPN)
B. 1993		 Sunday Silence (USA) Halo (USA) Hail to Reason (USA)
Cosmah (USA)
Wishing Well (USA) Understanding(USA)
Mountain Flower (USA)
Dancing Key (USA) Nijinsky (CAN) Northern Dancer (CAN)
Flaming Page (CAN)
Key Partner (USA) Key to the Mint (USA)
Native Partner (USA)
Dam
Dixie Splash (USA)		 Dixieland Band (USA) Northern Dancer (CAN) Nearctic (CAN)
Natalma (USA)
Mississippi Mud (USA) Delta Judge (USA)
Sand Buggy (USA)
Ocean Jewel (USA) Alleged (USA) Hoist The Flag (USA)
Princess Pout (USA)
Lady Offshore (USA) Sir Ivor (USA)
Bonnie Google (USA)

Namesake

Australian rail operator CFCL Australia named locomotive CF4401 after the horse.[12]

See also

References
  1. "Delta Blues". Australian Stud Book. Australian Turf Club Limited and Victoria Racing Club Limited. Retrieved 31 July 2011.
  2. 2006 Melbourne Cup result
  3. Delta Blues (JPN) - The Japan Association for International Horse Racing profile of Delta Blues
  4. Sumii goes for Pop Rock over Delta Blues - racingandsports.com.au
  5. "JRA Award 2004". Archived from the original on 2006-12-09. Retrieved 2006-11-07.
  6. "Tawqeet wins Caulfield Cup". Sydney Morning Herald. 21 October 2006. Retrieved 1 August 2011.
  7. Yasunari Iwata wins the 19th World Super Jockey Series
  8. Iwata wins World Super Jockey Series
  9. 2006 Melbourne Cup result
  10. Sports, Fox (2006-11-07). "Delta Blues holds on for thrilling win". News.com.au. Archived from the original on 2008-11-06.
  11. International Flavour In The Caulfield Cup
  12. Motive Power Roundup Motive Power issue 79 January 2012 page 20
  • ABC News - Photo gallery of Delta Blues winning the 2006 Melbourne Cup
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