- New Zealand racehorse Efficient has won the 2007 Melbourne Cup, with Purple Moon, second, and Mahler, third. Efficient, trained by Graeme Rogerson, was ridden by jockey Michael Rodd.
- The final field for the 2007 Melbourne Cup was reduced to 21 with the scratching on Melbourne Cup Day of New Zealand horse Gallic, winner of the Moonee Valley Cup on October 27 and of the Adelaide and Sydney Cups earlier in the year; New Zealand racehorse The Fuzz, winner of October's Geelong Cup; and last year's Melbourne Cup third-placer Maybe Better.
Here's the full final field for the 2007 Melbourne Cup as announced after the last race of Victoria Derby Day, with the three Melbourne Cup Day scratchings indicated.
No, Horse, Trainer, Jockey, Weight, Barrier
- Tawqeet (USA), David Hayes, D Dunn, 57, 3
- Blue Monday (GB), David Hayes, N Rawiller, 56, 14
- Blutigeroo, Colin Little, L Nolen, 55.5, 12
- Gallic (NZ), Graeme Rogerson, S W Arnold, 55.5, 24 — Scratched
- Railings, Roger James, G Childs, 55.5, 18
- Efficient (NZ), Graeme Rogerson, M Rodd, 54.5, 10
- Maybe Better, Brian Mayfield-Smith, C Brown, 54, 7 — Scratched
- Tungsten Strike (USA), Amanda Perrett, Darryll Holland, 54, 2
- Zipping, Graeme Rogerson, D Nikolic, 54, 22
- Black Tom, David Hayes, P A Hall, 53.5, 21
- Master O'Reilly (NZ), Danny O'Brien, V Duric, 53.5, 17
- Purple Moon (IRE), Luca Cumani, D Oliver, 53.5, 15
- Lazer Sharp, David Hayes, B Shinn, 52.5, 16
- On a Jeune, Andrew J Payne, K McEvoy, 52.5, 4
- Scenic Shot, Daniel Morton, M J Zahra, 52.5, 19
- Sarrera, Michael Moroney, S Murphy (a), 52, 23
- Sculptor (NZ), Peter Mckenzie, Ms L Cropp, 52, 8
- Dolphin Jo, Terry & Karina O'Sullivan, Ms C Lindop, 51.5, 1
- Douro Vallery, Danny O'Brien, J M Winks, 51.5, 13
- Sirmione, Bart Cummings, P Mertens, 51.5, 20
- The Fuzz (NZ), David Hayes, C Williams, 51.5, 11 — Scratched
- Eskimo Queen (NZ), Michael Moroney, C Newitt, 51, 5
- Princess Coup, Mark Walker, N G Harris, 51, 9
- Mahler (GB), Aidan O'Brien, S Baster, 50.5, 6
The 2007 Melbourne Cup was run shortly after 3pm on Tuesday, November 6, Australian eastern daylight saving time, at Flemington Racecourse.
Earlier doubts
There had been earlier doubts that the 2007 Melbourne Cup would be run on schedule this year with the incidence of equine influenza in New South Wales and Queensland, resulting in quarantine and the restriction of horse movements.
No horses from New South Wales and Queensland (unless they were already in Victoria prior to the outbreak of equine influenza in parts of Australia) are racing in the 2007 Melbourne Cup.
Influenza repercussions
Sydney racing was indefinitely postponed and New South Wales horses quarantined.
Only on December 1, 2007 — under stringent conditions — was racing in Sydney expected to resume.
The outbreak of equine influenza was said to have originated in Japan.
Last year's Melbourne Cup winner and runner-up — Delta Blues and Pop Rock, both Japanese horses — did not contest the 2007 Cup.
146-year tradition
The Melbourne Cup has been run each year without fail since 1861.
No break with this Australian racing tradition of 146 years was expected to occur, and none did.
Melbourne Cup winners
Melbourne Cup winners and placegetters since 2000:
2000 - Brew, Yippyio, Second Coming
2001 - Ethereal, Give the Slip, Persian Punch
2002 - Media Puzzle, Mr Prudent, Beekeeper
2003 - Makybe Diva, She's Archie, Jardines Lookout
2004 - Makybe Diva, Vinnie Roe, Zazzman
2005 - Makybe Diva, On a Jeune, Xcellent
2006 - Delta Blues, Pop Rock, Maybe Better
2007 - Efficient, Purple Moon, Mahler
