Yachi Bale delivers Delbridge family their first Group 1 Melbourne Cup
He's been touted as the happiest dog in the Delbridge kennel, and he certainly had connections smiling after a stunning come-from-behind performance to claim the 2022 Group 1 Melbourne Cup at Sandown Park last night (Saturday November 26 2022).
All eyes were seemingly on pre-race favourite Plaintiff from box one, who as expected stepped beautifully from the inside alley and took up the lead in the early stages.
David Geall's Fernando Mick, was aiming to give last year's winning trainer his third cup victory in five years, also began smartly and sat in second.
Eventual winner Yachi Bale sat in fourth position as they entered the back straight, at which point while the winner seemingly looked to be coming from the two chaser's up-front.
But Yachi Bale, the son of Allen Deed and Sammy Allen; swooping down the outside passed the early leaders late to claim victory by half a length, in a time of 29.21.
The win gave husband and wife training partners Mark and Lisa Delbridge their first Group 1 Melbourne Cup victory and fittingly the late, great Paul Wheeler's family another group one success.
Fernando Mick lost no admirers in finishing second, with Plaintiff for Jason Thompson only a further quarter of a length away in third position.
It was the 33kg chaser's third straight victory, and his ninth overall.
The winner's purse of $650,000 took his career earnings to $704,850.
Mark was understandably lost for words post-race, with Lisa revealing they were currently in the process of building a new house so the trainer's share of the purse was sure to come in more than handy.