How Saintly, the 'horse from heaven', won the Melbourne Cup 30 years ago
Thirty years ago this week, the brilliant galloper Saintly won the Melbourne Cup to give Bart Cummings his 10th victory in the race that stops the nation.
In 1996, legendary racing trainer Bart Cummings achieved a landmark victory at the Melbourne Cup with his horse Saintly. Cummings, known for winning a record nine Cups, believed that winning a tenth was a testament to relentless work, discipline, adherence to methods, and taking a genuine interest in a horse's welfare. Saintly, a chestnut gelding bred at Cummings' Princes Farm, had completed a rigorous 10,000m prep plan before the race, which included lead-up runs and reaching a total of 10,000m in his legs.
Cummings' longtime assistant, Joe Agresta, first noticed Saintly's potential in the Carbine Club Stakes and later the Australian Cup. Despite initial doubts about Saintly's racing prospects, Cummings trusted his plan and opted for the Cox Plate as the lead-up race for the Melbourne Cup. In the Cox Plate, Saintly finished third, setting the stage for his dominant performance at the Melbourne Cup.
On race day, Cummings' star horse Saintly started sixth and gradually closed on the leaders. In a thrilling finish, Saintly overtook his rivals and crossed the finish line first, securing a historic 10th Melbourne Cup victory for Bart Cummings.
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