# Delta Blues (horse)

Delta Blues (デルタブルース, 3 May 2001 – 8 October 2024) was a Japanese Thoroughbred racehorse best known for winning the 2006 Melbourne Cup. 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.

## Racing career

Delta Blues was virtually unknown until he had his victory in the 2004 Kikuka Sho. He defeated Heart's Cry and Cosmo Bulk then. Delta Blues placed third in the Japan Cup in November 2004.
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.
Delta Blues won the Best Horse by Home-Bred Sire JRA award in 2004.

### 2006 in Australia

Taken to Australia, Delta Blues finished third in the 2006 Caulfield Cup after racing wide throughout the race.
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. Delta Blues won the Melbourne Cup by a nose ahead of Pop Rock, with Maybe Better finishing in third place. Prior to the race, stable spokesman Keita Tanaka characterised Delta Blues as a "lazy horse", and trainer Sumii characterised him as "tough".

## Achievements

* Winner of the 2004 Kikuka Sho (JPN Domestic GI, Japanese St. Leger)
* Winner of the 2004 Best Horse by Home-Bred Sire JRA award.
* Winner of the 2006 Melbourne Cup
* Winner of the 2006–2007 Australian Champion Stayer

## Breeding

Delta Blues was sired by Dance in the Dark with the dam Dixie Splash (sire Dixieland Band). The breeder was Northern Farm.
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".
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) |
| Sire Dance in the Dark (JPN) B. 1993 | Sunday Silence (USA) | Halo (USA) | Cosmah (USA) |
| Sire Dance in the Dark (JPN) B. 1993 | Sunday Silence (USA) | Wishing Well (USA) | Understanding(USA) |
| Sire Dance in the Dark (JPN) B. 1993 | Sunday Silence (USA) | Wishing Well (USA) | Mountain Flower (USA) |
| Sire Dance in the Dark (JPN) B. 1993 | Dancing Key (USA) | Nijinsky (CAN) | Northern Dancer (CAN) |
| Sire Dance in the Dark (JPN) B. 1993 | Dancing Key (USA) | Nijinsky (CAN) | Flaming Page (CAN) |
| Sire Dance in the Dark (JPN) B. 1993 | Dancing Key (USA) | Key Partner (USA) | Key to the Mint (USA) |
| Sire Dance in the Dark (JPN) B. 1993 | Dancing Key (USA) | Key Partner (USA) | Native Partner (USA) |
| Dam Dixie Splash (USA) | Dixieland Band (USA) | Northern Dancer (CAN) | Nearctic (CAN) |
| Dam Dixie Splash (USA) | Dixieland Band (USA) | Northern Dancer (CAN) | Natalma (USA) |
| Dam Dixie Splash (USA) | Dixieland Band (USA) | Mississippi Mud (USA) | Delta Judge (USA) |
| Dam Dixie Splash (USA) | Dixieland Band (USA) | Mississippi Mud (USA) | Sand Buggy (USA) |
| Dam Dixie Splash (USA) | Ocean Jewel (USA) | Alleged (USA) | Hoist The Flag (USA) |
| Dam Dixie Splash (USA) | Ocean Jewel (USA) | Alleged (USA) | Princess Pout (USA) |
| Dam Dixie Splash (USA) | Ocean Jewel (USA) | Lady Offshore (USA) | Sir Ivor (USA) |
| Dam Dixie Splash (USA) | Ocean Jewel (USA) | Lady Offshore (USA) | Bonnie Google (USA) |

## Death

Delta Blues died due to complications from laminitis at the Japanese thoroughbred retirement facility, Old Friends Japan, on 8 October 2024. He was 23.

## Namesake

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