| Melbourne Cup | |
| Location | Flemington Racecourse |
|---|---|
| Date | 5 November 1996 |
| Distance | 2 miles |
| Winning horse | Saintly |
| Winning time | 3:18.8 |
| Final odds | 8/1 |
| Jockey | Darren Beadman |
| Trainer | Bart Cummings |
| Surface | Turf |
Nothin' Leica Dane and Saintly at the 300 they reach the lead together from Count Chivas and then came Greg Shot and Sky Beau well back. It's Saintly at the 200, Saintly dashing two lengths in front, Cummings and Beadman, Cummings going for 10 and he's got it! Saintly well clear of Count Chivas, Nothin Leica Dane and Sky Beau but Saintly! Saintly wins it easily.
Commentator Greg Miles describes the climax of the race
The 1996 Melbourne Cup was a two-mile handicap horse race which took place on Tuesday, 5 November 1996. The race was run over 3,200 metres (1.988 mi), at Flemington Racecourse.
The race was won by the 4 year old gelding, Saintly.[1] Saintly at 8/1 defeated the New Zealand bred geldings: Count Chivas, Skybeau and Senator. The previous year's winner and runner-up, Doriemus and Nothin' Leica Dane were 6th and 5th respectively.[2]
Saintly who had previously won the 1996 Australian Cup, Hill Stakes and Cox Plate was sired by Sky Chase (NZ) out of the Sir Tristram mare All Grace (NZ).[3]
Saintly was ridden by Darren Beadman and trained by Bart Cummings.[4] It was Darren's second win in the race after Kingston Rule in the 1990 Melbourne Cup. Saintly's victory was Bart's tenth training success in the race.
The top weighted horse in the race was Doriemus carrying 58kgs for 6th then Count Chivas on 57kg (2nd).