French raider Dunaden denied Britain a first Melbourne Cup victory by beating the Ed Dunlop-trained Red Cadeaux in a photo finish at Flemington.
The five-year-old, saddled by Mikel Delzangles and ridden by Christophe Lemaire, got home by a nose to win ‘the race that stops a nation’.
Lucas Cranach was third in the $6m (£4m) two-mile event watched by 100,000 people at the Australian racecourse.
Last year’s winner Americain was a fast-finishing fourth.
It was the closest finish in the 151 runnings of the famous race.
Delzangles said: “I’m still shaking. It’s amazing. I thought I was beaten so it’s even better.
“It’s a great moment for me. This will be one of the great moments of my career.”
Lemaire only stepped in for the ride at the last minute after Craig Williams was ruled out of the race through suspension.
Williams rode Dunaden to win the Geelong Cup in his prep race earlier this month and Delzangles said: “I know it was hard for Craig Williams but it’s part of a jockey’s life and I know he will win the race one day.”
Dunaden is owned by Sheikh Fahad Al Thani under his Pearl Bloodstock banner.
