Photo finish in Melbourne Cup

Jockey Christophe Lemaire riding Dunaden celebrates after winning the Melbourne Cup Day at Flemington. Photo / Getty Images

French-trained stayer Dunaden won the $6.2 million Melbourne Cup from England's Red Cadeaux in one of the closest finishes in the 151-year history of the 3200-metre race.

French jockey Christophe Lemaire picked up the ride on the six-year-old France-bred entire when the rider originally booked for the horse, Australian Craig Williams, failed on the eve of the race to overturn a suspension.

Lemaire guided the Mikel Delzangles-trained Dunanden to the front a few strides from the winning post and held on by a nose from the fast-finishing Red Cadeaux, ridden by Australia's Michael Rodd.

Dunaden, by the British sire Nicobar from the French mare La Marlia, started an 8-1 second favorite after winning the Geelong Cup on Oct. 19 in its first start in Australia. Red Cadeaux started at odds of more than 30-1.

Dunaden gave France its second successive win in the Melbourne Cup, the world's richest open handicap, after last year's victory by the American-bred, France trained Americain.

Defending champion Americain started a 5-1 favorite on Tuesday but carried 3.5 kilograms more than last year as a 58 kilogram topweight and finished a game fourth after an interupted run.

The German import Lucas Cranach, now owned and trained in Australia, finished third as international horses filled the first seven placings.

After the late scratching of Mourayan a field of 23 horses including a record 13 international stayers and another six which began their careers in the northern hemisphere but are now with Australian trainers faced the starter.

Lemaire arrived in Australia from France only 24 hours before the race and was overcome with emotion when his narrow victory was confirmed.

"It's incredible - it's a great moment for me,'' Lemaire said. "I was a bit anxious. I knew it was very close.

"I feel very sorry for Craig. He's a good friend of mine.''

The win was Dunaden's eighth in 28 starts and lands his owner $3.6 million plus a trophy worth $175,000.

Delzangles, a former assistant in the stable of Americain's trainer Alain De Royer-Dupre at Chantilly, followed the same path as Americain last year, tackling only the Geelong Cup before lining up in the Melbourne Cup, Australia's richest horse race.

"I'm still shaking. It's amazing. I thought I was beaten, so it's even better,'' Delzangles said.