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The Melbourne Cup is once again on its way to France after Dunaden claimed Australia’s most famous race, but only just.

It was the closest finish in the history of the Cup, with winning rider Christophe Lemaire thinking he had been beaten when the TV cameras focused on Michael Rodd and English horse Red Cadeaux.

Dunaden returning to scale - photo by Race Horse Photos Australia

After a lengthy delay, Dunaden, the $8.50 second favourite, was declared the winner and Lemaire, a last-minute replacement for the suspended Craig Williams, savoured a sweet victory.

The official margin was a nose but a pixel might have been a better description.

The first two finished 1-1/4 lengths in front of Germany’s Lucas Cranach, who edged last year’s winner Americain in a photo for third.

“I was a bit anxious,” Lemaire said.

“The rider on the pony was telling the other jockey `I think you won’.

“My thinking goes also to Craig Williams.

“I know it’s very hard for him but it’s part of a jockey’s life and I’m sure he’ll win the Melbourne Cup one year.” Lemaire arrived in Australia 24 hours before the race not knowing whether he would be riding as Williams awaited a court ruling on his suspension.

Dunaden’s trainer Mikel Delzangles and the horse’s 22-year-old owner, Qatar’s Sheikh Fahad al Thani, had kept the ride open for Williams, but when the court ruled against him they expressed full confidence in Lemaire and the horse. It was well justified.

“He was bought as a tried horse and we knew he was good after he won in France and was beaten a sharp nose in a Group Two at Longchamp,” Delzangles said.

“He has always been coming to Australia.

“Thanks to Americain, he has shown it is possible to do it.

“The logistics are trouble, the travel is trouble but Americain showed to others it is possible to come.”

Americain, trained by Delzangles’ old boss Alain de Royer-Dupre, won the Geelong Cup in his warm-up race for last year’s Cup and Dunaden’s trainer took the same successful path.
Eleven foreign-trained horses made the Cup field of 24 and filled six of the first seven placings.

Punters warmed to the French with Americain the $5 favourite. Red Cadeaux was a $31 chance while third placed Lucas Cranach, a former German now trained here was at $13.

Ed Dunlop, trainer of the runner-up, was as happy as he could be without winning.

“Everybody said you can’t win the race without having a run in Australia, Dunlop said.

“Everyone said we had the wrong horse but he was the right horse.

“I would have preferred the jar out of the ground but he defied the ground and got beaten by a pixel.”

Adding to Rodd’s woes, he was fined $1000 for using his whip on Red Cadeaux too many times before the final 100 metres.

The anticipated pattern of the race changed at the start when Glass Harmonium, the expected leader, came out of the gates last.

For the first part of the race the Bart Cummings-trained pair of Illo and Precedence were in front, albeit at a slow pace.

They were still in front approaching the home turn but were sitting ducks for those coming from behind.

Lemaire and Rodd had been back worse than midfield on their mounts and staged a battle inside the final 200 metres.

The other chasers had few excuses.

New Godolphin acquisition Modun was among the foreign raiders to fail, finishing last, while British trainer Mark Johnston had another unsuccessful trip to Australia with Fox Hunt seventh and Jukebox Jury 20th.

AAP TURF

 
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