The 2011 Melbourne Cup has been won by French horse Dunaden who won the Geelong Cup at his only Australian start. He was ridden by international jockey Christophe Lemaire who only arrived in Melbourne the day before to be on standby for the ride as original jockey Craig Williams appealed a riding suspension – he lost.

Second past the post was British horse Red Cadeaux but at the time it looked like a dead heat. The official margins were eventually a nose by 1¼ lengths, with a further nose to the 4th horse. Although the official margin was a nose between first and second it was actually more like a fingernail and was the closest margin in Melbourne Cup history.

The third horse was Lucas Cranach, who ran 5th in this year Caulfield Cup, and fast-finishing fourth was last years winner Americain who did tremendously well under his weight and came from well back in the field as they rounded the final turn.

The race didn’t go as anticipated, as expected leader Glass Harmonium missed the start a little and from his wide barrier couldn’t get to the front. Tullamore was also a little tardy leaving the gates. Because there was no one else to set the pace Jim Cassidy went to the lead early on Illo, who eventually finished well back in the field.

The horse that ran last (23rd) was Modun, who was the most lightly race horse in the field. There were only 23 runners as genuine hope Mourayan was scratched due to a foot problem, and the Melbourne Cup has no emergencies. It was an exciting race with plenty of close racing and it is possible several horses got galloped on. The hard-luck story of the day wasn’t a horse, but was jockey Craig Williams who could have ridden a Melbourne Cup winner.

I hope everyone had a fun and profitable day. Racing returns to Flemington with Oaks day on Thursday and then the final day of the Flemington Carnival is Emirates Stakes day on Saturday 5th November. Happy punting!.

Jo Jackson

Place No. Horse Trainer Jockey Barrier Weight
1st 3 DUNADEN (FR) Mikel Delzangles Christophe Lemaire 13 54.5
2nd 12 RED CADEAUX (GB) Ed Dunlop Michael Rodd 15 53.5
3rd 9 LUCAS CRANACH (GER) Anthony Freedman Corey Brown 11 53.5
4th 1 AMERICAIN (USA) Alain de Royer Dupre Gerard Mosse 14 58
5th 6 MANIGHAR (FR) Luca Cumani Damien Oliver 20 54
6th 15 LOST IN THE MOMENT (IRE) Saeed Bin Suroor William Buick 3 53
7th 8 FOX HUNT (IRE) Mark Johnston Silvestre de Sousa 18 53.5
8th 23 NIWOT M., W. & J. Hawkes Dean Yendall 9 51
9th 7 UNUSUAL SUSPECT (USA) Michael Kent Brad Rawiller 7 54
10th 17 AT FIRST SIGHT (IRE) Robert Hickmott Steven King 10 52.5
11th 11 PRECEDENCE (NZ) Bart Cummings Darren Beadman 2 53.5
12th 4 DRUNKEN SAILOR (IRE) Luca Cumani Dwayne Dunn 8 54.5
13th 21 THE VERMINATOR Chris Waller Craig Newitt 4 52
14th 22 TULLAMORE (NZ) Gai Waterhouse Craig Williams 12 52
15th 18 MOYENNE CORNICHE (GB) Brian Ellison Brett Prebble 16 52
16th 19 SAPTAPADI (IRE) Brian Ellison Chris Symons 21 52
17th 24 OLDER THAN TIME Gai Waterhouse Tim Clark 19 51
18th 13 HAWK ISLAND (IRE) Chris Waller Glyn Schofield 17 53
19th 14 ILLO (GER) Bart Cummings Jim Cassidy 1 53
20th 2 JUKEBOX JURY (IRE) Mark Johnston Neil Callan 6 57
21st 20 SHAMROCKER (NZ) Danny O’Brien Luke Nolen 23 52
22nd 5 GLASS HARMONIUM (IRE) Michael Moroney Lisa Cropp 22 54
23rd 16 MODUN (IRE) Saeed Bin Suroor Kerrin McEvoy 5 53