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Melbourne Cup Recap by Bob Nastanovich

In the closest finish in the 151-year history of the race, the 2011 $6.2 million Melbourne Cup was seized by the French raider Dunaden from the England-based Red Cadeaux. After a lengthy photo finish delay revealed a winning margin of less than an inch, Christophe Lemaire, who had flown to Australia at the last second as a standby for Dunaden's intended rider Craig Williams, was left stunned by France's second straight win in Australia's biggest race.

Williams, an Australian who had been successful in October's Caulfield Cup and Cox Plate which had set him up for an unprecedented treble, was stood down for a careless riding infraction and his subsequent appeal was denied.

Trainer Mikel Delzangles, who had been quietly confident of a big run from his 7-1 six year old Nicobar-sired horse, had no idea, like nearly everyone in the massive Flemington crowd, who had crossed the wire in front. Lemaire, upon pulling up on the resilient Dunaden, was told by an incorrect outrider that he was second.

In a 3200 meter (1.988 miles) race run at a muddling pace, the Bart Cummings trained pair of Illo and Precedence were 1-2 with a half mile to go. Entering the straight, virtually the entire field of 23 remained in contention. Dunaden, Lucas Cranach and Red Cadeaux came to the fore with 100 meters to go with the seven wide Red Cadeaux, trained in Newmarket (GB) by Ed Dunlop and ridden by Australian Michael Rodd, striking the front. To his inside, Dunaden responded to Lemaire's urgings and fought back, Red Cadeaux kept on and Lucas Cranach flattened out into third. Defending champ Americain, the 7-2 favorite, lodged a mild rally for fourth place.

On a cloudy, warm Melbourne day over a Flemington surface rated good, the Cup result reasserted Europe's rising dominance, both from a breeding and training standpoint, in one of the world's most prestigious and important handicap races.