Media Puzzle wins Melbourne Cup

5.40pm

Media Puzzle may have won this afternoon's $4.6 million Melbourne Cup, but the jockey who took the Irish-trained stayer across the line had other things on his mind.

"Melbourne Cups don't mean a thing to me anymore. I'd give it right back to have my brother back," Damien Oliver said shortly after the two-mile classic at Flemington ended.

Oliver's brother Jason was killed in a training accident in Perth just last week. Today's race was for Jason, he said.

Media Puzzle came in ahead of Mr Prudent, riden by Corey Brown, and Dubai horse Beekeeper riden by Kerrin McEvoy.

A favourite paying $8.45, Media Puzzle was fresh from an impressive win at last month's Geelong Cup.

Media Puzzle's trainer Irishman Dermot Weld said today was a wonderful day.

"I am delighted for everyone concerned ... [This horse] came 1000 miles to do this."

New Zealanders bet a total of $6.6 million on the Cup - $2.7 million of that came in the last hour before the start.

Distinctly Secret, the New Zealand 4-year-old touted as Australasia's only hope of fending off the so-called European raiders came in sixth.

Media Puzzle's win means the Cup will leave the Southern Hemisphere for only the second time in its history.

Media Puzzle, with stablemate Vinne Roe, today's third placed horse Beekeeper and Pugin, both from the world's largest stable in Dubai, led the strongest ever charge on the Cup from the Northern Hemisphere.

Before the 5.10pm start, some commentators were saying the fate of the Australasian breeding industry rested with today's race.

- HERALD STAFF