EX-patriot South African jockeys Glyn and Chad Schofield made history as the first father and son pair to ride in the big race since 1968, but their outsider mounts could only manage 8th and 21st respectively.

Moore conceded defeat in the British Championship, which he has won three times before, about a week ago when revealing that he would not be taking any more local rides before the last day of the season on November 8, and that left Richard Hughes, who was only five ahead, to take his third successive title.

Protectionist, a four-year-old German-bred colt by Monsun, burst through with a powerful late run and won in commanding fashion by four lengths despite carrying only four pounds less than topweight. It was the first time a German horse had won the Melbourne Cup.

It was Moore’s 15th Gr 1 win of the season and also provided him with a rare Cox Plate-Melbourne Cup double as he had won the former race, which is probably Australia’s second most prestigious thoroughbred event, at Moonee Valley on October 25 aboard the Aiden O’Brien-trained Adelaide.

The Ed Dunlop-trained eight-year-old Red Cadeaux, running in his fourth Melbourne Cup, became the first horse to finish runner up in the great race three times, having also done so last year and in 2011. The race was tinged by tragedy as the topweight Admire Rakti from Japan collapsed and died after finishing the race tailed off.

Picture courtesy of abc.net.au