Australian-owned 4-year-old C’est La Guerre, trained by John Sadler, finished third, ahead of 2007 Caulfield Cup champion Master O’Reilly in fourth.
Despite the tears streaming down his face, Bart Cummings said he was not emotional about the win, telling Channel Seven news: “It’s nice to a win a race like this, a race that everyone in Australia likes to win – particularly my owners.”
Viewed is owned by Dato Tan Chin Nam, one of Malaysia’s richest men. It is Chin Nam’s fourth Melbourne Cup, taking back-to-back wins with Think Big in 1974 and 1975, and Saintly in 1996.
Jockey Blake Shinn was unabashed about his tears on winning. The 20-year-old incurred a suspension for careless riding at the Moonee Valley meeting October 25, missing out on the Victorian Derby.
The Cup was his first race back after the suspension and after winning, he was not holding back. “I am just speechless. I’ve got to cry,” he said as he trotted back to the crowd.
Mr Shinn acknowledged the support of Sydney trainer Gai Waterhouse in encouraging him to leave Melbourne and work from Sydney.
“If it wasn’t for her, I wouldn’t be in the position I am today, a leading rider in Sydney and getting such a nice ride – it’s just a dream come true.”
In a race expected to be dominated by a seven-strong European contingent, the foreigners led in the early part of the field, but could not maintain the pace in the 3200-metre (two mile) classic.
“The internationals just went limp,” one race caller observed. “They all faded.”
Australian racing icon James Bartholomew “Bart” Cummings, 80, last won the Melbourne Cup in 1999. He has had 76 runners in the Melbourne Cup since his first starter, Asian Court, ran12th in 1951.
He is the recipient of an Order of Australia for his contribution to racing and was inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame in 1991. In 2001 he was an inaugural inductee into the Racing Hall of Fame.
When told he was a legend and congratulated for his 2008 win, Mr Cummings said quietly: “Thank you. Very good,” and made his way into the cheering masses to receive the greatest racing prize Australia can offer – the Melbourne Cup.
