Triumph for Waterhouse, Oliver as Fiorente wins

Jockey Damien Oliver on Fiorente crosses the finish line to win Last year's runner-up Fiorente gave controversial jockey Damien Oliver his third race win and trainer Gai Waterhouse her first victory in the Melbourne Cup Tuesday. Fiorente, the 6-1 favourite, surged home over 3200 metres (two miles) ahead of British stayers Red Cadeaux (60-1) and Mount Athos (12-1) to win Australia's most famous race by three-quarters of a length.
It was Oliver's third victory in the Melbourne Cup after previous wins on Ireland's Media Puzzle in 2002 and Doriemus in 1995, while Waterhouse broke through for her first success in the Aus$6 million ($5.7 million) race after three runner-up placings.
"It's every jockey's dream come true. It's a really special moment," said Oliver, who was banned from racing last year for 10 months after being found guilty of putting money on a rival horse that won a race in which he was riding.
"I'm so rapt that I could be part of Gai's first one. She's done so much for racing and it's a great honour for me to help bring home her first one."
It was a popular home victory with Waterhouse, daughter of famous trainer TJ Smith, landing her first Melbourne Cup win after previous runner-up finishes with Fiorente last year, Te Akau Nick in 1993 and Nothin' Leica Dane in 1995.
"So thrilled for everyone. I love racing and what a fabulous race. It's the race that stops a nation," Waterhouse said.
Fiorente, who was beaten by a length by Green Moon in last year's Cup, finished too strong for Ed Dunlop's Red Cadeaux, who was runner-up in the race for a second time after he was pipped by French galloper Dunaden in 2011.
Newmarket trainer Luca Cumani again had a placegetter with Mount Athos taking third.
The Cumani-trained Purple Moon finished a close second in 2007 and Bauer got even closer when narrowly beaten the following year.
Simenon, bidding to become the third Irish horse to win the Melbourne Cup, finished fourth with English stayer Dandino fifth.
Oliver brought Fiorente from midfield to stake his challenge at the 300m.
"I was a fair way back and before I knew it I was right on top of them," Oliver said.
"When you're in front that last 200 seems to take forever. Nothing is a given in this game."
It was an overdue win for Waterhouse, who has long been one of Australia's leading trainers and it was well received by the 100,000 crowd at the Flemington track.
"Didn't he ride him a treat? Honestly and truly. He got back to about 12th then he just kept trekking up and trekking up," Waterhouse said.
"It's a race that stops the nation. Isn't it nice to have a favourite that can do that?"
Brown Panther, owned by former England football international Michael Owen, was up with the pace early and finished eighth, while Godolphin runner Royal Empire was down the track in 14th. Dunaden was 11th.
There was tragedy in the race when the Aga Khan's first runner in the Cup, Verema, broke down and had to be put down from the injuries she suffered, race stewards said.
Source: AFP