Rekindling has won the 2017 Melbourne Cup for trainer Joseph O'Brien, who claimed victory ahead of father Aidan's raider Johannes Vermeer.
The youngest horse in the field, Rekindling gave 24-year-old Joseph O'Brien something his successful father is yet to achieve — a Melbourne Cup victory.
The British horse came in first ahead of Johannes Vermeer and Max Dynamite over 3,200 metres at Flemington.
Rekindling, one of 11 foreign horses in the field but not one of the favourites, made a late charge down the straight, narrowly edging Johannes Vermeer in the final 200 metres.
Cismontane, Boom Time and Gallante made the early pace but were soon reined in.
Favourite Marmelo and Tiberian chimed in at the 800, but it became a two-horse race by the finish, and it was the younger of the O'Brien boys who would leave with the Cup.
Aidan O'Brien was not on course to see his son triumph. He is preparing for the Breeder's Cup in the United States.
But Joseph O'Brien said he had already called his father, who was "delighted" by the news.
The junior O'Brien becomes the second Irish trainer to win the Melbourne Cup, following Dermot Weld's victories in 1993 (Vintage Crop) and 2002 (Media Puzzle).
"I can't believe it," Joseph O'Brien told Channel Seven.
"His preparation went really good, and Corey gave him an unbelievable ride.
"The lads at home and the lads here have done an unbelievable job. All the lads at home, all year round, have done a great job with him.
"I can't quite believe it."
The top two may been Irish trained, but both are part-owned by the Australian businessman Lloyd Williams, who now holds a record six Melbourne Cups.
It was also jockey Corey Brown's second Cup victory, having won on Shocking in 2009.
"I can't believe it. I have been back here from overseas about nine months and slowly and surely getting back to where I was," Brown said.
"It is so special. I have my family with me and the girls are old enough to come to the races and enjoy it.
"I am lost for words."
Big Duke finished fourth, while Gallante pulled up to finish last.
Crowds brave cold for punt and fashion
About 100,000 spectators braved one of the coldest Cup days in years, shivering through early showers and brisk southerly winds.
Plenty came for a punt or for fashions on the field, but there was also a political edge to this year's event.
Two protestors scaled a crane over the Flemington Racecourse to unfurl a banner, which read "SOS: Evacuate Manus Now".
And another blocked the rail line to Flemington for over an hour, when she parked a car painted with similar slogans across the tracks.
