Rekindling, piloted by Corey Brown, burst down the home straight at Flemington Racecourse to win the 2017 Melbourne Cup, as Brown claimed his second title.

The Irish stayer, starting from barrier four, overhauled Johannes Vermeer with 100m to run as Brown repeated his success of 2009, when he rode Shocking to victory. Brown had eagerly pursued the ride on Rekindling, in a rare paring with owner Lloyd Williams.

Melbourne Cup 2017: Rekindling wins ahead of Johannes Vermeer – live! Read more

Williams finished with a quinella as he watched two of his six horses fight it out for Australia’s most famous race. It is a stunning feat for Williams, who has now won six Melbourne Cups in 36 years.

“I can’t believe it, mate,” Brown said after the race. “Obviously with light weight I thought I had a big chance to get on him. I just can’t believe it. I’ve been back overseas for about nine months and slowly but surely getting back to where I was.

“I always thought I would catch him [Johannes Vermeer] with lighter weight. It wasn’t easy, it’s all worth it when you do things like this. I was a fraction slow away. But I didn’t want to get him revved up.”

Max Dynamite, two and a half lengths back, came in third to complete an Irish-trained trifecta, as the pre-race favourite Marmelo, in the leading pack at the final turn, faded in the final straight to finish ninth.

Prior to the race, Williams said he would not be shocked to see Rekindling win, describing him as a “serious stayer”. He had said he was unable to split the trio of Almandin, Rekindling and Johannes Vermeer, but it was the two less-fancied horses who finished ahead of Almandin, last year’s winner and early favourite for this year’s Cup before being overtaken by Marmelo in the final day of betting.

The one-two finish of Rekindling and Johannes Vermeer also meant that Aidan and Joseph O’Brien (father and son) took the quinella. Aidan O’Brien has trained more than 300 Group 1 winners at just 47, but it was O’Brien’s son – Joseph, just 24-years-old – who saluted with Rekindling in his first Cup outing as a trainer. He too has notched 30 Group 1 wins – but as a jockey – before retiring from the saddle two years ago.

Early, the pace was set by Cismontane, Gai Waterhouse’s last-minute entry into the Cup. He and Gallante (who ultimately finished last) led the field for most of the race, before Wicklow Brave tried to set the pace with some pulling. By the 800m mark, Cismonate led by a length, before Marmelo made his move on the outside. But from there Joannes Vermeer and Rekindling set the running, finishing a length ahead of Max Dynamite.

At three years of age, Rekindling was the youngest horse to take the field in this year’s Cup – and the first three-year-old to win the Cup since 1941 (although he races as a four-year-old in the southern hemisphere). He drew an excellent barrier in four, and had little work to do from such a prime position.

Flemington protester arrested after train line blocked in Manus refugee demonstration Read more

“Corey gave an unbelievable ride,” Joseph O’Brien said. “It hasn’t really sunk in yet to be honest. Over the moon.” When asked about his father, Joseph said: “I spoke to him. He’s delighted.”

Rekindling is the third Irish horse to win the Melbourne Cup, after Vintage Crop in 1993 and Media Puzzle in 2002. Big Duke, trained by Darren Weir, rounded out the top four as the first Australian-trained horse to cross the line. Nakeeta – the first Scottish trained-runner in the Cup – took fifth, as nine of the first 11 placings went to internationals. Almandin finished in 12th.

Earlier, race day frivolities were marred by a fall to Regal Monarch during race four, the Ronald McDonald House Charities Plate. The horse was taken to Werribee Veterinary hospital but was later put down due to the injuries sustained.

Jockey Joao Moreira was subsequently ruled out of racing in the Cup, where he had been due to ride Thomas Hobson. Apprentice Ben Allen was handed the ride and guided the eight-year-old bay gelding to a sixth-place finish.