PRINCE OF PENZANCE'S MELBOURNE CUP WIN THE MELBOURNE CUP CARNIVAL HIGHLIGHT

BUSH TRAINER, FEMALE JOCKEY AND LONG SHOT WIN THE CUP

The $101 chance Prince of Penzance gave Darren Weir and Michelle Payne their first Melbourne Cup.

"I think it's the sporting story of the year and it's just great when racing sort of demonstrates to the country at large, and the world, how good it can be," Victoria Racing Club chairman Michael Burn said.

RED CADEAUX'S CAREER ENDS

The crowd favourite and three-time Melbourne Cup runner suffered a career-ending injury in his fifth attempt at the race.

English trainer Ed Dunlop says things are looking bright for the 10-year-old after surgery to repair a fracture in his leg.

After being swamped with offers of a retirement home, the decision will be made by owner Ronnie Arculli who has previously flagged Melbourne's Living Legends as an option.

FORMER HURDLER MAX DYNAMITE'S SECOND

Champion Irish jumps trainer Willie Mullins is looking to make a fourth attempt at the Cup next year, after his former hurdler Max Dynamite's second placing.

OTHER INTERNATIONALS NOT SO LUCKY

Godolphin, the racing and breeding operation owned by Dubai ruler Sheikh Mohammed, has tried more than a dozen times to win the Melbourne Cup. It plans to keep trying.

"It was a great story, the horse that won, but there's probably a good few unlucky stories in the race," Godolphin's Australian trainer John O'Shea said.

"That's why you've just got to keep punching away and hopefully one day we'll have our little bit of luck in it and we'll win it for the boss."

MICK PRICE FINALLY GETS HIS DERBY

Trainer Mick Price's Victoria Derby drought ended with favourite Tarzino giving his rivals a staying lesson in the $1.5 million race.

It was Price's ninth attempt and a fairytale result for Tarzino's syndicate of owners - including Price - who recently knocked back an offer of more than $1 million from Hong Kong for the colt.

BACK TO BACK OAKS

Jameka gave trainer Ciaron Maher his second VRC Oaks in as many years and jockey Damien Oliver his fourth success in the $1 million classic.

MURRAY BAKER'S SPRING ROLLERCOASTER

New Zealand trainer Murray Baker's Turn Me Loose won the Emirates Stakes, after Mongolian Khan's Caulfield Cup victory.

A bout of colic kept the four-year-old out of the Melbourne Cup.

Baker says Mongolian Khan isn't in the clear yet but is on the improve and heading in the right direction.

ICON OF THE JOCKEY ROOM RETIRES

Jim Cassidy rode in his final Melbourne Cup on Tuesday and chose to end his 36-year career on Oaks Day, having won the VRC Oaks five times.

There were no wins or even placings for the champion jockey in his last three competitive rides, nor the chance to add to his 104 Group One wins after his Oaks mount Dawnie Perfect was scratched.

MORE TRIBUTES FOR CUPS KING

The first Melbourne Cup since Bart Cummings' death featured tributes to the 12-time winning trainer.

His grandson James trained Zarzali to win the 1700m mares' race at Flemington on the first Tuesday in November.

WEATHER KEEPS CROWD NUMBERS DOWN

As with the Caulfield Cup and Cox Plate at other racecourses, crowd numbers at Flemington were down by about 12,000 people overall for the four race days.

The VRC put that down to the weather with 54mm of rain falling across the week, the worst of which came with thunderstorms on Derby Day and Oaks Day.