Punters around the country who backed second favourite Dunaden in today’s Melbourne Cup should be nicely contented right now, with the French horse claiming victory over English horse Red Cadeaux in the closest finish of the race’s 151 years.

Paying $8.20 for the win, Dunaden nudged out Red Cadeaux literally by the hairs on his nose. In third place was German horse, Lucas Cranach, while favourite Americain came in fourth. The win surely guarantees the horse a retirement of luxury when he’s finished racing, put out to stud with the finest French fillies…

But until then, the six year old will have a few more races, with French trainer Mikel Delzangles sure to enjoy his share of the $3.6 million prize money.

Did anyone win big with the European trifecta? Let us know in comments.