Trainer Bart Cummings and jockey Blake Shinn (right) hold their trophies in front of Viewed after winning the Melbourne Cup at Flemington, yesterday. - AP

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP):

VETERAN TRAINER Bart Cummings won his 12th Melbourne Cup yesterday when VIEWED hit the front on the turn to home and held on to beat BAUER in a photo finish in Australia's richest thoroughbred race.

Jockey Blake Shinn moved 40-1 shot VIEWED to the front 400 metres out in the 3,200-metre race and then led by three lengths at stages before BAUER chased him down on the line.

C'EST LA GUERRE was third in the A$5.65 million (US$3.85 million) Group One classic, with MASTER O'RIELLY finishing fourth and PROFOUND BEAUTY in fifth.

BAUER, trained in England by Luca Cumani, and C'EST LA GUERRE both started at 20-1.

Everyone likes to win

"To win a race like this - a race that everyone in Australia likes to win ... It happens to be a nice win," said Cummings, who will turn 81 next week. "I thought it was almost over for 300 yards, then I wasn't sure. I couldn't tell from where I was."

Cummings, who won his first Melbourne Cup in 1965, said he was thrilled to see the Australian horses hold off the international raiders from Europe, having expected a dead-heat when the leaders crossed the finish.

"What a great day it's been. I do make a habit of winning this race, somebody told me - 'it's a good habit to get into', I said."

He has seven more Melbourne Cup titles than the next closest trainer.

Shinn, 21, said the narrow win "nearly made me cry".

"It's one of the greatest moments in sport, to ride the Melbourne Cup winner," he said. "It's something I've dreamed of for a long time, since I was a young kid.

"To win the Melbourne Cup for a living legend in the sport in Mr Cummings is a great thrill."

Shinn said he had no choice but to lead the runners home after travelling perfectly for most of the race.

"I hit the front earlier than I would have liked to, but he had the going," Shinn said. "The last 10 seconds was long. I thought, 'I've gone too early, I'm going to get beat'. But the horse kept his momentum. It's an unbelievable feeling."