Protectionist has won the Melbourne Cup, completing an international clean sweep of Australia’s richest spring races.

Replay:

In beating a brave Red Cadeaux and Who Shot Thebarman, Protectionist delivered the first Melbourne Cup win for Germany.

He becomes the fifth northern hemisphere-trained horse to win the race since Vintage Crop scored in 1993.

Protectionist is trained by Andreas Wohler and was ridden by Ryan Moore, the English jockey who won the Cox Plate on Irish galloper Adelaide.

“He’s won very easy, that’s a very good horse,” Moore said.

“Obviously it’s very special.”

Starting with Japanese stayer Admire Rakti’s win in the Caulfield Cup, the Melbourne spring carnival has belonged to the internationals.

But Protectionist’s win has ensured there is cause for Australian celebration after the nation’s greatest horse race.

The five-year-old is part-owned by Australian Bloodstock, the syndicator which raced the 2011 Melbourne Cup placegetter Lucas Cranach.

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