Viewed, who started at odds of nearly 50-1, held off fast-finishing British entrant Bauer to win by a nose in one of the closest finishes in the 148-year history of Australia’s most famous horse racing betting event.

Cummings, who turns 81 on November 14, won his first Melbourne Cup in 1965 and his previous one in 1999.

This year marked the 50th anniversary of his first runner in the grueling 3200 meter handicap that “stops the nation” and his victory was his 250th at Group One level.

“It’s nice to a win a race like this, a race that everyone in Australia likes to win — particularly my owners,” Cummings said in a televised interview.

“I thought it was all over in the last 50 yards, then I thought I wasn’t sure. It just happens to be a nice win.”

Melbourne Cup Result
1.  Viewed              $41.00
2. nose Bauer           $21.00
3.2len  C'est La Guerre $10.50
4.  Master O'Reilly     $26.00
5.  Profound Beauty      $9.00
6.  Moatize             $31.00
7.  Mad Rush             $5.50 Fav
8.  Nom Du Jeu           $7.50
9.  Zipping             $15.00
10. Newport             $61.00
11. Ice Chariot         $51.00
12. Guyno              $151.00
13. Littorio            $31.00
14. Varevees           $101.00
15. Boundless           $81.00
16. Red Lord           $101.00
17. Prize Lady          $61.00
18. Septimus             $7.00
19. Barbaricus          $16.00
20. Alessandro Volta    $41.00
21.  Honolulu           $21.00
FF  Gallopin            $31.00
Scratched: Zarita, YellowstoneWinning time: 3min 20.40sec (Last 600m 34.93sec)

Supertab Returns                   Win   Place
10. Viewed          $46.50  $14.00
12. Bauer                -   $6.504.
C'est La Guerre      -   $7.80
Quinella   10, 12          $553.20
Exacta     10, 12         $1156.30
Duet       10, 12          $178.20
10, 4           $156.90
12, 4            $90.00
Trifecta   10, 12, 4    $22,324.20
First Four 10, 12, 4, 2 $589,778.00