A bumper young crowd and a 97-year-old legend see Australia's best horse dazzle in the rain at Flemington

The headline music act on the Melbourne Cup Carnival's final day was a DJ called Fisher. This felt appropriate, for given the amount of rain that fell on Flemington, the track really ought to have been under water.

Melbourne is the master of erratic weather. Thursday's Oaks was run in glorious sunshine. On Friday the temperature hit 27C. Come Saturday, riders and horses encountered 11C and a real feel of 5C. The rain was persistent, the wind strong and the ground heavy. Racegoers ditched sunglasses for scarves and ponchos. Mindful of the conditions, Francesca Cumani spent her marathon television shift wearing long johns and wellies.

"I don't think I've ever ridden a horse to go so slow in the last 100 metres," said Damian Lane following the afternoon's longest race. The fact he won it underlined that slowness need not be a barrier to success.