The Melbourne Cup is staying in Australia after veteran jockey Craig Williams fought off all comers with a stunning ride to guide Flemington gelding Vow And Declare to victory.

The four-year-old gelding looked beaten 100m from home as UK stayer Master Of Reality stormed home.

But the Caulfield Cup runner-up would not be denied a second time.

He lifted under Williams’ urgings to nab a famous victory in the final strides.

It’s the AUSSIE!!! Vow And Declare has won the #MelbourneCup.

What a moment, what a race… pic.twitter.com/DvAoinx0cp

— Racing.com (@Racing) November 5, 2019

Vow And Declare, trained at Flemington by Danny O’Brien, is the first Australian-trained horse to win the $8 million race since 2016.

There was drama to the post-script, with stewards upholding a protest of 4th versus 2nd, which demoted Master Of Reality to fourth, gifting Prince Of Arran second-place.

BREAKING | #MelbourneCup protest (4th v 2nd) upheld.

NEW PLACINGS
1ST – Vow And Declare
2ND – Prince Of Arran
3RD – Il Paradiso
4TH – Master Of Reality

— 3AW Melbourne (@3AW693) November 5, 2019

After the race, experts were quick to praise the ride of Williams in his long-awaited first Melbourne Cup victory.

“That was one of the best Cup rides I’ve ever seen,” tweeted Glen Boss, who won three consecutive cups aboard Makybe Diva.

Craig Willams take a bow . That was one of the best Cup rides I’ve ever seen 🏆⭐️

— GLEN BOSS (@boss_glen) November 5, 2019

(Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)