The Melbourne Cup has added another dramatic chapter to its history, with triumph and tragedy in equal measure.

German joy at joining the growing league of nations to take home the Cup was tempered by the death of pre-race favourite Admire Rakti in his stall after the race and the news on Tuesday night that local horse Araldo had been put down following a freak post-race accident.

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The German trained Protectionist produced a blistering burst of speed to win the race by four lengths thanks to a perfectly timed run from English jockey Ryan Moore.

The international flavour was enhanced by another magnificent performance from English warhorse Red Cadeaux who, with French jockey Gerald Mosse aboard, ran second in the race for the third time in four years.

The antipodes did not feature until another half length back, with the Chris Waller-trained Who Shot Thebarman, a former New Zealander now trained in Sydney, finishing third.

But the euphoria following Protectionist’s triumph was short lived.

Within minutes, rumours spread that Admire Ratki, the Japanese stallion that went in as the $5.50 race favourite, was in serious trouble.

Japanese connections of Admire Rakti, who is being treated behind the screen by vets after collapsing. Photo: Sarah Kinsella.

A screen was put up around Admire Ratki’s stalls as vets worked on the horse and concerned Japanese connections gathered around the distressed horse.

Soon it was confirmed that the seven-year-old stallion had died.

Admire Rakti, which won the Caulfield Cup in brilliant style last month, raced near the lead for most of the 3200-metre journey.

But, carrying the top weight of 58.5 kilograms and running in 27 degree heat, the Japanese horse was clearly under pressure as it rounded the bend and dropped back through the field sharply.

It finished 73 lengths behind the winner, and initial autopsy reports indicated that he had suffered heart failure.

Araldo was put down after a freak post-race accident. Photo: Getty

The horse’s jockey, Australian Zac Purton, said: “I knew he was in trouble when he didn’t tow me into the race around halfway from home, so I eased him down straight away.

“The horse’s welfare comes first.

“It’s very sad. He gave me a great thrill at Caulfield and for this to happen to him is just not fair.

“I didn’t think they’d beat me. I thought he’d win today and the whole way through the first half of the race I thought that too.”

As vets worked on Admire Rakti behind a screen, strappers raced to get buckets of water to the distressed horse and security guards struggled to control a growing crowd of concerned racegoers that gathered around his stall.

German trainer Andreas Wohler and English jockey Ryan Moore. Photo: Getty

“We came over here before the race and he looked a million dollars,” one woman told The New Daily. “He was calm. We thought ‘this is fantastic’ – and now this.”

Police praised the behaviour of the crowd of more than 100,000. Photo: Getty

There was further drama when local horse Araldo was spooked by a young boy waving an Australian flag and broke his leg. He was taken to the equine veterinary clinic in Werribee, where it was hoped that surgery could save him. But it was announced about 8pm that the seven-year-old stallion had been put down.

Araldo’s distraught trainer, Michael Moroney, said the horse got a hind leg caught in the fence. He said it was a common enough occurrence for people to wave flags, but that “he just took exception to it and was spooked”.

Animal rights organisations hit out over the death, which came after a public relations battle this spring between activists and Racing Victoria over the safety of the sport.

Coalition for the Protection of Racehorses spokesperson Ward Young, who was protesting outside the gates of Flemington, said fewer horse deaths would occur if “excessive use” of the whip was done away with and horses were no longer pushed “beyond their physical limits”.

Jockey Michael Rodd was fined $400 for excessively whipping the Bart and James Cummings-trained Precedence, which finished sixth.

Animal Liberation CEO Lynda Stoner told The New Daily that Admire Rakti’s death was “just further proof of why this so-called sport of kings must be banned”.

But Dr Brian Stewart, Racing Victoria’s head of equine welfare and veterinary services, defended the safety of the sport. He said that in Victoria such deaths occurred to .007 per cent of racehorses.

Chief steward Terry Bailey said: “It’s a shame. We had such a nice, clean-run Melbourne Cup.”

Protectionist’s win made Germany the fifth overseas country to take out the Cup, after wins from New Zealand, Ireland, France and Japan.

Trainer Andrew Wohler, declared, with delightful understatement: “He stayed, yah?”

Protectionist does have some local connections – syndicate Australian Thoroughbred Bloodstock is a part-owner –  and will now join the stables of Newcastle trainer Kris Lees.

But Wohler said he was determined to find a new horse to bring back for what he said was “high up among the world’s great races”.

Protectionist, a five-year-old stallion, started third favourite and paid $8 for the win. Red Cadeaux and Who Shot Thebarman were $21 chances.

Behind the placegetters, Signoff ($8) held on for a solid fourth and Godolphin’s Willing Foe ($31) fifth.

Local horse Lucia Valentina finished 13th after starting $7 second favourite, with jockey Kerrin McEvoy saying she failed to stay the distance.

The highly fancied Fawkner was a spent force 800 metres from home and finished 10th.

The Cup was attended by 100,794 people, with police praising the behaviour of the crowd. There were only two arrests, with a further 10 people evicted for alcohol-related behaviour.

– with AAP