Three weeks ago Protectionist, one of Germany’s finest horses, ran in the $200,000 Group 2 Herbert Power Stakes at Caulfield.

The horse’s connections also knocked back a start in the Caulfield Cup a week later, a race worth 15 times that amount.

Come Tuesday afternoon, Protectionist was a Melbourne Cup champion.

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Admire Rakti, who won the Caulfield Cup, suffered a catastrophic episode during the Melbourne Cup and died in the stalls after in the race, leaving handlers and connections devastated.

It was reported the Japanese stayer suffered a “sudden-death syndrome”. Possible causes are heart attack or an aneurism and a post-mortem will be conducted.

From left: Protectionist’s trainer Andreas Wohler, owner Christophe Berglar and jockey Ryan Moore. Photo: Getty

Timing, as they say, is everything.

Rarely has this been more tragically highlighted than in Tuesday’s race.

This is not to suggest Admire Rakti’s death could have been prevented, but his connections will be riddled with what-ifs.

Protectionist’s, meanwhile, will be celebrating a job well done, and the Melbourne Cup is in foreign hands yet again.

Protectionist did not have an easy run in heavy traffic, but found space when it mattered to storm home and beat English horse Red Cadeaux, while New Zealand stayer Who Shot Thebarman salvaged local honour in third.

It was the third time nine-year-old Red Cadeaux had finished second in Australia’s most famous race.

In claiming victory, Protectionist became the fifth northern hemisphere-trained horse to win the race since Vintage Crop saluted in 1993.

It was a masterful performance – the early pace was searing, thanks to a steamed-up My Ambivalent, who didn’t want to go into the barriers and burst out of them as soon as they were opened.

It was the fastest Cup since Media Puzzle won in 2002.

“The pace was suicidal off the front,” Protectionist’s trainer Andreas Wohler said.

“He stayed, yah?”

The lightly-raced five-year-old, who was making just his 10th career start, had Ryan Moore on board, the Englishman regarded as the best jockey in the world by some judges.

Moore had been an integral part of Wohler’s plans.

“Ryan is a superstar,” he said.

“(He) was so patient, he couldn’t have the position he wanted to have but he was so patient and when he came around the last bend he just needed the right gap.”

Protectionist first, daylight second. Photo: Getty

Moore won the Cox Plate on board Adelaide, and capped off a great spring when Protectionist took out the Cup by four lengths.

Afterward, Wohler said his decision to run the horse in the Herbert Power had been justified.

“The (VRC) chairman couldn’t understand it because he ran there for $200,000 and another week later for the $3 million Caulfield Cup we didn’t,” he said.

“Now he knows why.

“It’s unbelievable. Later when we think about it, it’s a moment in your life that you won’t forget.”

The fourth placing in the Herbert Power was Protectionist’s first run since a win at Deauville in August, and the Melbourne Cup win was the result of perfect timing and preparation.