(Tony 'The King' Bourke is the former chief racing writer at The Age.)

The Emirates Melbourne Cup trophy left for yet another overseas destination this morning after one of the most exciting finishes in the 151-year history of our most famous race.

After going to Ireland (twice), Japan and France (the trainer's trophy, anyway), the Cup was off to Qatar in the hands of owner Sheikh Fahad al-Thani, son of the ruler of what is now one of the richest of the oil states in the UAE.

With the Dubai-based Godolphin stable once again failing in its quest for a Melbourne Cup success, it was left to very much new kid on the block in 22-year-old Sheikh Fahad to take the prize with the French-trained Dunaden.

Sheikh Fahad has been involved in racing on an international level for only two years and he can hardly believe his good fortune - even though he had a fairly sizeable one to start with.

‘'This is amazing, I haven't been able to sleep for the past week thinking about it (the Cup) and I could hardly believe we did it,'' he said at the International Horse Centre at Werribee today before heading to the airport with the Cup tucked away in his hand luggage.

Sheik Fahad was full of admiration for Dunaden - ‘'He is a very brave horse" - and his French jockey Christophe Lemaire while at the same time expressing sympathy for local hoop Craig Williams who missed the ride because of suspension.

His week will only get better if his runner in the Breeders' Cup at Santa Anita at the weekend, Strong Suit, happens to topple the champion mare Goldikova who is trying to win the race for the fourth time

Dunaden's trainer Mikhel Delzangles was also at Werribee and said the experience of his first Melbourne Cup was ‘'unbelievable''.

Delzangles, who worked for 10 years for Alain de Royer Dupre, the trainer who won the Melbourne Cup last year with Americain and finished a close fourth yesterday, praised his former boss: ''I learned a lot from him and he joined us for the celebration last night. He is a thorough gentleman.''

Americain, who carried topweight of 58kgs and was forced very wide turning for home, finished less than a length and a half from the winner and ran the fastest sectional times for the last 400 metres and 200 metres.

Americain is now likely to remain in Australia to finish his racing career before going to stud and his devoted handler Stephanie Nigge wants to stay with him. ''I love Australia and if he (Americain) stays, I'll stay,'' she said.