Prince Of Penzance and Viewed among the shock winners of the Melbourne Cup

But once the dust settles these unlikely winners become part of Melbourne Cup folklore and are remembered as magical moments of the great race.

From Prince Of Penzance and Michelle Payne, to even the Cups King Bart Cummings, Australia’s greatest staying race has seen its fair share of long shots triumph.

HERE ARE SIX OF THE BIGGEST MELBOURNE CUP UPSETS.

PRINCE OF PENZANCE

Produced the most famous Melbourne Cup win in recent memory. Prince of Penzance became only the fourth horse to win at 100-1, but the first in 75 years, as Michelle Payne created history as the first female jockey to win.

VIEWED

The internationals were out in the force for the 2008 Cup and only Bart Cummings could keep them at bay when Viewed caused a thrilling boilover. The 40-1 shot surged clear with 300m to go and staved off a late challenge from Geelong Cup winner Bauer to hold on in a photo finish. The victory gave Cummings his 12th Melbourne Cup and 250th Group 1 victory.

CAULFIELD CUP WINNER: JAMEKA PRIMED FOR MELBOURNE CUP

HARTNELL: COX PLATE RUNNER-UP CARRIES WEIGHT OF A NATION

SECOND DECLARATIONS: LOGJAM IN RACE TO GAIN CUP BERTH

CUP RAIDERS: FRUSTRATED VISITORS EAGER TO GO ONE BETTER

DELTA BLUES

The Japanese came and conquered in their first attempt at the Melbourne Cup. Delta Blues and Pop Rock completed a historic quinella in another thrilling Cup finish in 2006. The pair powered away from the rest of the field as Delta Blues — the $18 outsider of the stablemates — denied Damien Oliver, who was on board the $6 equal favourite Pop Rock. Oliver provided a touching gesture by grabbing the hand of Japanese jockey Yasunari Iwata as soon as they passed the winning post.

TAWRRIFIC

Punters had lost faith in Tawrrific after he finished second-last in the Caulfield Cup, but an astonishing turnaround in form saw the five-year-old colt defeat stablemate Super Impose at 30-1 in 1989. The first of Lee Freedman’s five Melbourne Cup winners.

PIPING LANE

The big gelding won the first metric Melbourne Cup in 1972, taking advantage of a light weight of 48kg to fly past champion grey Gunsynd (who was carrying 60.5kg) and New Zealand mare Magnifique (the 7-2 favourite) to score at 40-1. With many jockey’s unable to make the weight, John Letts flew in from Adelaide for his first ever ride at Flemington, and had stated beforehand “we’re only here to make up the numbers” when asked about his chances of winning.

RIMFIRE

The 80-1 chance prevailed in a controversial 1948 Melbourne Cup, the first time the race was decided by a photo-finish camera. There was some conjecture whether the photo was properly alinged. Jockey Ray Neville was 15 years old and having just his ninth ride when he piloted Rimfire to victory.

Other notable long-priced winners:

Hi Jinx (1960) — 50/1

Old Rowley (1940) — 100-1

Wotan (1936) — 100-1

Tarcoola (1893) — 40-1

Glenloth (1892) — 50-1

Zulu (1881) — 50-1

The Pearl (1871) — 100-1