( CNN ) -- Gai Waterhouse made history on Tuesday by becoming the first female Australian trainer to win the Melbourne Cup , the country 's most prestigious horse race . Waterhouse saw her pre-race favorite Fiorente fend off competition from 2011 runner-up Red Cadeaux to win `` the race that stops a nation . '' `` Everyone wants to win the majors and the Melbourne Cup is the biggest one of them all , '' said Waterhouse , who was born in Scotland , raised in Sydney and once appeared in British sci-fi television show Doctor Who during her earlier career as an actress after returning to the UK . `` It 's a burning desire so today was fantastic ... His ( Fiorente 's ) preparation was in Melbourne and I knew he was primed for the occasion . `` It 's the first time I 've had the favorite in the 20 years I 've trained . '' Victorious jockey Damien Oliver won the Flemington race for the third time in his career , despite only recently returning from a 10-month ban imposed for betting on a rival horse in 2010 . `` It 's amazing , a dream come true . It 's really hard to believe , '' said Oliver . `` I 'm so rapt right now that I 've been part of Gai 's first win -- she 's done so much for racing and it 's a great honor for me to help her bring up the first one . `` Gai was one of the first people to really get behind me when I came back and I ca n't thank her enough for helping me get going again . '' After her historic win , Waterhouse was asked about the possibility of taking both Fiorente and her other horse Tres Blue , which finished in 22nd place , across to Britain for Royal Ascot in August 2014 . `` I 'd like to go , '' she replied . `` Both horses could easily come back to Europe . Tres Blue was just a bit new to it all . '' Retired English football star Michael Owen saw Brown Panther , a horse he bred and co-owns , finish the race in eighth position . Brown Panther was hampered by a gash it sustained during the race after a coming together with another horse , but Owen confirmed the animal had suffered no serious injuries . `` Eighth out of 24 pretty respectable , '' Owen said via his official Twitter account . `` Proud of him . Just hope he is OK as he has been struck into during the race . '' `` Scan has come back clear , '' Owen added later . `` Only superficial gash that requires stitches . We live to fight another day ! ''
Favorite Fiorente wins the Melbourne Cup at UK Tuesday . The horse makes Gai Waterhouse the eighth Australian female trainer to win the race . Fiorente beat off competition from 2011 runner-up Red Cadeaux . Ex-footballer Fiorente horse Brown Panther finished first .