Colourful costumes and thrilling racing marked Australia's most prestigious horse race, the Melbourne Cup.

Thousands of racegoers descended on the course at Flemington in Melbourne to watch the A$5m race.

It was Japan's day though, with trainer Katsuhiko Sumii producing the two frontrunners Delta Blues and Pop Rock.

Delta Blues pipped Pop Rock in a photo finish, in what was winning jockey Yasunari Iwata's first ride in Australia.

"Very happy, very happy," were Yasunari Iwata's words after he crossed the finishing line.

But while the Melbourne Cup is undoubtedly about the racing...

... It is also a chance to go overboard in the fashion stakes. In true Cup tradition, some men dressed as women.

These racegoers from New Zealand chose matching sunflower suits for their Cup outing.

While these racing fans from England came even more elaborately attired.

The changeable weather may have left some feeling the cold, but it failed to dampen Melbourne Cup day spirits.