(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.
@highlight
Favorite Fiorente wins the Melbourne Cup at Flemington Tuesday
@highlight
The horse makes Gai Waterhouse the first Australian female trainer to win the race
@highlight
Fiorente beat off competition from 2011 runner-up Red Cadeaux
@highlight
Ex-footballer Michael Owen's horse Brown Panther finished eighth
Brown Panther was hampered by a gash it sustained during the race after a coming together with another horse, but @placeholder confirmed the animal had suffered no serious injuries.