Nov. 4 (Bloomberg) -- Australian trainer Bart Cummings celebrated a record-extending 12th victory in the Melbourne Cup as Viewed won the 148th edition of Australia's richest horse race in a photo finish.

Ridden by Blake Shinn, Viewed held off fast-finishing English stayer Bauer by a nose in the two-mile (3,200-meter) handicap at Flemington Racecourse to claim the A$3.3 million ($2.1 million) first prize. C'est La Guerre was third.

``I thought it was all over at the last 50 yards, then I wasn't sure,'' Cummings said in an interview with Channel Seven. ``It's a baker's dozen coming up next year; always look ahead.''

The 80-year-old won his first Melbourne Cup in 1965 and entered the race for the first time 50 years ago.

Tabcorp Holdings Ltd., Australia's largest wagering company, paid A$41 for a A$1 winning bet and A$12 for a top- three place on Viewed. The Luca Cumani-trained Bauer paid A$6.90 for a place, and New Zealand galloper C'est La Guerre returned A$8.10 for finishing third.

Held on the first Tuesday of November, a public holiday in Melbourne, the so-called ``race that stops a nation'' is seen or heard on television or radio by about 85 percent of Australia's 21 million people, according to the Victoria Racing Club.

To contact the reporter on this story: Dan Baynes in Sydney at dbaynes@bloomberg.net

Last Updated: November 3, 2008 23:38 EST