Willie Mullins was delighted with the effort of Max Dynamite in the Emirates Melbourne Cup at Flemington.

Second in the race two years ago, things have not always gone to plan for the seven-year-old having had just four runs since, but he kept on well for third on his return to the Australian circuit behind fellow Irish runners, winner Rekindling and second Johannes Vermeer.

In addition, Mullins' other runners fared well, both making the top 10.

He told www.racing.com: "I'm delighted with him. I thought about halfway up the stretch that if he could get room, he might get out and do it, but I think his age maybe caught up with him.

"We're delighted with him and Thomas Hobson, who eventually got into sixth, and Wicklow Brave who was 10th, what more can you ask for?

"We'll just have to get a new group of horses probably (to come back). These guys are probably at the end of their career at this level, but I'll be back."

Max Dynamite's jockey Zac Purton added: "It was an excellent run, he was very brave. He took a tight run when I asked him to and I thought when we got through there he would fight, but he's a bit old now and it was a terrific run anyway."

Ben Melham pointed to the heavier weight of Johannes Vermeer, who was beaten a long neck in second, as the probable reason for defeat.

He said: "He had a great run throughout. I thought we were home, but probably the weight was the difference."

Iain Jardine's Ebor winner Nakeeta kept on well to finish fifth and rider Glyn Schofield said: "It was a super run. He just kept coming strongly, it was a good run."

Ben Allen was a late replacement on Thomas Hobson after intended rider Joao Moreira was stood down following a fall earlier on the Flemington card.

He said of sixth-placed Thomas Hobson: "He possibly switched off a bit too well, he didn't pick up the bridle at all. Once I set him up, they kind of sprinted away but I thought he ran really well."

Marmelo was among the favourites for the race and jockey Hugh Bowman had anticipated a better effort from his mount, who eventually finished ninth.

He said: "I expected a bit more. I had to make a little bit of use of him early, but I was in a nice position and he relaxed well.

"The pressure built a bit earlier than I would have liked, I must admit, but I thought he would have taken me a bit further."

Trainer Hughie Morrison also felt Marmelo had not given his best performance and is keen to have another attempt in 2018.

He said: "You'd have to say he ran a bit flat. He's had a run recently and he's had a long season, he didn't disgrace himself but I think the form book says he's better than that.

"He's only a young and inexperienced horse and hopefully we'll be back next year with a bigger, stronger horse. He's got it in him to go very close in a race like this.

"There's no reason to think (he bounced from the Caulfield Cup), I just know his best runs have been with a good break all year.

"There's advantages of running him in the Caulfield Cup, but we can all be clever with hindsight. Maybe it wouldn't have made a difference, he's been over here long enough and just lost his edge.

"I will certainly be trying to persuade everyone to come back next year as we've had a fantastic time and with regards to the result, we've gone back with an experience we'll be telling everyone about at home."

Stephen Baster was full of praise for 10th-placed Wicklow Brave, saying: "He ran well, he just didn't have any early speed so ended up last and just didn't really get going until the 650 (metre mark). He ran home good."

Hugo Palmer's Wall Of Fire had also been well fancied for the race, but he trailed home 16th, with jockey Craig Williams believing he had just not shown his best.

He said: "It was a bit of a muddling stop-start race and I thought my horse responded really well under those conditions. He came off the bridle at the 700 (metre mark) which is normally to his liking.

"Once I cut the corner and balanced him up, I expected him to start staying on and if he'd stayed on strongly he might have been back a little bit far back, but he just didn't stay on at all.

"Hopefully he comes through the race well, he just didn't run up to his European form."

US Army Ranger came home 18th, and Jamie Spencer said: "He passed a few beaten ones, never got hold of him."

Frankie Dettori teamed up with last year's winner Almandin but he reported the Robert Hickmott-trained runner had failed to fire in 12th.

He said: "I was stuck three wide and the horse was flat, he never carried me today. He ran like a flat horse."