Kiwi jockey Michael Walker admitted he was devastated he couldn't win the Melbourne Cup for his family.
Third across the line, Prince Of Arran was elevated to second behind Vow And Declare after a stewards' protest.
As Walker was leaving home for Tuesday's meeting, he promised his daughter Layla that he would win the Melbourne Cup.
Tuesday was Layla's 11th birthday.
"I'm very family orientated and I feel like I've let her down," Walker said.
"That's what has hit me the hardest.
"Then getting elevated to second probably makes it hurt a little bit more.
"But the horse ran super and Charlie and the team have done a tremendous job."
Walker's Cup was further soured when he was suspended for seven meetings and fined $10,000 for breaching the whip rule, using it 12 times before the 100m mark.
"I had thoughts of winning the Melbourne Cup," Walker told stewards.
"I lost my style, I lost my balance and I lost my mind."
Walker's suspension starts after he rides at the Oaks day meeting at Flemington on Thursday.
Meanwhile, Cup runner Rostropovich was taken to a veterinary clinic with a cracked pelvis after finishing at the tail of the field in the $8 million race.
Rostropovich finished more than 30 lengths behind the second-last placed Mustajeer after being pulled up by Dwayne Dunn.
After receiving initial veterinary care, the horse was transported to the University of Melbourne Equine Centre for further assessment.
Racing Victoria said he was in a stable condition, comfortable and receiving the best veterinary care.
"Rostropovich will be confined to box rest for the near future and will be closely monitored over the coming days by veterinary staff," RV said.
Rostropovich was having his second run in the Melbourne Cup.
He finished fifth in last year's race when trained by Aidan O'Brien and ran this year for the Lindsay Park partnership of David and Ben Hayes and Tom Dabernig .
