Making history when becoming the first northern hemisphere runner to contest the Race That Stops a Nation four times, talented globetrotter Red Cadeaux has once again laid a great account for himself at Flemington Racecourse this afternoon in finishing a brave second in the 2014 Melbourne Cup for the third time.
Red Cadeaux has finished second in the Melbourne Cup three times. Photo: Taron Clarke
Jumping from the gates well, jockey Gerald Mosse settled Red Cadeaux in prime position within the 2014 Melbourne Cup field of 22; sitting off the pace of early leaders My Ambivalent and clear pre-post favourite Admire Rakti, who set a noticeably quick tempo past the post the first time and rounding onto the back straight.
Receiving an ideal run in transit, Mosse pushed the Cadeaux Genereux gelding eight runners wide over the back straight, steadily making up ground on the likes of Brambles and Royal Diamond upon reaching the final turn.
Offered a clear racing line upon reaching the final straight, Red Cadeaux quickly kicked well and locked in a sprint battle with Lexus Stakes winner Signoff; the pair pulling clear of their rivals and appearing to make the Melbourne Cup a two horse race before classy German Protectionist mustered an incredible sprint to split the pair and find the line more than four lengths in the clear.
Securing a place in Australian racing folk law in claiming a third second place finish in his fourth attempt at winning the Melbourne Cup, Red Cadeaux has secured a commendable total of seven wins and eighteen minor places from his 47 competitive appearances on course to date.
Given little chance of success in the 2011 edition of the Cup, Red Cadeaux perhaps gave the biggest hint of what was to follow over the next three years when finishing second by a hair to champion stayer Dunaden in his maiden Melbourne Cup tilt.
Returning to Australia in 2012 in typically scintillating form, the gelding out of Artisia was unable to match the late pace of runaway winner Green Moon and finished a still-credible eighth.
Once again given little chance of a successful performance when lining up at the Flemington stalls in 2013, Red Cadeaux stalked clear favourite Fiorente through the field and locked in a memorable another memorable sprint battle, only surrendering 100m from the line in finishing second.
Having progressed to an impressive fourth in the Group 1 Hong Kong Vase (2400m) following his 2013 Melbourne Cup second, a return to Sha Tin now appears on the cards for the brave nine-year-old.
