Rodd hoping to reverse Melbourne Cup result on Red Cadeaux

Jockey Michael Rodd is hoping a bigger and stronger Red Cadeaux can reverse last year’s Melbourne Cup results when he takes on Dunaden again on the first Tuesday in November.

Dunaden and Red Cadeaux

Michael Rodd and Red Cadeaux lost by a nose to Dunaden in last year's Melbourne Cup. Photo by: Taron Clarke

The English stayer was beaten a nose by Dunaden in the Group 1 $6m Emirates Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington last year and after twelve month to dwell on the defeat, Rodd is convinced he can win this year.

“I learned a lot off riding him last year and I definitely got to the front too early on him,” Rodd said.

“He took me by surprise with his turn of foot. I didn’t think he was going to let go like that.

“All I’ve been thinking about since last year is this horse and how I really want to turn the tables.”

Rodd made the trip to Werribee yesterday morning to get a feel of Red Cadeaux and was very impressed with stayer.

“He’s bigger than he was last year and I could really feel it out there on the track,” Rodd said.

“He’s certainly a lot wider, just sitting up there on top of him.

“It’s all positive. He’s just a natural stayer.”

The Ed Dunlop trained seven year old will meet Dunaden 2,5kg better after going down by a whisker last year and Rodd knows that will go a long way to help him win his second Melbourne Cup after riding Efficient to victory in 2007.

“It really evens things right up,” Rodd said.

“He is probably gonna find it hard to beat us this year, I reckon.”

Dunaden has established himself the one to beat again after a stunning last to first win in the Group 1 $2.5m BMW Caulfield Cup (2400m) at Caulfield on October 20 while Red Cadeaux is coming off a third to Fiorente at Newmarket in the Group 2 £100,000 Princess Of Wales’s Goldsmith Stakes (2414m) on July 12.

“I’ve been watching his last few runs and I was told to put a pen through his last run at Newmarket,” Rodd said.

“He’s been going quite well but he just seems to like it here

“Hopefully, he can just turn up like he was last year and go one better.”

Red Cadeaux was last in the winner’s circle four starts back beating Glen’s Diamond in the Group 2 £140,000 Sportingbet Yorkishire Cup (British Champions Series) at York on May 18 but has been placed at his last three runs.

Red Cadeaux is currently a $11 chance in Melbourne Cup markets with 2010 winner Americain gaining favouritism at $6 after some solid support in the last couple of days with Dunaden at $7 to make it back to back Cup wins.

English stayer Mount Athos is next in line at $8 while Maluckyday is the best of the Australian trained horses at $11.

About The Author

Mark Mazzaglia

Mark is a passionate journalist with a life-time involvement in the racing industry. He spent many years as an analyst and form expert at the Courier Mail and also has hands-on experience working with some of Queensland’s top trainers.