Veteran stayer Red Cadeaux defied a wide barrier and the heavy weight of 56.5kg to finish a brave second behind Fiorente in the 2013 Melbourne Cup at Flemington this afternoon.
Red Cadeaux finished a brave second behind Fiorente in the 2013 Melbourne Cup. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia
Red Cadeaux started the race in barrier 22 but jockey Gerald Mosse, who won the 2010 Melbourne Cup on Americain, was able to get the eight-year-old into a mid-field position with cover, just off the fence.
Mosse was forced to go wide on Red Cadeaux coming around the final turn and the Cadeaux Genereux gelding tracked into the race nicely and hit the front, along with Simenon, at the 400 metre mark.
Fiorente laid down the challenge to Red Cadeaux with 300 metres left to run and the Ed Dunlop-trained stayer was able to respond but was outstayed by the Monsun entire who pulled away to record a narrow victory in the final stages of the race.
Red Cadeaux added a second Melbourne Cup placing to his incredible racing resume that now includes a victory in the Group 1 Hong Kong Vase (2400m), second place finishes in the Group 1 Coronation Cup (2423m) and Dubai World Cup (2000m) as well as placings in the Group 1 Irish St Leger (2816m) and Group 1 Tenno Sho (3218m) in Japan.
Dunlop admitted that he didn’t rate Red Cadeaux a winning chance after he drew towards the outside of the field in the barrier draw on Saturday but he was delighted with the performance of the stayer who has taken him to major races all around the world.
“I didn’t really give him much of a winning chance, especially after drawing barrier 23,” Dunlop told TVN after the race.
“A day before yesterday I thought I liked what I see with the horse, he loves it here, dare I say we might come again.
“I think it was an amazing ride with an amazing horse, at his age (eight) to nearly win another Cup.
“We bought the same horse here three times and we have been close twice.
“He is an amazing horse, he is not the best horse I have trained but he has got the biggest heart.”
Dunlop was devastated when Red Cadeaux was beaten by a pixel by Dunaden in the 2011 edition of the Melbourne Cup but believes that he was beaten by a better horse in this year’s race.
“All credit goes to Gai Waterhouse, her first Melbourne Cup,” Dunlop said.
“The best horse won on the day, no excuses we are very proud.
“We keep breaking all the rules, not many people gave him a chance.”
Dunlop said before the race that this was the ‘retirement tour’ for Red Cadeaux and did not confirm whether the Group 1 winner would defend his title in the Hong Kong Vase.
