Red Cadeaux is rated an outsider in 2013 Melbourne Cup betting markets but, based on his lead-up form, trainer Ed Dunlop believes that his star stayer is a better chance than his odds suggest.
Red Cadeaux is returning to Australia for the third time for the 2013 Melbourne Cup. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia
Since finishing eighth in last year’s Melbourne Cup, Red Cadeaux has raced all around the world and recorded impressive results in some of the biggest events on the global racing calendar.
The veteran stayer scored his first win at Group 1 level when he took out the Group 1 Hong Kong Vase (2400m) at the end of last year and started his 2013 racing season with a second place finish behind the highly-rated Animal Kingdom in the Group 1 Dubai World Cup (2000m) before finishing third in the Group 1 Tenno Sho (3218m) in Japan.
Red Cadeaux failed to fire in the Group 1 Singapore International Cup (2000m), the Prince Of Wales’s Stakes (2011m) or the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2414m) but returned to his best form when finishing second in the Group 3 Geoffrey Freer Stakes (2670m) and had no luck when carrying 62kg in the Group 1 Irish St Leger (2816m).
The eight-year-old has now had 40 career starts all around the world but Dunlop believes that the heavy amount of racing does not bother the Cadeaux Genereux gelding and thinks that he will be competitive in the 2013 Melbourne Cup – even if his odds suggest otherwise.
“It doesn’t bother him; he has won a Hong Kong Vase and was second in the Dubai World Cup,” Dunlop said.
“Side Glance (who won the Group 1 MacKinnon Stakes (2000m) at Flemington yesterday) finished fourth in that, so the form is right if the horse is right.
“He loves travelling.”
Dunlop was in charge of selecting the barrier for Red Cadeaux at yesterday’s barrier draw and was clearly disappointed when he drew gate 22.
The leading European trainer admits that Red Cadeaux will need plenty of luck to win from the wide alley but is hopeful that there will be plenty of pace in the 2013 Melbourne Cup, which will give his galloper a chance to play a part in the finish like he did two years ago.
“It is not ideal and we have plenty of weight,” Dunlop said.
“I hope that there is some pace; I hope we don’t have what happened last year because most of the badly drawn horses have got no chance.
“If they go a canter for a mile and a half and sprint for home we will be in a bit of trouble.
“He is a little bit older and he has more weight so it is going to be tough.”
Red Cadeaux is currently well down 2013 Melbourne Cup betting markets at odds of $61; with Gai Waterhouse-trained Fiorente ($7.50), last year’s fifth placegetter Mount Athos ($9) and Caulfield Cup runner-up Dandino ($11) the current favourites.
