Buzz at the Melbourne Cup: The old champ creates history

HORSE racing can be a tough, cruel and heartbreaking business. Not everyone can win as we saw at the Melbourne Cup, writes Phil Rothfield.

Phil Rothfield

HORSE racing can be a tough, cruel and heartbreak business. Not everyone can win.

For the second year in a row we tragically lost a horse on Melbourne Cup day with the deaths of Japanese favourite Admire Rakti and seventh placegetter Araldo.

It put the frustrations of the owners of the second placegetter Red Cadeaux into perspective.

One minute we’re talking of this desperately unlucky nine-year-old English gelding becoming the first horse in Melbourne Cup history to run second in our greatest race three times - 2011, 2013 and now 2014.

Then news breaks of the Admire Rakti and Araldo tragedies.

Suddenly we don’t really care that Red Cadeaux is a three-time bridesmaid.

Red Cadeaux with Gerald Mosse as they ride towards the starting gate.

Still we shouldn’t take anything away from this marvellous old machine and his outstanding run to beat them all home, bar Protectionist.

Afterwards French jockey Gerald Mosse said he wants to come back again for a fifth time.

“The old man was just terrific today,” Mosse said, “I had to work into the race earlier than I wanted to because other horses were tiring but it was a great run.

“It’s up to the owners but my opinion is he should come back.

“If he doesn’t run in too many races and we take good care of him, we should.

“The horse just loves Melbourne and his run this year was better than last.”

Red Cadeaux places second.

Red Cadeaux’s trainer Ed Dunlop couldn’t have been prouder.

“What do we do?” he asked, “I’m getting used to it now.

“It’s frustrating but we’ll just see how he recovers from the run.

“If he’s not ok, we’ll retire him. It’s a simple as that and it’s up to the horse.”

Sport is littered with bridesmaid stories.

Back in the old days Shadow King had six starts in the Melbourne Cup between 1929 and 1935 for two seconds, two thirds, a fourth and a sixth.

Just like Red Cadeaux. Beaten but very, very brave.

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ONE TAB punter had $1000 each way on the winner Protectionist at $35 back in September — and he collected a cool $44,500on Tuesday.

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NO wonder the TAB’s Glenn Munsie was looking a little bit off coolur after the race.

One of the owners of the winner Protectionist had $10,000 on the horse at Munsie’s TAB stand just before they jumped.

He came back and collected his $80,000 in cash after the race.

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THERE has been a rumour doing the rounds here at the Cup that rugby league’s most famous brand is up for sale.

That St George Illawarra want to go down the same path as the Rabbitohs and Sea Eagles with private ownership.

Even Channel Seven boss Kerry Stokes has been mentioned as a likely bidder but his camp have denied it. So, too, has Dragons CEO Peter Doust, but he hasn’t ruled it out in the future.

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HIGHLIGHT

THE best horse won the race. No jockey, trainer or owner from the beaten horses had any excuses.

LOWLIGHT

THE tragic deaths of the Japanese champion Admire Rakti and Araldo.

SHOOSH

Panthers boss and former TAB supremo Warren Wilson is being tipped to take a seat on the board of Racing NSW. This is the same man who couldn’t get a start on the NRL commission and would also have made a better CEO than Dave Smith because of his feel for the game.

SHOOSH II

Which TVN presenter almost got flattened by a disgruntled diner and punter at the Tea House restaurant in Chinatown on cup eve.

Photo of jockey Edgar Britt.

TRUE BRITT

THE best stayer in Australia was not Tuesday’s Cup winner.

Try Edgar Britt, the former jockey, who turned 101 on the Gold Coast last week.

Edgar had rides in two Melbourne Cups, finishing unplaced on Eastern Chief in 1932 before running fourth on Broad Arrow in 1934.

He watched yesterday race from his home at Main Beach

THIRSTY WORK

Veteran commentator Dave Morrow is in town covering the Melbourne Cup in one of his last assignments for the ABC. The 25-year veteran retires from Aunty at the end of the month.

We’re heard he’s had talks with 2GB about calling some NRL next year.

LOST BUDDY

BUDDY Franklin was a late scratching from the birdcage at the Cup carnival which is probably a good thing considering his issues last year when he insulted former Wallaby skipper Phil Waugh in a drunken exchange.

He also referred to Sonny Bill Williams as “Sonny Who”. The Swans superstar is visiting his sister in Toulon in France and decided not to return home for the races.

A race fan celebrates a win.

HIGH FASHION

THE biggest winner from Melbourne’s spring carnival was the retail clothing industry.

Around the country women purchased 62,000 hats and 60,000 pairs of shoes.

Men bought 27,000 new ties and 18,000 suits.

SCRATCH RACE

The Melbourne Cup jinx struck jockey Craig Williams yet again at Flemington on Tuesday when his horse Cavalryman was scratched on race morning.

This is the same jockey who was supposed to ride Dunaden in the 2011 Melbourne Cup but got suspended.

He went to the movies instead and didn’t even watch Dunaden win the race.

Good judge rate Williams as arguably the best jockey to never win the race.

KENNY’S TRUE STAR

KENNY Callander has covered around 40 Melbourne Cups but on Tuesday was his most special.

Kenny’s granddaughter Madison turned 18 and celebrated the milestone at Flemington.

They’re pictured together on course at the Makybe Diva statue.

Originally published as Buzz at the Melbourne Cup: The old champ creates history