Racing: Rodd makes most of invasion

Michael Rodd had his first ride on Red Cadeaux at the Werribe racetrack. Photo / Getty Images

Australian owners and trainers lamenting the international dominance of this year's Melbourne Cup might do well to take a leaf out of the book of jockey Michael Rodd, and do something about it.

With the possibility of half of the 24-horse Cup field comprising foreign-trained horses or runners recently imported from Europe, the predictable outcry has gone up from many locals.

When the New Zealand entries and those bought from Europe by Lloyd Williams are taken into account, only one Australian-bred horse seems likely to make the field.

The situation makes it difficult for all sections of the local industry, but some are working harder at holding on to a share of the action than others.

Rodd, who won the 2007 Cup on Efficient, has picked up the ride on English stayer Red Cadeaux thanks largely to some self-promotion with the horse's trainer Ed Dunlop.

"I heard Ed Dunlop was looking for a local jockey so I put my name in and I was lucky enough to get the ride," Rodd said yesterday.

Most of the raiders will have local hoops in the saddle.

"I'm lucky, I've won a Melbourne Cup and I'm more marketable," Rodd said. "Some of the guys are very good riders but are harder to sell to the international owners and trainers.

"But it looks like they are starting to learn a bit and work out that they need to employ us local guys who know the track and the racing environment," he said.

Rodd had his first ride on Red Cadeaux at the Werribee racetrack quarantine centre on Monday and came away satisfied that his effort to partner the horse could pay dividends.

"We had a look at some tapes ... he's got form around all these good horses - Americain who is favourite and Jukebox Jury," he said.

Red Cadeaux came through the race that is shaping as the "Cup maker", the Prix Kergorlay (3000m) run at Deauville in August.

Americain, the defending Cup champion and winner of last Saturday's Moonee Valley Cup, ran in the race finishing in the second half of the field.

The winner, Jukebox Jury, has dead-heated in a group one race since.

Red Cadeaux worked at three-quarter pace over 1600m at Werribee and Rodd is hoping to give the horse a more searching test later in the week.

Europe's in-form stayer Jukebox Jury "ticks most of the Melbourne Cup" boxes, said Mark Johnston.

The trainer was driving to Doncaster races late on Saturday night when he heard the news that Americain, thrashed by Jukebox Jury in the Prix Kergorlay, won the Moonee Valley Cup.

He told the Herald Sunthat a "better formline" could not be written for Jukebox Jury.

"The form has worked out extremely well and that's why he [Jukebox Jury] has been dropping in the betting," Johnston said.

"Everything we know about European horses going to the Melbourne Cup, I think Jukebox Jury ticks most of the boxes. "He's won exactly the right races - the Prix Kergorlay and the Irish St Leger."

Johnston said the "only negative" is that on European ratings, Jukebox Jury, backed from $101 to $21, is not "particularly well in" with 57kg.

"He's got a fair old weight in the Melbourne Cup, but so has Americain."

He noted that Jukebox Jury's running style does not sit with the typical Melbourne Cup horse.

"I know in Australia you have this idea that we should all have fixed tactics beforehand. Personally, that's not my style," he said.

"My horses go out and run at the pace that suits them. Jukebox Jury in Europe often tends to be towards the front, but he doesn't have to lead.

"He's not a stop-start horse. My view of the Melbourne Cup is that it's very much a stop-start race."

Neil Callan, who rode Jukebox Jury when he won the Prix Kergorlay, rides the 6-year-old in the Cup while Johnston is still looking for a jockey for stablemate Fox Hunt. Silvestre de Sousa was to ride Fox Hunt, but he's staying in England in a bid to win the jockey's title.

Johnston described Fox Hunt, a winner of the German St Leger as "tailor made" for the Melbourne Cup.

"Even in a European race, he likes to slow up and then he is a horse that comes with a great turn of foot," he said.

Darren Beadman will ride Precedence in the Cup, while Brett Prebble is favoured to ride ex-German stayer Illo.

Hong Kong stayer Mighty High's bid is over. Trainer John Moore has abandoned Mighty High's campaign after blood samples revealed the horse was not quite right.

Booming and Showcause will represent New Zealand horsemen should they make the final field.

SECOND ACCEPTANCES: Americain (USA) 58; Jukebox Jury (IRE) 57; Midas Touch (GB) 55; Dunaden (FR) 54.5; Manighar (FR), Glass Harmonium (IRE), Unusual Suspect (USA), Drunken Sailor (IRE) 54. Linton (AUS), Precedence (NZ), Mourayan (IRE), Lucas Cranach (GER), Red Cadeaux (GB), Fox Hunt (IRE) 53.5; Hawk Island (IRE), Lost In The Moment (IRE), Illo (GER), Modun (IRE) 53; At First Sight (IRE), Booming (NZ), Tactic (GB) 52.5. Shamrocker (NZ), Tullamore (NZ), The Verminator (AUS), Moyenne Corniche (GB), Saptapadi (IRE), Bauer (IRE) 52; Shewan (AUS) 51.5; Older Than Time (AUS), Sahara Sun (CHI), Ironstein (AUS), Lamasery (AUS), Niwot (AUS) 51; Green Moon (IRE), Spechenka (AUS), Showcause (AUS), Macedonian (NZ), Raffaello (AUS) 50.5; Tanby (AUS), Galizani (AUS), Anudjawun (NZ), Two For Tea (NZ), Midnight Martini (AUS), Cosmonaut (AUS), Reprisal (AUS), Back In Black (NZ), Western Symbol (NZ) 50.

- AAP