Racing: Signed, sealed, delivered

Melbourne Cup trials do not come any better than this. Signoff streaks away from his rivals in the Lexus Stakes at Flemington on Saturday and looms as a huge danger tomorrow. Photo / Getty Images

Signoff’s success in Lexus caps off a daring plan to sneak stayer into Melbourne Cup.

It took just two minutes and 37 seconds for Signoff to go from outside the field for the Melbourne Cup to the $5.50 second favourite for the great race.

In doing so, he pulled off one of racing's most nerve-wracking gambles.

Wealthy caravan manufacturer Gerry Ryan, who has already won a Melbourne Cup with Americain, and trainer Darren Weir, reckoned Signoff could win a Melbourne Cup only if they got him into the A$6.2 million race with a featherweight on his back.

That meant leaving qualifying for the race until the last gasp A$300,000 Lexus on Saturday.

Second wasn't good enough - Signoff had to win or miss running in the Cup.

He was so impressive in doing so almost without exception Northern Hemisphere trainers at yesterday's international press conference at the Werribee quarantine station labelled Signoff the horse they were most scared of.

He has just 51kg, but Joao Moreira is expected to ride the horse slightly overweight at 51.5kg.

Moreira is worth putting on at any weight. The Hong Kong-based Brazilian jockey's rhythm and balance is mystical to the point that watching him is poetry in motion.

It also won for him on Saturday the A$500,000 Coolmore Stud Stakes and he missed by the width of your hand in a bobbing finish to take the A$1 million Mackinnon Stakes.

VRC handicapper Greg Carpenter called the Signoff scenario: "The biggest gamble I've seen in 10 years in the job."

Backing up into a Melbourne Cup in three days is not an easy task but Weir, Victoria's leading trainer, said yesterday Signoff has come through Saturday's race in great order.

So he should - Moreira was easing him down in the closing stages. Shocking was the last horse to back up out of the Lexus and take the Cup.

There would be no more popular winner of the Melbourne Cup than veteran Red Cadeaux, having his fourth attempt in the race.

Remarkably, if that were to happen the stunning 9-year-old would take his earnings to just a fraction under $10 million.

Trainer Ed Dunlop, a hugely experienced international horse traveller, does not count it out.

Dunlop closely watched Red Cadeaux do some quiet work at Werribee yesterday and declared him: "Looking the best he has since he's been here this time".

Red Cadeaux was beaten a nostril by Dunaden in the 2011 Melbourne Cup and finished second to Fiorente last year.

"On ratings, his second last year was the best run of his life," said Dunlop.

Red Cadeaux will be ridden by Frenchman Gerald Mosse, who guided Americain to victory.

Final entry into Cup
*Signoff had to win the Lexus Stakes to ensure he lined up in tomorrow's Melbourne Cup.
*He did so with ease and is now second favourite.
*Popular veteran Red Cadeaux is starting in his fourth Cup.