2023 PB Lawrence Stakes Results: Cox Plate Hope Mr Brightside Salutes First-Up
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It would appear Red Cadeaux is the sentimental favourite to win the 2014 Melbourne Cup among the other trainers.
Marco Botti, who will saddle up Seismos, has already stated he would be happy to see the Ed Dunlop-trained British stayer win the Group 1 Emirates Melbourne Cup (3200m) on Tuesday if his own horse couldn’t do it.
UK trainer Roger Varian, who will be represented by My Ambivalent in the race, has also come out saying he would not begrudge Red Cadeaux the win on his fourth successive try.
“Running in the race four years in a row is an achievement in itself and after being second twice, I don’t think anyone would begrudge him winning,” he said.
Varian also said he would love to train the nine-year-old Red Cadeaux, who finished second in the race in both 2011 and 2013, either side of an unplaced run in 2012.
Right now however, the trainer is 100 per cent focused on his own runner in the $6.2 million feature race.
My Ambivalent, one of only two mare’s on the Melbourne Cup field, will jump from barrier four with Andrea Atzeni in the saddle. Should she win, My Ambivalent will be just the second horse since Kensei in 1987 to win from barrier four.
The inside gates are often considered troublesome in a race like the Melbourne Cup with such a big field but as long as the mare doesn’t get stuck on the rails early, she should be fine.
The mare is a current $41 shot in the Ladbrokes.com.au betting market to win the race, fluctuating between her current price and $51.
Her recent form is good, having finished in the top three in four of her last five starts including winning the Group 2 Middleton Stakes (2080m). The last start fourth in the Group 1 Pretty Polly Stakes (2000m) was supposed to begin her Australian spring campaign with a tilt in the Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) on October 18 but was withdrawn from the field following a stone bruise.
Missing the Caulfield Cup may have even helped My Ambivalent’s chances in the 2014 Melbourne Cup seeing as she is fit, healthy, and great running off a break.
Varian has a healthy respect for all Japanese stayers, especially Admire Rakti who went on to win the Caulfield Cup, given their imposing records over long distances.
“Admire Rakti was very good winning the Caulfield Cup and he brought very good form from Japan,” Varian said.
“I think the Japanese are such a force all over the world that you would have to see him as one of the big dangers.”
Admire Rakti has been the favourite in the 2014 Melbourne Cup betting ever since he won the Caulfield Cup, currently offering a price of $5.50 just ahead of Protectionist and Lucia Valentina ($7.50).
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