The Ed Dunlop-trained Red Cadeaux is gearing up for an impressive fourth straight tilt in the Group 1 Emirates Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington on Tuesday, which is a great result in and of itself. Not to mention the gelding finished a very close second twice – in both 2011 and 2013 – which bookended a non-placed run in 2012.

It would be a story for the ages if he could finally claim victory in the $6.2 Melbourne Cup, but does he have what it takes? Or is he doomed to miss out once again?

Dunlop is pleased with Red Cadeaux’s condition leading up to the race and doesn’t think the field of the 2014 Melbourne Cup is anywhere near as competitive as the other years his gelding has run. He’s learned a lot from his three previous attempts and believes he’s perfected the pattern of the race.

Red Cadeaux’s form isn’t the best leading into the race, he finished dead last in the Group 3 September Stakes (2414m) last time out but the gelding always seems to save his best for the Melbourne Cup. Dunlop also noted he ran a clunker before last year’s race, and he managed to finish less than one length off Fiorente.

Punters are unsure of the gelding’s ability to finally claim a win in the ‘race that stops the nation’, with his price drifting from $17 to $21 in the Melbourne Cup betting market at Ladbrokes.com.au.

Whatever happens, running the grueling Melbourne Cup four years in a row is an achievement in itself and a major feat for the gelding.

Melbourne Cup Horse Form: #4 Red Cadeaux

• Barrier: 15 (into 14)
• Weight: 57kg
• Jockey: Gerald Mosse
• Trainer: Ed Dunlop
• Owners: R Arculli
• Age: 9YO
• Gender: Gelding
• Breeding: by Cadeaux Genereux (GB) from Artisia (IRE)
• Career: 46:7-11-6
• Win: 15%
• Place: 52%
• Last 6: x60x47
• Prize Money: $3,307,751
• Track: 3:0-2-0
• Distance: 7:0-3-1
• Current 2014 Melbourne Cup Odds: $21

Why Red Cadeaux Can Win The 2014 Melbourne Cup

• The gelding is an old marvel that saves his best for this race each year
• Reports suggest he’s in similar shape to last year so expect him to run another big race
• Is the only horse on the field to contest the race 4 times in a row
• Is a proven stayer having run two miles 7 times – 3 of which he finished in the top three
• Ed Dunlop has had three attempts at the Cup, all with Red Cadeaux, so he knows exactly how to handle the gelding in the race
• Gerald Mosse will ride him again after bringing him home to second in 2013 – this is the hoops fourth attempt after winning with Americain in 2010
• Will get the lowest start ever in the Cup from barrier 14, which has seen six winners the last of which was Makybe Diva in 2005
• Horses that ran and lost the year before have gone on to win 4 times
• Carries the most successful saddlecloth (4) with 11 winners

Why Red Cadeaux Won’t Win The 2014 Melbourne Cup

• Missed out on a win in past four attempts – what makes this year any different?
• No lead-up run in Australia – only one European raider has won the Cup without a lead-up run in Australia (Vintage Crop, 1993)
• Doesn’t have very good lead-up form, he finished dead last in the September Stakes
• Perpetual bridesmaid? Hasn’t won a race since December 2012
• Worst Win Rate (15%) of the field
• Too old? No 9YO has won since 1983

Is the 2014 Melbourne Cup finally Red Cadeaux’s chance at winning the $6.2 million feature race? Back the determined stayer at Ladbrokes.com.au now!

Fancy yourself a winner when it comes to picking race finishing orders? You could win $10 million at Ladbrokes.com.au for just $1 in the Ladbrokes MegaFecta. Simply pick the first seven finishers across the line in the Melbourne Cup and you’ll win the $10 million grand prize.