Best ride of the Melbourne Spring
November 12th 2008 08:30
Michael Rodd has once again proved himself master of the Melbourne Spring Carnival. His life has been a perfect example of peak and valley after he won the Melbourne Cup in 2007 aboard Efficient - then contracted a serious illness that necessitated that he take a long break from racing. At times his future did not appear certain. But come his return to riding - and the return of Spring - Michael Rodd dominated the jockey ranks with a brilliant and sustained display of riding that saw him successful in riding 10 winners over the 9 feature racemeetings of Spring, including three wins at Group One level. Rodd would begin the carnival with a clever ‘stay-out-of-trouble ride’ on rising superstar Whobegotyou in the Caulfield Guineas - and on Final Day (the last day of the 4 day Flemington carnival) he would win the Group One Patinack Farm Classic on Swick. Rodd’s connection to the Bart Cummings stable further illustrated with his wins (besides Swick) on Mimi Lebrock, Moatize and Dandaad.
(photo: Mark Dadswell Getty Images)
But not only was it a numerically successful carnival for Rodd - he was also responsible for what I would consider the best ride of the entire carnival with his superb ride on Maldivian in the Cox Plate.
By the time Maldivian made it to the barriers of this year’s Cox Plate he had started 6 times in the Spring without success. And not only this - but he had not won for over a year. His subsequent failure in the Caulfield Cup of 2008 once and for all ensuring that despite his favouritism on the day - and despite the wretched luck that caused him to be withdrawn at the barriers - the gloss and certainty of a victory denied in the 2007 Caulfield Cup would no longer be entertained. Master O’Reilly would defeat him in any variation of the running. Maldivian does not stay. His subsequent loss in the 2008 Caulfield Cup would come almost as a relief (no more need for nightmares or to entertain 'what if').
Meanwhile Mark Kavanagh was fine tuning his now maligned Zabeel gelding with gear changes and guile: tongue-tie, blinkers, and a sharpen up over fences. But he was no longer a feared proposition by the rival stables and jockeys - they had decided that Maldivian would lead in his races - and Maldivian would always wilt. A perfect and perennial pacemaker for our feature races.
It would be surprising for some to know however that Maldivian was performing (on speedfigures) only marginally below his best speedfigures of 2007. The fact was that he was being defeated in strong races. The best races run on the program. He went into the Cox Plate underestimated and overlooked.
It was possible that this would be a fast run Cox Plate as Nash Rawiller had selected outside barrier 12 to ensure that Theseo would be uncluttered and roll forward to the lead. Which is exactly what he did. As they turned out of the straight Michael Rodd asked the question of Nash Rawiller as he urged Maldivian to go past Theseo: are you going to test both my horse and your own?
And the race was won at that moment. Rawiller eased to take a ‘sensible’ sit and Maldivian rolled away - Rodd ensuring that the pace was quick enough to stop another horse making a too early move, but not out to break any records. There would be plenty of energy left for a devastating final 600m sprint. Down the back there were a few half-hearted moves made with Zipping being first. But these were moves to position for the home turn - and then the run to the line - not final drives to the line. And Rodd allowed Maldivian to be caught and a pack to develop around him. But no questions had yet been asked of Maldivian. Just before the turn Rodd asked the question - and Maldivian answered with a sprint and acceleration around the turn that saw him move well clear of his rivals and then easily hold the margin in the run to the line.
It was a great ride because of the plan and execution. Many thought that Theseo and Maldivian would cut at each other and make a win possible for the fast closers. Knowing this Rodd dared Rawiller and showed his hand early. It was both brave and bluff - and executed brilliantly.
After the long battle to return to riding Rodd will now monitor his health and attempt to avoid a recurrence of the chronic fatigue syndrome that struck him down last year. And that will necessitate frequent ‘holiday’ breaks to ensure that he remains healthy.
"I am going to take a break. Well, the last week of November I'll be off.”
"I am going to take a bit of December off, come back for a couple of weeks, to keep my weight intact, and then have another couple of weeks off at Christmas and be back for the New Year.”
"I learned a lot after last year's little episode. I won't be going silly, just staying in the zone." - Michael Rodd.
Another great riding performance of the Spring would have to be that of Clare Lindop on 100/1 Derby winner Rebel Raider. Knowing that she was on a strong staying horse Lindop extricated Rebel Raider from the pack before her main rivals had moved into the race and sprinted to the lead in the straight - a lead that could not be caught even by the horse of the Spring, Whobegotyou. In fact everything that Clare rode showed up in each race - including Moatize in the Melbourne Cup.
And the worst ride of the carnival?
We could say it was a triple deadheat - with the three Ballydoyle jockeys (Johnny Murtagh; Colm O’Donohue & Wayne Lordan) aboard Melbourne Cup ‘pacemakers’ Septimus, Honolulu and Alessandro Volta. But an honourable (dishonourable?) mention must also go to all of the jockeys who failed to realise that the inside rail - not the outside rail as usual - was providing the faster and superior ground in the races down the straight track at Flemington. It was so stupid to see the mistake repeated once the fact was known.
Michael Rodd & Mark Kavanagh
(photo: Mark Dadswell Getty Images)
But not only was it a numerically successful carnival for Rodd - he was also responsible for what I would consider the best ride of the entire carnival with his superb ride on Maldivian in the Cox Plate.
By the time Maldivian made it to the barriers of this year’s Cox Plate he had started 6 times in the Spring without success. And not only this - but he had not won for over a year. His subsequent failure in the Caulfield Cup of 2008 once and for all ensuring that despite his favouritism on the day - and despite the wretched luck that caused him to be withdrawn at the barriers - the gloss and certainty of a victory denied in the 2007 Caulfield Cup would no longer be entertained. Master O’Reilly would defeat him in any variation of the running. Maldivian does not stay. His subsequent loss in the 2008 Caulfield Cup would come almost as a relief (no more need for nightmares or to entertain 'what if').
Meanwhile Mark Kavanagh was fine tuning his now maligned Zabeel gelding with gear changes and guile: tongue-tie, blinkers, and a sharpen up over fences. But he was no longer a feared proposition by the rival stables and jockeys - they had decided that Maldivian would lead in his races - and Maldivian would always wilt. A perfect and perennial pacemaker for our feature races.
It would be surprising for some to know however that Maldivian was performing (on speedfigures) only marginally below his best speedfigures of 2007. The fact was that he was being defeated in strong races. The best races run on the program. He went into the Cox Plate underestimated and overlooked.
It was possible that this would be a fast run Cox Plate as Nash Rawiller had selected outside barrier 12 to ensure that Theseo would be uncluttered and roll forward to the lead. Which is exactly what he did. As they turned out of the straight Michael Rodd asked the question of Nash Rawiller as he urged Maldivian to go past Theseo: are you going to test both my horse and your own?
And the race was won at that moment. Rawiller eased to take a ‘sensible’ sit and Maldivian rolled away - Rodd ensuring that the pace was quick enough to stop another horse making a too early move, but not out to break any records. There would be plenty of energy left for a devastating final 600m sprint. Down the back there were a few half-hearted moves made with Zipping being first. But these were moves to position for the home turn - and then the run to the line - not final drives to the line. And Rodd allowed Maldivian to be caught and a pack to develop around him. But no questions had yet been asked of Maldivian. Just before the turn Rodd asked the question - and Maldivian answered with a sprint and acceleration around the turn that saw him move well clear of his rivals and then easily hold the margin in the run to the line.
It was a great ride because of the plan and execution. Many thought that Theseo and Maldivian would cut at each other and make a win possible for the fast closers. Knowing this Rodd dared Rawiller and showed his hand early. It was both brave and bluff - and executed brilliantly.
After the long battle to return to riding Rodd will now monitor his health and attempt to avoid a recurrence of the chronic fatigue syndrome that struck him down last year. And that will necessitate frequent ‘holiday’ breaks to ensure that he remains healthy.
"I am going to take a break. Well, the last week of November I'll be off.”
"I am going to take a bit of December off, come back for a couple of weeks, to keep my weight intact, and then have another couple of weeks off at Christmas and be back for the New Year.”
"I learned a lot after last year's little episode. I won't be going silly, just staying in the zone." - Michael Rodd.
Another great riding performance of the Spring would have to be that of Clare Lindop on 100/1 Derby winner Rebel Raider. Knowing that she was on a strong staying horse Lindop extricated Rebel Raider from the pack before her main rivals had moved into the race and sprinted to the lead in the straight - a lead that could not be caught even by the horse of the Spring, Whobegotyou. In fact everything that Clare rode showed up in each race - including Moatize in the Melbourne Cup.
And the worst ride of the carnival?
We could say it was a triple deadheat - with the three Ballydoyle jockeys (Johnny Murtagh; Colm O’Donohue & Wayne Lordan) aboard Melbourne Cup ‘pacemakers’ Septimus, Honolulu and Alessandro Volta. But an honourable (dishonourable?) mention must also go to all of the jockeys who failed to realise that the inside rail - not the outside rail as usual - was providing the faster and superior ground in the races down the straight track at Flemington. It was so stupid to see the mistake repeated once the fact was known.
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