Dee guides Pedrena to Cup day stakes win

Michael Dee’s first Melbourne Cup ride didn’t go as well as he hoped but the young jockey has still continued his fine spring carnival with a Group race win on the day.

Dee got the opportunity to ride Gallante in Tuesday’s Melbourne Cup but last year’s Sydney Cup winner, who was the outsider of the field, weakened with 1000m to go and finished a long last.

A few of races later Dee was in the winners’ circle after guiding Pedrena to a hard-fought victory in the Group Three HKJC Stakes (1400m).

Pedrena is trained by Mick Price who Dee was indentured to at Caulfield for the last two years of his apprenticeship after moving to Melbourne from New Zealand.

“He’s been a big supporter of mine so to get a Group race win for him is a huge thrill,” Dee said.

“When I first came over I was with Mick and he was my main supporter. He still is one of my main supporters, so it’s a huge thrill.”

Dee’s breakthrough spring carnival has included his first Group One win on Foundry in The Metropolitan in Sydney and then another in the Myer Classic on Saturday at Flemington on Shillelagh.

“Obviously I would have wanted a better result in the Cup today,” Dee said.

“But having a ride in it was the main thing and enjoying it was probably the best thing to do,” he said.

“At least now I can say I’ve had a ride in the Melbourne Cup which is probably huge for my CV.”