When Michael Rodd is legged up on New Zealander Nom Du Jeu for Saturday's Cox Plate he will no doubt afford a special look at the chestnut rival he has come to know so well.Whobegotyou is the dominant Cox Plate favourite and Rodd admits it feels strange that he will riding against the four-year-old who has given him so many thrills in the last 12 months.A Caulfield Guineas victory and an AAMI Vase win on Cox Plate day a year ago stand out but a month ago Rodd made a decision to sever his associa

When Michael Rodd is legged up on New Zealander Nom Du Jeu for Saturday's Cox Plate he will no doubt afford a special look at the chestnut rival he has come to know so well.

Whobegotyou is the dominant Cox Plate favourite and Rodd admits it feels strange that he will riding against the four-year-old who has given him so many thrills in the last 12 months.

A Caulfield Guineas victory and an AAMI Vase win on Cox Plate day a year ago stand out but a month ago Rodd made a decision to sever his association with the Street Cry gelding this spring in favour of stablemate Maldivian.

He is adamant that it was right decision at the time.

A year ago Rodd won the Cox Plate on Maldivian and he believes that he was going just as well, if not better, this year.

"He was flying," Rodd said.

"I thought if they both lined up at their best in the Cox Plate Mal would have beaten Whobe home."

But Rodd would never get the chance to prove his point with Maldivian breaking down days before the Caulfield Cup and he can now only wonder what might have been had he stuck with Whobegotyou, who he still rides work most mornings.

Damien Oliver won the Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes and Yalumba Stakes on Whobegotyou and will again partner him in the Cox Plate.

"It feels strange (not to be on Whobegotyou)) but that is the way it is," Rodd said.

Trained by Murray and Bjorn Baker, Nom Du Jeu is one of the longshots in the Cox Plate but is a sentimental ride for Rodd if nothing else.

Rodd's first Group One winner was on Nom Du Jeu's mother, Prized Gem, in the 2002 Brisbane Cup and he also won the Group One Kelt Capital Stakes on her in 2002 before partnering her in both the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups that year.

"I know the family very well and I know the owners and because of that connection I have followed him (Nom Du Jeu) all the way through from his first start in New Zealand," Rodd said.

"His form probably doesn't look that great but he is coming good at the right time and he feels fantastic and looks a million dollars going into a race they have targeted for him."

The Cox Plate will be Nom Du Jeu's fourth run this campaign but he needs to settle better than last start when he pulled hard early and finished seventh of eight in the Yalumba Stakes.

"Because he has overraced in his races of late I will have to ride him a little bit conservatively but hopefully he can finish off over the top of them," Rodd said.

He said being in front of Whobegotyou when making his run was crucial if Nom Du Jeu was to beat him home.

"If we are behind him I don't think we could chase him down," Rodd said.

Last year's Caulfield Cup runner-up, Nom Du Jeu is $61 with TAB Sportsbet while Whobegotyou has been favourite for weeks and is $2.90 in the latest market.

Rodd said no matter the result he hopes that Whobegotyou runs well.

"I love the horse. He has been so good to me and given me some pretty big highs," Rodd said.

"If I can't win I will be cheering him on, that's for sure."