Jim Conlan is hoping it is a case of third time lucky for Rekindled Interest in Saturday’s Cox Plate.

Considered unlucky not to have gone close to winning the race when third to Pinker Pinker two years ago, Rekindled Interest lines up for his third attempt in the weight-for-age showpiece at Moonee Valley as a $41 outsider.

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Rekindled Interest finished last in the 2012 Cox Plate and then was off the scene for the next 46 weeks after undergoing knee surgery and a minor throat operation.

The six-year-old returned with a pleasing second under a big weight in Listed company at Moonee Valley last month before beating just four home in the Group One Epsom Handicap in Sydney last start.

“I think he’s just going super at the moment,” Conlan said.

“His run in Sydney probably looked a bit ordinary on paper but he didn’t get a lot of luck and he jarred up a bit on that track.”

Rekindled Interest races best at Moonee Valley and his trainer believes the gelding is going as well as when he finished third in 2011.

“Whether that’s good enough, I don’t know,” Conlan said.

After the scratching of Atlantic Jewel, Conlan rates It’s A Dundeel as clearly the horse to beat.

He argues that if the Murray Baker-trained runner is on song he should prove too good but hopes Rekindled Interest can take advantage if there are any chinks in the armour of the five-time Group One winner.

Rekindled Interest will be partnered by Mark Zahra who is riding in his first Cox Plate.