Dunlop Thrilled With Trip To Paris Ahead Of 2015 Melbourne Cup

Ed Dunlop arrived in Australia overnight and the English trainer said that he is delighted with the condition of Caulfield Cup runner-up Trip To Paris ahead of the 2015 Melbourne Cup at Flemington next Tuesday.

Trip To Paris has impressed onlookers with his trackwork at the Werribee International Equine Centre ahead of the Melbourne Cup. Photo by: Ultimate Racing Photos

Trip To Paris has impressed onlookers with his trackwork at the Werribee International Equine Centre ahead of the Melbourne Cup. Photo by: Ultimate Racing Photos

Trip To Paris was sent to Australia for both the Caulfield Cup and the Melbourne Cup after he finished a slightly disappointing fifth behind Max Dynamite in the Group 2 Lonsdale Cup (3299m) at York on August 21 and he went into the Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) at Caulfield on October 17 as an outsider, but he produced an outstanding staying performance to hit the line strongly to finish second behind Mongolian Khan.

Dunlop told Sky Racing HQ this morning that he was delighted with the performance of Trip To Paris in the Caulfield Cup and he believes that the Champs Elysees gelding is set to go into the 2015 Melbourne Cup in outstanding condition.

“I thought it was a fantastic run,” Dunlop said.

“Of cause you would like to win, but it was a great prep run.

“Tommy Berry rode him really well in the Caulfield Cup and he keeps the ride.

“He knows the horse well now and the horse has come out of the race really well – I was very happy with the horse when I sure him this morning.

“He looks in very good condition and fingers crossed all goes well between now and next week.”

Trip To Paris recorded the first race win of his 2015 racing season with a victory at Lingfield over 2414 metres and he stepped up in trip to take out the Chester Cup over 3755 metres and the Group 1 Ascot Gold Cup over 4023 metres during the Royal Ascot meeting.

Dunlop believes that Trip To Paris is a versatile stayer, but he is confident that the Group 1 winner will be better suited over the 3200 metres of the Melbourne Cup then he was in the Caulfield Cup and he just hopes that the talented stayer can receive a bit of luck at the 2015 Melbourne Cup barrier draw.

“It should suit him better because he has won over a mile and a half this year and he has won over two and a half miles, so we know he runs the trip well,” Dunlop said.

“We all want to get decent draws.”

Trip To Paris is currently available at 2015 Melbourne Cup odds of $8 with Ladbrokes and he is one the second line of betting behind clear favourite Fame Game ($4).

About The Author

Thomas Hackett

Thomas is a passionate and opinionated racing journalist and punter who has been obsessed with horse racing since he backed Saintly to win the 1996 Melbourne Cup. An international racing enthusiast, he has his finger on the pulse of racing news not just from Australia but all around the world.