British stayer Red Cadeaux made the trip out to Australia for the Group 1 Emirates Melbourne Cup (3200m) for the first time back in 2011 as a five-year-old.
Red Cadeaux has made his fourth consecutive trip out to Australia for the Melbourne Cup. Photo by Race Horse Photos Australia.
He narrowly missed out on victory in the ‘race that stops the nation’ to Dunden by just a nose. The gelding’s connections just can’t get enough of the race, returning each year since then to try and take out the crown – no small feat considering the grueling conditions of the 3200 metre race.
“I’d be amazed if there were many other horses that come from Europe to run in four Melbourne Cups in-a-row, it’s a pretty major feat for the horse,” trainer Ed Dunlop told Racing Victoria.
Red Cadeaux is the bridesmaid of the Melbourne Cup, coming second in both 2011 and 2013 bookending an unplaced run in 2012. However, the horse’s connections are hopeful 2014 will be the year he can win the $6.2 million feature race.
“I learned a lot from year two (2012) when we were stuck out the back,” Dunlop said.
“Year one (2011) we were out the back in a truly run race and we ran on and didn’t win by two pixels.
“Year two we did the same thing in a slowly run race and never got involved. Year three (2013) we went forward and that was the pattern we learned.”
Dunlop will search for his first Melbourne Cup win on Tuesday, with his chances being made a little easier following the barrier draw on Saturday evening.
Red Cadeaux will start the 2014 Melbourne Cup from gate 15, the same gate he started from in 2011. It was a relief for Dunlop, who had to try and win from gate 18 and 23 the last two years, to not be too wide or too close to the fence.
“I didn’t want to be too low so this is a nice draw,” he said.
“He came out of that draw when he ran second to Dunaden when beaten two pixels at his first time here.”
The gelding has drifted from $17 to $19 in the 2014 Melbourne Cup betting market at Ladbrokes.com.au, with punters unsure if Red Cadeaux can finally win the race against classy stayers the likes of Admire Rakti, Lucia Valentina, and Protectionist.
