Red Cadeaux and Royal Diamond To The Miss Caulfield Cup

European-trained stayers Red Cadeaux and Royal Diamond will miss the Group 1 2013 Caulfield Cup (2400m), with connections electing to remain in Europe to contest the Group 1 Irish St Leger (2800m) at The Curragh on Sunday.

Red Cadeaux

Red Cadeaux has been ruled out of the Caulfield Cup but remains a chance to have a third straight tilt at the Melbourne Cup. Photo by: Taron Clarke

Red Cadeaux and Royal Diamond were both included in the first acceptances for the Caulfield Cup that were released on Tuesday and the connections of both horses were hopeful that they could contest the Caulfield Cup and the Irish St Leger but due to quarantine restrictions they will be unable to arrive on the first plane of European-trained Group 1 contenders that will arrive in Melbourne on September 28.

“The connections of Red Cadeaux and Royal Diamond were both interested in contesting the Irish St Leger and the BMW Caulfield Cup, but unfortunately our quarantine requirements would not allow it,” Racing Victoria International Recruitment Officer Leigh Jordon said in a statement.

“Horses travelling from Europe to Australia for the Caulfield Cup need to enter quarantine at Newmarket (UK) tonight Australian time and thus there was not an opportunity for them to compete in both races.

“We’re disappointed to lose both horses for the Caulfield Cup, but remain optimistic that they’ll contest the Emirates Melbourne Cup should they perform up to standard in the Irish St Leger.

“Red Cadeaux was beaten by the narrowest margin in Melbourne Cup history two years ago and I know that his connections in particular are very keen to atone for that if the horse is fit and well.”

Red Cadeaux will be contesting the Irish St Leger for the first time on Sunday while Royal Diamond will be aiming to become the first horse since Irish champion Vinnie Roe (who contested the Melbourne Cup in 2002, 2004 and 2005) to win the feature race in back-to-back years.

If connections of Red Cadeaux and Royal Diamond decide to bring their horses to Australia for the Melbourne Cup they will enter quarantine on September 26 and arrive in Melbourne two weeks later.

No horse has won the Melbourne Cup without a lead-up run in Australia since Vintage Crop was victorious in the 1993 edition of the race.

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.