Trainer Ed Dunlop is refusing to rule out yet another tilt at the Emirates Melbourne Cup for Red Cadeaux next year.
The seven-year-old went into this year’s Flemington renewal on Tuesday as an unknown quantity as he had failed to win in 2013 and finished a disappointing fourth in the Irish St Leger back in September.
He also failed to shine at Ascot back in July in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes, finishing sixth of eight in the prestigious race.
But the son of Cadeaux Genereux put on an inspired display to finish second behind Fiorente in the Australian showpiece and prove that there is still some life in his much-travelled legs.
Red Cadeaux also finished runner-up in the contest back in 2011 and Dunlop hopes that his display Down Under will give his star performer a new lease of life.
“The owner loves the race and the horse has just run another brilliant race,” said the Newmarket handler.
“I very much thought to myself before the race that maybe that would be the end of it all, but that hasn’t happened so now we can dream of carrying on.”
The chestnut will now stay in the southern hemisphere with a couple of high-profile Asian races next on the agenda.
“I think he’s OK but we’ll find out in the next few days,” added Dunlop to RSN. “He could go to the Japan Cup and then the Hong Kong Vase, those are the next plans if all is OK with him.”
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