Bridesmaid tag may go in Cup
British trainer Ed Dunlop has endured more than his share of heartbreaking Australian Group 1 denials – and tragedy.
Red Cadeaux’s three Melbourne Cup seconds, before his subsequent death following a fifth attempt, and Trip To Paris’s runner-up effort in the Caulfield Cup have left Dunlop with an unwanted reputation as a bridesmaid.
Dunlop’s loyal travelling foreman, Robin Trevor-Jones, has lived through the bittersweet peaks of those close shaves and the desolation of Red Cadeaux’s death in 2015. Yet for all those travails, and the gruelling 90-hour flight to Australia, Trevor-Jones firmly believes Red Verdon is the horse to finally turn Dunlop’s fortunes in Saturday’s Caulfield Cup.
To be ridden by Hong Kongbased Zac Purton, who won the 2014 Caulfield Cup on Admire Rakti, Red Verdon has drawn barrier nine.
According to Trevor-Jones, the emerging stayer is flying.
“We had a bit of a traumatic journey here but he’s absolutely thrived here, never seen a horse turn and look so well so quickly,” he said
“His training has been good. Steve (Nicholson), his work rider, has been really happy with him. Everything’s going great at the moment.
“Red Cadeaux, when he came to Australia, you couldn’t believe the improvement. He loved that track at Flemington.
“This fellow has great form in England. The Hardwicke (Stakes) form (second, beating home The Cliffsofmoher) is fantastic. He’s a proper Group 1 horse in England so we’re very hopeful.”
A $21 chance with Ladbrokes, Red Verdon has not raced since running fifth to champion stayer Stradivarius in the Group 2 Lonsdale Cup at York in August.