Caulfield Cup hope overcomes injury concerns
RED Verdon has overcome a leg injury which had threatened to keep the stayer out of the Caulfield Cup.
The Ed Dunlop-trained stayer trotted up lame on Friday but travelling foreman Robin Trevor-Jones says he has recovered and is set to run in the $5 million race on Saturday. Red Verdon, who is at the Werribee quarantine facility, is set to gallop today in preparation for the Caulfield Cup.
After a nerve block injection in his right fore-leg on Friday, Red Verdon had an easy day Saturday before exercising on Sunday and yesterday.
“It was scanned, X-rayed and we couldn’t find anything wrong and he’s been sound since,” said Trevor-Jones.
“What he did we’ll never know. He’ll gallop tomorrow and God willing it will be on to the race.”
Red Verdon was a visitor to Melbourne for last year’s spring carnival. He finished 11th behind Best Solution in the Caulfield Cup before a foot abscess robbed him of a start in the Melbourne Cup won by Cross Counter.
“At home he’s never 100 per cent in the right-fore but he was proper lame and he’s never proper lame,” TrevorJones said. “I’m in touch with our vet, sending him videos and he says drive on, so we’re driving on.”
Trevor-Jones is unsure who will ride Red Verdon on Saturday but says he has been fielding a number of inquiries for the mount. Visiting Irish jockey Pat Cosgrave, who rode Best Solution in 2018, called in to see Trevor-Jones to ask about the ride.
“I’ll leave that up to (owner) Mr Arculli and the trainer,” Trevor-Jones said. “We think he’s in good form.
Red Verdon is a $26 chance in latest Caulfield Cup markets headed by the Chris Wallertrained Finche and Japanese horse Mer De Grace at $8.