Melbourne Cup winner Dunaden will have a rematch with runner-up Red Cadeaux and last year’s Cup winner Americain in Hong Kong next month.
A change of plans by the connections of the star French stayer has led to him now being aimed at the Group One Hong Kong Vase (2400m) at Sha Tin on December 11.
Dunaden and Red Cadeaux were involved in the closest finish in the 151-year history of the Melbourne Cup last Tuesday with a nose separating the pair.
They will be joined by Cup fourth placegetter Americain should he win Saturday’s Group Two Zipping Classic (2400m) at Sandown.
The Alain de Royer Dupre-trained Americain, who is $1.45 favourite for the Zipping Classic with TAB Sportsbet, was a fast-finishing third to Mastery in last year’s Hong Kong Vase after his Melbourne Cup victory six weeks earlier.
All three horses remain in training at the Werribee International Horse Centre alongside the Luca Cumani-trained Manighar – fifth in this year’s Cup – who is also engaged in the Zipping Classic.
Dunaden was to leave Werribee and return to France on Thursday night, but trainer Mikel Delzangles and owner Sheik Fahad al Thani decided on Wednesday to chase further riches with the six-year-old entire.
The first international Cup runners left Australian shores on Wednesday with Godolphin’s Modun and Lost In The Moment joined on a flight to the UK by the Mark Johnston-trained Fox Hunt.
Fox Hunt’s stablemate, Irish St Leger winner Jukebox Jury, this week undergoes surgery for a small fracture to a knee suffered in the Cup.
He will remain in Australia at the property of part-owner Colleen Bamford to recuperate.
Each of the Luca Cumani-trained quartet that competed throughout the Spring Racing Carnival will remain in Australia with their part-owners, Terry Henderson and Simon O’Donnell’s OTI Racing.
AAP TURF
