Australia’s favourite English visitor Red Cadeaux has had a barn at the Werribee International Horse Centre named in his honour.
The only overseas-trained horse to run in four Melbourne Cups, Red Cadeaux has become an adopted Australian and the most recognisable international name of the spring carnival after running three second placings in the famous race.
The barn at Werribee, from where his past two Melbourne Cup attempts have been launched, was officially named in his honour on Monday.
Trainer Ed Dunlop’s travelling foreman and Red Cadeaux’s constant companion Robin Trevor-Jones, said it was a great honour to have the barn named for the horse.
“To be honoured like that in Melbourne, Australia, as an English horse, it’s fantastic and he means the world to me,” Trevor-Jones said.
“I’ve taken the likes of Ouija Board and Snow Fairy around the world who were at the top of their game, Group One horses, and you wouldn’t be scared to take anybody on.
“This fella, ability wise, wouldn’t be quite as good as them but he’s got such a good constitution and just just thrives when he comes to Australia.”
Greg Carpenter, Racing Victoria’s executive general manager, racing, said Australian sports fans loved those that took up a challenge.
He said the naming of the Red Cadeaux Barn was to recognise one of the “great warriors of international racing”.
“He’s the first internationally trained horse to start in four Melbourne Cups and has always represented himself, Ed Dunlop and the team magnificently,” Carpenter said.
In his first Cup attempt, Red Cadeaux ran the closest of seconds to French horse Dunaden in 2011 and finished eighth to Green Moon in 2012.
He has run second in the past two Melbourne Cups, firstly behind the Gai Waterhouse trained Fiorente and this year behind Germany’s Protectionist.
With $900,000 for his second placing in this year’s Melbourne Cup taking his prize money to more than $A7.2 million, Red Cadeaux is now the highest earner in UK racing history.
Red Cadeaux flew out of Melbourne bound for Hong Kong on Monday afternoon to contest the International Vase (2400m) at Sha Tin December 14, a race he won in 2012.
