Melbourne Cup 2015: Red Cadeaux taken to Werribee after pulling up distressed before winning post

CULT hero Red Cadeaux has been cleared of a life-threatening injury after breaking down in the Melbourne Cup, but the English veteran will never race again.

Melbourne Cup Day Races at Flemington Racecourse. November 3, 2015. Melbourne, Australia. MelbourneCup15 , Race 7. Melbourne Cup over 3200 metres. Jockey Gerald Mosse walks away as a screen gets put around No 9 Red Cadeaux just before the finish line, Picture: George Salpigtidis

RELIEVED England trainer Ed Dunlop says his great warrior Red Cadeaux, the triple runner-up and sentimental favourite in this year’s race, has been cleared of a life-threatening injury.

But the English veteran will never race again.

“He’s in great hands, and we’re seeking a lot of advice and we will do whatever is best for the horse,” Dunlop said.

“When I was on the grass, I thought we wouldn’t see him alive again. He’s alive and well, that’s all I want to say.

“When we drove here I wasn’t expecting as encouraging news with that injury.

“He’s eating grass ... and he looks happy, he has fluids. It’s a bad injury, but it should be repairable.

“We’ve discussed three or four times we were going to retire him and we haven’t retired him. All seemed very well with him but unfortunately it wasn’t to be.

“I thought he was going to be put down. At this stage he hasn’t, he was obviously immediately retired. If the guys do their job, he’ll have a very happy retirement.”

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Contesting a record fifth Cup as an international, Red Cadeaux was transported to Werribee for emergency care after injuring his nearside fetlock.

Scans revealed a fracture to the medial seasamoid.

Red Cadeaux is attended to after failing to finish the race. Picture: Wayne Ludbey

The only horse in history to finish second in three Melbourne Cups, the 10-year-old failed to complete the race, casting a pall over Flemington.

He blundered near the 150m and was quickly pulled up by jockey Gerald Mosse.

Screens were placed around the globetrotter before veterinary staff placed the gelding’s injured leg in a splint and stabilised the joint.

Racing Victoria’s head of equine welfare & vterinary services Dr Brian Stewart confirmed Red Cadeaux had “sustained a suspected fetlock injury to his left foreleg during the concluding stages.”

Red Cadeaux walked onto the float before being transported to the equine clinic.

The chestnut was accompanied to Werribee by Ed Dunlop’s travelling foreman Robin Trevor-Jones.

Red Cadeaux jockey Gerald Mosse in distress as he walks back to the mounting yard.

The incident revived tragic images of Admire Rakti’s and Araldo’s deaths following last year’s Cup.

It is understood Red Cadeaux might not require an operation.

Red Cadeaux occupies a unique place in Australian racing’s heart after finishing second in three Cups behind Dunaden (2011), Fiorente (2013) and Protectionist (2014).

He finished eighth behind Green Moon (2012).

In all, world racing’s most travelled galloper has finished second in four Australian Group 1s - a performance which elevated him to standing as British racing’s greatest prizemoney earner.

Such conflicting emotions... Michelle Payne's extraordinary moment of history, Red Cadeaux walks into ambulance pic.twitter.com/i6IduWiTPS

— Gerard Whateley (@GerardWhateley) November 3, 2015

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