Ed Dunlop feels Red Cadeaux has a better chance of hitting the target in this year's Melbourne Cup by heading out to Australia a fresh horse.
Connections had been considering a tilt at the valuable Caulfield Cup to set him up for the big one, but the Newmarket handler resisted temptation and Red Cadeaux has enjoyed a break since July.
The six-year-old has been in the form of his life this summer and has not been out of the first three since his trip down under, including winning the Yorkshire Cup and finishing second in the Group One Coronation Cup at Epsom.
"He's a better horse (this year) and he's a fresh horse," Dunlop told At The Races.
"He went there fresh last year and we ummed and ahhed about taking in the Caulfield Cup, but it may have been just a bit sharp and just a bit tough for him to maybe bounce back again for the Melbourne Cup, so we'll take him there and we'll see how we go.
"Many trainers will tell you a lot of horses don't cope with going abroad but both he and Snow Fairy thrive on it.
"He spent seven or eight weeks in Australia after the Melbourne Cup last year and then went to Hong Kong and ran very well in the Vase to finish third."
