Dunlop will saddle second favourite Trip To Paris and Red Cadeaux in the $6 million Melbourne Cup at Flemington next Tuesday and after watching them both stride out at Werribee this morning suggested the bookies might have made a mistake.

” Trip to Paris is something like 6/1 and Red Cadeaux something like 40/1,” Dunlop said.

“Let me tell you, there is not that much between them.”

Red Cadeaux trotted a lap before galloping over 1400m, rolling up the final 400m in 24.21 seconds, his big frame deceptively fast.

“The interest in him and the race never ceases to amaze me but it’s not about me, it’s about the horse,” Dunlop said

“This is his sixth trip to Australia and that’s testament to my staff, the owner and the horse.

“We’re very lucky to have him. I know he hasn’t won, but I’m touched how Australia has taken him to their hearts.

“He’s very well, I couldn’t be happier with him and with luck I’m sure he’ll be competitive.”

Trip To Paris was a little more leisurely in his gallop over 1400m and Dunlop said he is more concerned about drawing a good barrier for the last start Caulfield Cup runner-up.

“The draw will make a difference to all of us of course, I hope he gets a good draw,” Dunlop said.

“He’s taken everything in his stride and come on for the run at Caulfield.”

Dunlop admitted to being pleasantly surprised by the acceleration Trip To Paris, winner of the Group I Ascot Gold Cup over two and a half miles in June, showed at the end of the Caulfield Cup (2400m).

“He’s run well in mile and half handicaps at home but certainly not as well as I would have expected him to run in a Group I race like the Caulfield Cup,” he said.

“The trip and the track at Flemington will suit him even better and he has an obvious chance.”

Sportsbet has Trip To Paris at $8 and Red Cadeaux a $26 chance, following Mongolian Khan’s withdrawal, for the 2015 Melbourne Cup following the withdrawal of Mongolian Khan.

racenet