Red Cadeaux has booked his berth for another tilt at the Melbourne Cup after winning the Group 2 Sportingbet Yorkshire Cup (1m6f) at York on May 18.

Trainer Ed Dunlop brought the six year old to Australia last spring and ran Dunaden to a nose in the Cup and the Englishman is willing to give Red Cadeaux his chance to win the Group 1 $6m 3200m Handicap this year.

The Yorkshire Cup was Red Cadeaux’s first win since taking out the Group 3 Curragh Cup last June and Dunlop has started to make preparations for his trip down under.

Red Cadeaux showed the benefit of having a run under his belt and went into the York race with a second to Colour Vision at Kempton on May 2 topping him off nicely.

“He’s been a bit of a bridesmaid, but he was probably beaten by a very good horse at Kempton, who could be the number one stayer,” said Dunlop.

“He’s adaptable from a mile and a half to a mile and six and he’s won on good ground today so we know he acts on that. He was the first horse we took to Australia. He’s not going to carry as little weight as he did last year and we will try to go one better.”

Tom McLaughlin was back aboard Red Cadeaux when Ryan Moore declined the ride and Dunlop was happy to renew his association with McLaughlin.

“Tom has ridden this horse in races before and at home. He has worked for me for a long time and is an integral part. Ryan (Moore) was going to come here, then he switched. Ronnie Arculli (owner) felt it was right to let Tom ride him.”

“He was third in the Irish Leger on this horse and has done nothing wrong on him. He thought he went too soon.”

Dunlop will now choose between the Group 1 Diamond Jubilee Coronation Cup (1m4f10y) at Epsom on June 2 or the Group 2 Hardwicke Stakes (1m4f) at Royal Ascot on June 23 for Red Cadeaux before he goes for a break before preparing for Melbourne.

“He’s in the Coronation Cup and the Hardwicke. He’ll have one more run then he’ll have a break and come back for an autumn and back-end campaign,” Dunlop said.