Red Cadeaux put down after Melbourne Cup injury

Red Cadeaux was a popular horse in Australia after finishing second three times in the Melbourne Cup

Triple Melbourne Cup runner-up Red Cadeaux has been put down after suffering an injury in the race.

His British trainer Ed Dunlop said: "This is my saddest day in racing. Red Cadeaux was a much-loved member of our family."

The horse was injured in the Australian race on 3 November, but it had been hoped he would recover, until complications set in.

Red Cadeaux won seven and finished second in 13 of his 54 races.

Owner Ron Arculli said the popular nine-year-old gelding's final resting place would be at Flemington Racecourse where he was second in the Melbourne Cup three times.

"For a race that stops a nation we were lucky to have a horse that touched a nation. We will miss Red Cadeaux dearly," he said.

Red Cadeaux was euthanised on Friday after blood stopped flowing to the foot on his injured left foreleg.

"Unfortunately the complication was irreversible and the decision to euthanise the horse, whilst terribly hard, was made in his best interests," said Dunlop.

Ridden by Gerald Mosse, the horse was pulled up injured in the race won by Prince of Penzance, whose jockey Michelle Payne was the first female rider to triumph in the race.

"Red Cadeaux has given us and the racing public so much joy competing with great distinction across the world," said Newmarket trainer Dunlop.

Significant achievements

• Red Cadeaux was runner-up in the Melbourne Cup in 2011, 2013 and 2014. He was only beaten a nose by Dunaden in 2011.

• Second in the Dubai World Cup, won by Animal Kingdom.

• Won the Group One Hong Kong Vase in 2012

• Won the Yorkshire Cup earlier that year and was second in the Coronation Cup at Epsom to St Nicholas Abbey