Red Cadeaux, who earned $7.5 million, euthanized at 9

Red Cadeaux, a globe-hopping gelding who raced in eight countries and finished second in the Melbourne Cup three times, was euthanized on Friday as a result of injuries suffered in the Melbourne Cup earlier this month.

Red Cadeaux, 9, sustained a fetlock injury when pulled up in the Melbourne Cup on Nov. 3 and underwent surgery to stabilize the injury. His condition deteriorated in recent days because of a blood-flow issue, according to trainer Ed Dunlop. Following the surgery, Red Cadeaux was treated at the University of Melbourne Equine Clinic.

Red Cadeaux won 7 of 54 career starts in Australia, England, France, Hong Kong, Ireland, Japan, Singapore, and the United Arab Emirates. He won more than $7.5 million in a career that began at Yarmouth Racecourse in England in April 2009.

Owned by Ron Arculli, Red Cadeaux was best known for his near misses in the Melbourne Cup at two miles at Flemington Racecourse, Australia’s leading race. Red Cadeaux was second by a nose in 2011, eighth in 2012, and second in 2013 and 2014. He was a 25-1 shot in this year’s running but was not in contention when pulled up by jockey Gerard Mosse.

“This is my saddest day in racing,” Dunlop said in a statement. “Unfortunately, the complication was irreversible, and the decision to euthanize the horse, whilst terribly hard, was made in his best interests.

“Red Cadeaux has given us and the racing public so much joy competing with great distinction across the world. He was an incredibly tough competitor with a wonderful nature, and he will be dearly missed by all.”

Away from Australia, Red Cadaux won four stakes, including the Group 1 Hong Kong Vase in 2012 and the Group 3 Curragh Cup in Ireland in 2011. He was second to Animal Kingdom in the Dubai World Cup in 2013 and second in other major stakes such as the Group 1 Coronation Cup at Epsom Racecourse in England in 2012 and the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Randwick in Australia earlier this year.

Red Cadeaux will be buried at Flemington Racecourse.