UK trainer Ed Dunlop is concerned about the prospect of Red Cadeaux being allotted top weight in the Emirates Melbourne Cup as he prepares to bring his celebrated galloper back for one final Australian adventure.

There is little left to say about the eight-year-old, who was a heroic runner-up in both the 2011 and 2013 Cups and has travelled as far afield to compete as Dubai, Hong Kong, Japan and Singapore.

As has been the case on his three previous visits, Red Cadeaux is not likely to be given a lead-up race in Australia, with Dunlop preferring the chestnut to complete his preparations in Europe.

The last time he was seen at the Spring Carnival, he was beaten three-quarters of a length by Green Moon carrying 56.5 kg, but his old sparring partner Dunaden has been retired and would not be able to carry top-weight again, having lugged 58.5 kg last November.

Red Cadeaux has appeared twice in 2014, finishing eighth in the Dubai World Cup (2000m) but was back at 3200m for his most recent outing, when finishing well down the field in the Tenno Sho at Kyoto in early May.

Hence Dunlop would appreciate some lenience from Racing Victoria Chief Handicapper Greg Carpenter.

It has been a fairly quiet season for the Newmarket trainer but he enjoyed a valuable success for Red Cadeaux's owner Ronald Arculli, when Red Avenger grabbed the Betfred Mile (1600m) at Glorious Goodwood overnight.

Of Red Cadeaux, Dunlop said: "He has had a long break since Japan, where he had a bad experience. The ground was very firm and he got very jarred up.

"He's back working, and he'll have one prep-run, maybe two before going back to Australia all being well.

"At his age, I don't think he should be running in both the Caulfield and Melbourne Cup. Ronnie has an infatuation with winning the race, but I've been advised that they are struggling to get a top weight, which worries me.

"We don't want to be carrying top weight. He's been an amazing horse, I believe he's now the winning-most horse of prize money in training."

Dunlop added: "I'm very pleased to train a good winner for Ronnie today. We ran (Epsom Derby fifth) Red Galileo in the Gordon Stakes earlier in the week. He was virtually pulled-up as the ground was too fast.

"Ronnie was amazing about it, we didn't even need to explain."