Red Verdon - the Thoroughbred influencer

Red Verdon is one of those horses you have probably heard about, but he hasn’t really won any famous races. The true enthusiast will object that the Prix Maurice de Nieuil (Gr.2) at Longchamp is a “famous” race. But then again no. What is important is that Red Verdon has been seen all over the world, not always at the podium, but in it to win it.

He has currently visited 24 different race tracks and has competed in England, Ireland, France, Australia, Hong Kong, Italy, Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates. An impressive list which may add Sweden in September as Red Verdon is entered into the most prestigious race in Scandinavia, The Stockholm Cup International (Gr.3) which has seen winners as Thundering Blue and Collier Hill, both very well known world travellers.

Red Verdon made his debut in humble surroundings, a maiden at Wolverhampton in which he would have paid out 50/1 should he have won. Instead he came second and his few backers were probably not happy when he obliged at the same track two weeks later at 9/4.

After that the list went on. Doncaster came next, followed by narrow Chester. Then it was on to Haydock until he found Harzand (and four others) too good at Epsom. At The Curragh he was fourth, not that far behind Harzand. He came second at Saint Cloud where he competed in Grand Prix de Paris (Gr.1). After that it was Sandown and then Newmarket, first for The Rowley Mile, then for the July Course.

Ed Dunlop, the handler, then remembered that Red Verdon seemed to thrive at the All Weather. Back to the roots! Now it was time for Red Verdon to test his abilities at Chelmsford, Kempton and Lingfield. It was a success, with a W over one and a half miles at both Kempton and Lingfield. After a break he was sent back to the trenches. It was time to face Group company again and the summer of 2018 he visited Ascot for the first (and last?) time. He came second in The Hardwicke Stakes (Gr.2) behind Crystal Ocean. Then it was on to Goodwood and after that he got beaten by the legendary Stradivarius at York.

As the true stayer and traveller that he is, it was now time to fly to Australia and Caulfield where he came in 11th from 18 only beaten by 6½ lengths, how is that for a tight finish! The next start was in the Hong Kong Vase (Gr.1) at Sha Tin.

Now they decided that Red Verdon was to be gelded. Back home in England he got to experience Newbury after which he was sent to Longchamp and Deauville in France. The next new track was Riyadh, followed by Meydan. Will Bro Park, Stockholm, Sweden be next in line?

48 starts, 10 wins and 720 463 pounds in prize money taken at 24 different race tracks. His favorite race track is Doncaster where he has won twice! The other wins came from tracks as different as Sandown, Longchamp, York, Lingfield, Kempton, Haydock, Chester and Wolverhampton. One thing is for sure, wherever he lays his hat, that’s his home.

Red Verdon is a true influencer and his story tells us all about how international the sport of kings is nowadays. All the talk about horses for courses? That is not a thing for Red Verdon.