Racing's greatest traveller, Red Cadeaux, returns to a home away from home for the fifth time on Sunday, but for the first time in spring, chasing a piece of history in the Group One Audemars Piguet QE II Cup.

Raced by former Jockey Club chairman Ronald Arculli (pictured), Red Cadeaux is already the highest-earning English-trained racehorse ever, and a finish of sixth or better by the nine-year-old will push his career stake money beyond £5 million (HK$58 million).

What makes the Ed Dunlop-trained stayer special is that only £300,000 of those earnings have been accrued in his home country and the gelding has become famous for his exploits on foreign shores - as well as his frequent second placings.

"He needs about £8,000 more to get him to £5 million," said Arculli, who as a former head of the Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing, can probably be relied on for a firm grasp of maths when it comes to money.

Most recently, a second, the 19th runner-up finish of his 50-start career, in the A$4 million (HK$24 million) Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Randwick contributed another A$750,000 to the kitty.

Red Cadeaux has gone about his work with the usual relish at Sha Tin, the scene of his last victory, a win in the 2012 Hong Kong Vase, and Dunlop has not ruled out a trip back to Australia for a fifth shot at the Melbourne Cup.

Arculli confirmed that there are "no immediate retirement plans" for Red Cadeaux, but added, "It's always one race at a time. We are very conscious of his age and there's nothing on the horizon in the next month".

Red Cadeaux drew barrier nine yesterday, but Arculli said a bigger factor would be the firmness of the track as the tough chestnut comes in off a quick 15-day backup.

"We are hoping for a little rain between now and race day. He loves a little bit of cut out of the ground and it's not often you get that in Hong Kong."