Skip to main content

Two Prominent Melbourne Cup Horses Scratched After Failing Pre-Race Checkup

By October 29, 2022International Racing

Picture: Caufield Cup winner Durston has failed a Melbourne Cup pre-race scan (Getty Images). 

 

Second and Third Favourites Both Scratched

Connections of Caulfield Cup winner Durston have been left devastated after the horse was ruled out of the Melbourne Cup on Thursday, leaving champion jockey Damien Oliver without a ride, wrote au.sports.yahoo.com.

Durston was deemed unfit to run in the great race next Tuesday after undergoing a mandatory pre-race scan.

The scan revealed the $13 equal-third favourite for the Melbourne Cup had a “grey area” in his left hind leg.

Despite officials being unsure whether the scan results were anything to worry about, it was ruled that the safest course of action would be to scratch Durston from the race.

“The specialists cannot determine whether it is old or new, or whether it is even something to be concerned about, but we must respect this,” trainer Chris Waller said.

The Durston shock was followed by news today that second favourite Loft will also be scratched.

Racing Victoria vets found an issue with Loft at his trot up Friday morning.
 
Part-owner Ozzie Kheir said they found a tendon issue with Loft and “I can confirm he will not be running in the 2022 Melbourne Cup”.
 
“It is disappointing for all the owners.”
 
It leaves superstar jockey James McDonald without a ride in the Cup.
 
News Corp has confirmed vets were not satisfied with Friday’s trot-up of the $6.50 second pick for Tuesday’s Cup.
 
Loft is trained by German Marcel Weiss.
 
Racing Victoria on Friday afternoon confirmed 29 horses remained in contention for the Cup after passing all relevant scans and inspections.
 
Cup-nominated stayers in Saturday’s Archer Stakes will be reinspected after the 2500m race.
 
Lindsay Park import Makram has been ruled out after the CAT scan ruled the galloper at “heightened risk of injury”.
 
Gold Trip was checked over again on Friday, after presenting with heat in the right front on Thursday, and passed fit to contest the Cup.
 
Stockman passed his inspection in Sydney but will also be checked over again after running in the Rosehill Gold Cup (2000m) on Saturday.
 
All horses must undergo a second and final pre-race veterinary inspection on Monday.
 
Loft’s shock tendon setback came a day after vets ruled Caulfield Cup winner Durston out of the Melbourne Cup.
 
Damien Oliver had been booked to ride Durston and, with McDonald’s mount Loft out, two of Australia’s greatest jockeys could be sidelined when the Cup is run next Tuesday.
 
Ozzie Kheir says the owners have accepted the vets’ decision. 
 
It is also rotten news for Kheir who also had imported galloper Le Don De Vie ruled out of the Melbourne Cup recently after failing vetting processes.
 
However, Kheir told News Corp he had “no blue” with the fact Loft would not be racing in the Melbourne Cup.
 
“I don’t want to be a sook,” Kheir said.
 
“I am just disappointed for the trainer and the fellow owners – and for racing – as we were very confident he would be hard to beat.
 
“But there has been swelling around his tendon.
 
“There is no blue with the (vet) process.
 
“It’s been a tough time because we also lost Le Don De Vie from the Cup.
 
“But we have had a lot of successes, so it can’t always be smooth sailing.”
 

Bookmakers reacted to the Loft news by making fellow international raider Deauville Legend an even more pronounced Melbourne Cup favourite, at $3.80.

Turf Talk is a complimentary daily newsletter, from Monday to Friday, featuring unique content, views and profiles from the South African horse racing industry and newsworthy international events. The newsletter delivers newsworthy stories promoting the wonder world of thoroughbred horseracing.
Subscription Form
© 2025 Turf Talk. All Rights Reserved.