Racing Victoria (RV) veterinarians today began the first of two pre-race physical veterinary inspections of the 32 horses that remain in contention for a start in the $8 million Lexus Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington next Tuesday, 1 November.
This examination forms part of the veterinary protocols to determine each horse’s suitability to accept at Saturday’s (29 October) 4.30pm (AEDT) deadline.
The Robert Hickmott-trained Schabau (currently 32nd in the order of entry) was lame in the left front when inspected today and will be re-examined tomorrow.
The Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained Gold Trip passed today’s inspection however the horse displayed some heat in the right front foot. The horse is suitable to race in its current condition however will be re-examined tomorrow as a precaution to ensure it remains so.
All other 22 horses inspected today passed the initial physical examination.
The following horses will undergo their initial pre-race physical veterinary examination tomorrow:
- Deauville Legend (James Ferguson)
- Hoo Ya Mal (Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott)
- Loft (Marcel Weiss)
- Without a Fight (Simon and Ed Crisford)
- Camorra (Ben and JD Hayes)
- Arapaho (Bjorn Baker)
- Makram (Ben and JD Hayes)
The Joseph Pride-trained Stockman, who is located in Sydney, will be examined by a Racing NSW veterinarian tomorrow and again post-race on Saturday after the gelding contests the Rosehill Gold Cup (2000m).
A further update will be provided tomorrow (28 October) once the remaining inspections and re-inspections have been completed.
The Melbourne Cup entrants that contest Saturday’s Lexus Archer Stakes (2500m) at Flemington will be re-examined by RV veterinarians following the race to re-confirm their suitability to accept later that afternoon.
A second pre-race veterinary inspection of all horses in the final field will be conducted by a panel of RV veterinarians on Monday, 31 October 2022.