Racing Victoria Stewards, acting on specialist veterinary advice, have today withdrawn the Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young-trained pair Brayden Star and Muramasa from the entries for the 2024 Lexus Melbourne Cup (3200m) to be run at Flemington next Tuesday, 5 November.
In accordance with the conditions of the race, Brayden Star and Muramasa were presented at the University of Melbourne Equine Centre in Werribee on Monday, 28 October for compulsory CT scans of their distal limbs.
Reports received from an expert panel of internationally renowned equine surgeons and diagnostic imaging specialists, who reviewed Brayden Star and Muramasa’s CT scan results, indicate that both horses are currently at heightened risk of injury.
Following advice from RV Veterinary Services in relation to the specialist opinions from the independent imaging panel, RV Stewards ordered the withdrawal of Brayden Star and Muramasa from the Melbourne Cup on the basis that they were unsuitable to compete.
Natalie Young and Trent Busuttin have been notified of the Stewards’ decision to withdraw both horses acting on veterinary advice.