Updated ,first published
The shape of the Melbourne Cup changed dramatically on Saturday morning after Irish import and expected pace-maker Defiantly failed a vet test.
The Joseph O’Brien stayer has set European racing alight in the past six months by adopting daring catch-me-if-you can tactics and was expected to turn Tuesday’s 3200m race at Flemington into a gruelling test of stamina that would suit the Europeans.
The five-year-old gelding presented with sensitivity in a hind foot when first inspected at Werribee earlier this week, but the O’Brien stable was quietly hopeful it would come good by the follow-up veterinary examinations today.
But Racing Victoria vets were unable to pass it fit to run.
The scratching means that another O’Brien runner, Kizlyar, will make the starting 24.
In further action taken today, stewards charged trainer Nick Ryan with possessing a prohibited substance and ordering two of his Derby Day runners – Doubt Time and Anglais – to be scratched.
Stewards released a statement saying Ryan was allegedly found to have two syringes of Darbepoetin Alfa in the glove box of his car outside his Flemington stables on Saturday morning.
Darbepoetin Alfa is a stimulating agent that mimics a natural hormone.
The inquiry has been suspended until Monday. Ryan has reserved his plea.
Defiantly, purchased by Australian Bloodstock earlier in the year with the Melbourne Cup always its focus, is part-owned by media identities Yvonne Sampson and her husband Chris O’Keefe.
Dozens of owners and their friends and families are in Melbourne for the race and are said to be devastated to have come so far, only to be scratched at the 11th hour.
Defiantly rocketed into contention in August after a 5.5 length win in the group 2 Prix Kergorlay (3000m) at Deauville in France.
The gelding has already been withdrawn from Melbourne Cup markets. The field will be finalised later today, and the all-important barrier draw will be held at 6.30pm.
O’Brien’s racing planner Kevin Blake told this masthead on Friday that stable staff were confident Defiantly would be OK. The horse had passed all leg scans.
“It was just a minor bit of sensitivity in a hind foot type of thing that happens all the time,” he said.
Blake said Defiantly had “the potential to play a big role” in setting a fast Melbourne Cup tempo.
“The way he does things is quite unique,” Blake said.
“Generally, our staying races would be run at more even or a more solid tempo. I think that would be the concept I’d say pretty universally amongst the internationals.”
Today’s scratching followed the withdrawal of the Ciaron Maher-trained stayer Saint George on Thursday after leg scans showed it was at “heightened risk of injury”.
Internationals Wine Dark Sea and Enfjaar both passed follow-up vet checks on Saturday morning.
Racing Victoria said on Saturday that stewards had concluded the first of two rounds of mandatory pre-race physical veterinary inspections.
“In the opinion of the veterinarians, Defiantly remains unsuitable to accept for the Melbourne Cup and has been withdrawn from the race by order of the stewards acting on veterinary advice,” an RV statement said.
“In addition, the veterinarians re-inspected Small Fry (Joseph O’Brien) and in their opinion the horse is no longer suitable to accept for the Melbourne Cup. Small Fry is currently 33rd in the order of entry.”
News, results and expert analysis from the weekend of sport sent every Monday. Sign up for our Sport newsletter.
From our partners
About the Author
