Updated ,first published
Ciaron Maher’s Melbourne Cup hand has been reduced to seven after Caulfield Cup runner-up Saint George was scratched from the race after failing a mandatory pre-race scan.
Stewards advised connections that an independent panel of diagnostic imaging specialists had reviewed both a CT scan and a positron emission tomography (PET) scan and reported the horse was “at a heightened risk of injury” in the race and would therefore be stood down.
The horse, which was to be ridden by Blake Shinn, was regarded as a serious chance after a slashing fifth in the Cox Plate at Flemington on Saturday.
However, he will not run again this spring, opening the door for Wednesday’s Bendigo Cup winner So You Are to gain a start in the race after he received a one-kilogram penalty for his win. So You Are will start with 54 kilograms and be ridden by Rachel King.
Saint George’s scratching also guarantees heavily favoured international Hopewell Rock a start in the race, as he will now move from 24th in the order of entry to 23 and can’t be displaced. Hopewell Rock was impressive at trackwork at Flemington on Tuesday morning and is prepared by the highly regarded Wathnan Racing operation.
The Euphrates is also reportedly not pushing on to the race, which means the Greg Hickman-trained Future History will make the field. The Age has confirmed last year’s Cup-winning jockey, Jamie Melham, has been booked to ride the eight-year-old.
The mandatory pre-race scans have become a feature of the Melbourne Cup after six runners died between 2013 and 2020, putting the race at risk.
Saint George joins the list of notable runners – including Sir Delius, Marmelo and Jan Brueghel – to be denied a start in the race after failing pre-race scans.
Maher still has seven runners with Point of Law, Shockletz, Mr Monaco, Juja Kibo, Middle Earth, Royal Supremacy and Zahrann in this year’s Cup.
Irish trainer Joseph O’Brien has five runners in Tuesday’s big race.
Saint George ran 22nd in his only start in the Melbourne Cup in 2024 but has won four races since and has a good record at Flemington.
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