Racing Victoria (RV) has provided the following veterinary update on horses seeking to compete in the $8.4 million Lexus Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington next Tuesday, 7 November.
RV veterinarians yesterday inspected 22 of the 29 horses that remain in contention for a start.
All were deemed suitable to accept at 4:30pm (AEDT) tomorrow apart from the Chris Waller-trained Sheraz who presented with some heat in its front leg.
When Sheraz was re-inspected today the heat in the leg had subsided and as a result the gelding was passed suitable to accept.
Absurde (Willie Mullins), Breakup (Tatsuya Yoshioka), Vauban (Willie Mullins), Lastotchka (Price & Kent Jnr), Valiant King (Joseph O’Brien), Okita Soushi (Joseph O’Brien) and More Felons (Chris Waller) underwent their initial Lexus Melbourne Cup pre-race physical veterinary examinations today.
When inspected this morning, Valiant King was lame in the left front and as a result will be re-examined tomorrow morning. All other six horses were deemed suitable to accept.
The Melbourne Cup entrants that contest tomorrow’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, 6 November 2023.