Lexus Melbourne Cup Pre-Race Veterinary Inspections
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Racing Victoria (RV) veterinarians today conducted the first of two pre-race physical veterinary inspections of horses entered in the $10.2 million Lexus Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington on Tuesday, 3 November.
This examination forms part of the veterinary protocols to determine each horse’s suitability to accept at Saturday’s (31 October) 4.30pm (AEDT) deadline.
A total of 36 horses were examined today by RV veterinarians. This included Saint George (19th in the Order of Entry as at this morning) who was subsequently withdrawn by RV Stewards acting on veterinary advice.
The following 29 horses (listed in order of entry) passed today’s physical examination and have now been deemed suitable to accept for the Melbourne Cup in accordance with all relevant conditions of the race:
- Juja Kibo, Point Of Law, Mr Monaco, Zakouma, Shockletz, Sons And Lovers, Trustyourinstinct, Goodie Two Shoes, Middle Earth, James J Braddock, Knight's Choice, Strictly Business, Royal Supremacy, Asterix, Soul Of Spain, Onesmoothoperator, Zahrann, Hopewell Rock, Future History, Kizlyar, So You Are, Pinhole, Valiant King, Torranzino, King Pedro, Small Fry, Omni Man, Manzor Blue and Soulcombe.
The following 5 horses were not passed as suitable to accept based on today’s physical examination and will be re-examined by RV veterinarians prior to final acceptances:
- Defiantly (Equal 1st in order of entry) – Presented without a right hind shoe and with a change in its gait to previous veterinary examinations. Will be re-examined Saturday morning when re-shod.
- Vauban (13th) – Presented with a change in its gait to previous veterinary examinations and will be re-examined tomorrow morning.
- Enfjaar (17th) – Presented with a change in its gait to previous veterinary examinations and will be re-examined Saturday morning.
- Wine Dark Sea (18th) – Presented with a change in its gait to previous veterinary examinations and will be re-examined Saturday morning.
- Litzdeel (32nd) - Presented with a change in its gait to previous veterinary examinations and will be re-examined tomorrow morning.
Stinger Glass was not inspected today and will undergo his first mandatory pre-race veterinary examination tomorrow.
Jennivamoose was inspected today and passed suitable to race, however was subsequently withdrawn by her connections.
The following horses did not present for examination and have been withdrawn by their connections – The Euphrates and Kings Valley.
For those final acceptors outside out of the Top 24 that are balloted from the Melbourne Cup, the Victoria Racing Club (VRC) offers a $200,000 bonus if they win the Group 3 $300,000 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2600m) at Flemington on 7 November 2026. To be eligible, horses must satisfy the conditions of the Melbourne Cup which includes being fit to race at the time of the final acceptances on 31 October 2026 and thus having passed a physical veterinary examination today or tomorrow.