Melbourne Cup CARNAGE as another top contender is ruled out of the big race due to injury – leaving star jockey without a ride
Melbourne Cup second-favourite Loft has been scratched from the big race, leaving Cox Plate winner James McDonald without a ride at Flemington on Tuesday.
The German gelding was scratched after stewards declared he was not fit to run after examining the horse’s action in a trot-up on Friday.
Loft’s withdrawal follows the scratching of Caulfield Cup winner and third favourite Durston, which was pulled out after a mandatory scan revealed an injury.
James McDonald riding Loft during the Breakfast With The Stars Trackwork Session at Flemington Racecourse on October 2
Victorian Racing Club stewards have stepped up their monitoring of Cup entries, particularly foreign raiders, after a succession of recent fatal injuries in the showcase event had tarnished the reputation of the sport.
German trainer Marcel Weiss said he was not going to ‘sook’ about the decision and accepted the stewards’ decision.
‘I can confirm he will not be running in the 2022 Melbourne Cup’.
‘It is disappointing for all the owners.’
‘I don’t want to be a sook.
‘I am just disappointed for the trainer and the fellow owners – and for racing – as we were very confident he would be hard to beat. But there has been swelling around his tendon.
‘There is no blue with the (vet) process. It’s been a tough time because we also lost Le Don De Vie from the Cup. But we have had a lot of successes, so it can’t always be smooth sailing.’
McDonald rode Verry Elleegant to victory at the 2021 Melbourne Cup and he was expected to be a huge chance of going back-to-back on Loft after a hot Spring Carnival to date that included the Cox Plate aboard Anamoe.
James McDonald poses with Anamoe after winning Race 9, the Ladbrokes Cox Plate, during Cox Plate Day at Moonee Valley Racecourse
‘My spring carnival so far has been lovely and touch wood it continues,’ McDonald said prior to Loft’s scratching.
‘I have to thank Anamoe for that, I’ve won four Group 1 races on him, but I was also only a nose away from winning The Metropolitan (Le Don De Vie was second to No Compromise) and the Golden Rose [In Secret was second to Jacquinot] this spring.
‘But the horses I’m riding are performing ‘terrific’ and I’m looking forward to the next couple of weeks.
‘I’ve got some lovely chances in the some big races coming up so if the rub of the green goes our way I’m sure we can add to the (Group 1) tally.’
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