Champion WA jockey Damien Oliver left without Melbourne Cup ride after Caulfield Cup winner Durston withdrawn
Caulfield Cup winner Durston has been ruled out of the Melbourne Cup after failing a mandatory scan, leaving champion WA jockey Damien Oliver without a ride in the race that stops the nation.
Racing Victoria announced on Thursday their vets believed Durston was unsuitable to race in the $8 million Melbourne Cup (3200m) after CT scans indicated the stayer was at a heightened risk of injury.
Champion trainer Chris Waller accepted the decision and said scans revealed a “grey area” and small lesion in Durston’s left hind leg.
“The specialists cannot determine whether it is old or new or whether it is even something to be concerned about, but we must respect this,” Waller said in a statement.
“It is all about safety, for the horse and the rider and the longevity of the horses.
“Durston is sound, he galloped well on Tuesday morning and my vet trotted him up following this, however we must respect modern science and learn from this.”
Oliver will likely have to wait another year in his bid for a record-equalling fourth Melbourne Cup.
He had picked up the ride on Durston after Michael Dee, who guided him to victory in the Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m), committed to ride Lunar Flare in the Cup.
Durston was on the third line of betting at $13 before he was withdrawn.
Meanwhile, Ascot trainer Dan Morton plans to scratch speed machine Wilchino from Saturday’s Group 3 Prince Of Wales Stakes (1000m).
The classy mare again drew wide in barrier 14 after running 11th in the Crawford Stakes (1000m) first-up from gate 16.
“I don’t want to overtax her,” Morton said.
“We can wait for the Colonel Reeves Stakes.”
Morton is excited about the return of WATC Derby winner Alaskan God in Saturday’s Group 3 Asian Beau Stakes (1400m).
“He’s in the deep-end against a cracking field at 1400,” Morton said.
“But he’s a very exciting horse and he’s very capable.
“He’s come back a much more mature horse and we’ve got a pretty ambitious program mapped out for him.”
Ladbrokes rates Alaskan God the $4.80 favourite. He has drawn barrier 13 and will be ridden by Chris Parnham.
