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.
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 if he gains a penalty of half a kilogram.
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 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.
St 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 still in the Melbourne Cup.
Irish trainer Joseph O’Brien has five runners in Tuesday’s big race.
