The New Zealand contingent for Tuesday’s Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) has been dealt a blow with the withdrawal of Mahrajaan on veterinary advice.
Mahrajaan is out of the Melbourne Cup.
The Shaune Ritchie and Colm Murray-trained gelding earned his shot at the A$8.5 million showpiece with his victories in last season’s Gr.2 Auckland Cup (3200m) and Gr.3 New Zealand Cup (3200m), but Racing Victoria stewards have ruled him out after their independent imaging panel deemed the seven-year-old to be at heightened risk of injury.
“It’s obviously a big disappointment for us and the owners,” Ritchie said. “Who doesn’t want to have a runner in the Melbourne Cup? And we know our horse runs a strong two miles, so it’s a tough one to swallow.
“But we’re philosophical and we respect the vets’ decision. At the end of the day, we’re horse lovers first and we want our horse to be safe and healthy.
“I’ll go in on Monday and they’ll take me through the results of their imaging and the exact reasons for their decision. Apparently they detected a small issue in a sesamoid, which hasn’t been picked up in X-rays we’ve done on the horse in the past. Their imaging is very high-tech and thorough, so it’ll be a good opportunity for me to see all the bells and whistles that they’ve got. It’ll give me a better understanding, so that if we come back next year, we’ll have a bit more information.
“Our owners are all on the same page. The horse has been so good to us, and the last thing we want is for him to be in any danger. We’ve got to respect the fact that if they found something they consider to be heightened risk, he shouldn’t be running in the race.”
Ritchie now hopes to prepare Mahrajaan for a defence of his Auckland Cup title on Champions Day at Ellerslie in March.
“He’s on a plane home on Wednesday night, and then we’ll give him a good break,” the Cambridge trainer said.
“Once we bring him back into work, and subject to vets’ advice, we can work towards having another crack at the Auckland Cup.”
Mahrajaan’s withdrawal leaves three New Zealand-trained runners in the Melbourne Cup field – Team Rogerson’s Sharp ‘N’ Smart, the Andrew Forsman Cambridge-trained Positivity, and the Bruce Wallace and Grant Cookely runner Trust In You.
31 October
Cambridge trainers Shaune Ritchie, Colm Murray and Andrew Forsman were all waiting on how their horses Mahrajaan and Positivity had recovered from injuries this week before deciding whether to take their place in the Melbourne Cup.
Mahrajaan.
And champion Kaipaki jockey James McDonald, who rode his 100th group one winner on Via Sistina in the Cox Plate at Moonee Valley – and promptly got fined for his efforts – is hoping the speedy horse’s connections confirm entry into the Cup.
There has already been plenty of drama leading up to the $9 million race at Flemington Racecourse in Australia next Tuesday.
Ritchie and Murray scratched Mahrajaan from the rich Moonee Valley Gold Cup last week after a spider bit the thoroughbred at his Warrnambool base. Mahrajaan, who races under the United States flag, was left with a “leg that’s blown up”.
A scan confirmed it was not a ligament issue and “with all insect bites, they take a little bit of time to get the swelling out”.
Positivity (centre) winning the Gr.3 MRC Foundation Cup (2000m). Photo: Bruno Cannatelli
Forsman scratched Positivity from the Caulfield Cup when she had bruising in a foot after an early morning gallop. She then came last at the weekend in the Moonee Valley Cup won by fellow Kiwi horse Sharp ‘N’ Smart.
McDonald, who is due to have his name added to Cambridge’s Walk of Fame after The News’ editor Roy Pilott nominated him, copped a $2000 fine for celebrating too early on seven year old Irish mare Via Sistina.
She was so far ahead – eight lengths, in what is traditionally a close appetiser to the Melbourne Cup – that McDonald had time to stand in the irons and pose for a photo before the finish line.
Four New Zealand horses were still in contention when the barrier draw was made on Tuesday. Positivity, Sharp ‘N’ Smart, Kovalica and Trust in You. There could have been a fifth – Mark Twain, trained in Cambridge by Roger James and Robert Wellwood – earned automatic qualification when he won the ballot exempt Listed Roy Higgins in Melbourne earlier this year. But he was ruled out in August of spring racing with a tendon strain.
James McDonald after winning the Lexus Melbourne Cup aboard Verry Elleegant (NZ) at Flemington Racecourse on November 02, 2021 in Flemington, Australia. (Reg Ryan/Racing Photos)
