Defiantly scratched from Melbourne Cup three days before race
Defiantly was expected to be the pace-maker from Ireland. The horse failed veterinary inspection on Saturday. It is withdrawn from Tuesday's race.
Defiantly is an Irish import scratched from the Melbourne Cup. The race at Flemington is just three days away.
The five-year-old failed a vet check on Saturday. The horse showed sensitivity in a hind foot.
Racing Victoria vets said the horse was unfit to run. Defiantly was bought for the Cup.
The horse was set to run hard early to help European runners. The withdrawal means another O'Brien horse, Kizlyar, fills the 24-horse field.
Dozens of owners are devastated. Media figures Yvonne Sampson and Chris O'Keefe came to Melbourne for the race.
- Defiantly
- Scratched horse
- 3200m at Flemington
- Race distance
- Three
- Days before race
- Yvonne Sampson and Chris O'Keefe
- Part owners
Why it mattersThe scratching reshapes the entire race. It strips advantage from the European runners who relied on Defiantly's aggressive early pace.
AustraliaThe Melbourne Cup field is now smaller and tactically different, changing betting odds and race strategy for Australian racing fans on the nation's biggest turf-racing day.
Corroborated bysmh.com.au
✓ Claims checked against the source. checked 3 h ago
