Racing Victoria vets will return to Werribee to inspect the Melbourne Cup’s international contingent before final declarations.
Dr Brian Stewart and Dr Grace Forbes have passed English stayer My Ambivalent for a start in the Melbourne Cup but they plan to hold more fitness tests on Thursday.
While clearing My Ambivalent, the vets also inspected Cup second favourite Protectionist and Red Cadeaux, who is on his fourth visit to Melbourne.
Both horses were given the all-clear before another inspection on Thursday afternoon.
Dr Stewart said there was a report something was amiss with Protectionist but described it as “perhaps idle gossip”.
“There doesn’t look to be any issue,” he said. “There was no report from the stable of any problem.”
Dr Stewart said because Red Cadeaux was an older horse they took the opportunity to make sure all was well with the nine-year-old.
He said Red Cadeaux looked to be moving as well as ever.
“Because he’s quite an old man now with a little bit of wear and tear, we were just checking all is good,” said Dr Stewart.
Robin Trevor-Smith, travelling foreman for trainer Ed Dunlop, said he welcomed the inspection of Red Cadeaux.
“I’ve got no problems and I fully expected them to have a look at him,” Trevor-Smith said.
“After all he is an older horse but he’s in great shape.”
