Defending Melbourne Cup champion Knight’s Choice has been ruled out of this year’s race after being caught in the Macedon Lodge quarantine.
The Queensland star, who stunned the field at $91 last spring, is among horses restricted after an unraced stablemate tested positive for the infectious disease strangles.
Trainer John Symons said the six-year-old was already under the weather and would not be pushed.
“He is sick anyway, he has got something, whether it be strangles or another virus,” Symons told Racenet.
“We won’t push on with him, regardless of what the tests say. We just haven’t got the time to get him ready for the Melbourne Cup, regardless of whether we could put him back into work tomorrow or not.”
Symons said more tests will be conducted this week, with hopes other stable horses could still take part in the spring carnival.
