The countdown to the Melbourne Cup has taken another twist, with several key contenders facing fresh veterinary scrutiny in the days leading up to final acceptances.
Absurde, Flatten The Curve, Goodie Two Shoes and Interpretation are under a Melbourne Cup cloud following physical examinations on Thursday.
The four Cup contenders will need to be re-examined by Racing Victoria vets, after Absurde, Flatten The Curve and Goodie Two Shoes showed changes to their gait, while Interpretation pulled up sore from his Bendigo Cup run on Wednesday.
RV completed 34 inspections on Thursday, with 29 cleared to run, while Grand Pierro was withdrawn by RV stewards, acting on veterinary advice following mandatory CT scans.
Absurde, Flatten The Curve and Goodie Two Shoes are all currently in the Melbourne Cup field, while Interpretation is well down the order. All four will need to be cleared before final acceptances on Saturday.
In a statement on Thursday night, RV noted: “Absurde presented with a change in its gait to previous veterinary examinations and will be re-examined on Saturday morning.
“Flatten The Curve presented with a change in its gait to previous veterinary examinations and will be re-examined on Saturday morning.
“Goodie Two Shoes presented with a change in its gait to previous veterinary examinations and will be re-examined on Saturday morning.
“Interpretation resented with soreness in its right front foot following its fifth placing in yesterday’s Ladbrokes Bendigo Cup and will be re-examined on Friday morning.”
There was more movement in the Melbourne Cup‘s order of entry earlier on Thursday, with Mark Twain, Quietness and Don Diego De Vega all withdrawn following their Bendigo Cup performances, while Fernao, So You Are and Star Of India will also not accept for the race.
