European galloper Gold Trip has been withdrawn from the Cox Plate with Racing Victoria vets saying the galloper is still showing signs of lameness.
A panel of four RV vets re-inspected Gold Trip at Werribee where the entire has been stabled since his arrival in Australia last month and determined the horse was not suitable to contest Saturday’s Cox Plate (2040m) at The Valley.
The panel noted Gold Trip presented with the same level of lameness in his off-hind leg as Thursday, but the level of lameness in his off-foreleg had increased in the past 24 hours.
A total of six vets have examined Gold Trip over the past two days for RV who were unanimous in their decision that the lameness was not at an acceptable level to pass the pre-race veterinary inspection.
RV Stewards, in consultation with the Ciaron Maher and David Eustace stable, withdrew Gold Trip from the Cox Plate acting on that veterinary advice.
Gold Trip had been under a lameness cloud since arriving at Werribee on September 25, with RV vets saying there was lameness which the Maher and Eustace stable put down to stiffness from the flight to Australia.
Speaking on RSN on Friday morning, Eustace said Gold Trip was “mildly lame in his right hind” prior to the horse’s re-examination.
New Zealand galloper Callsign Mav, who was under a cloud on Thursday, was re-examined on Friday and passed fit to take his place after the horses near front shoe was removed overnight before being reshod on Friday morning.
All other horses in the Cox Plate field were passed fit to race on Thursday.
Gold Trip was a $13 chance in Cox Plate odds prior to being scratched.
Market đź’°: View the Odds for the Cox Plate
