Godolphin stayer out of the 2025 Melbourne Cup

Zardozi will not line up in this year’s Melbourne Cup, with trainer Ciaron Maher opting to send the talented mare to the paddock for a well-deserved spell.

The five-year-old has struggled to find her best form this spring, most recently finishing tenth in the Caulfield Cup. Despite being guaranteed a start in the Melbourne Cup (3200m) — sitting at number 15 in the order of entry — connections have chosen to reset for future campaigns rather than press on to Flemington. She was rated a $51 chance with Sportsbet prior to her withdrawal.

Last year, when trained by James Cummings, Zardozi produced a brave performance in the Melbourne Cup, finishing fourth and looming as a serious winning threat at the 200-metre mark before fading late. Following Cummings’ departure from Godolphin’s Australian operation, the mare was transferred to Maher’s stable earlier this year.

Maher confirmed that the mare will now enjoy a break before her next preparation. “She’s a quality mare, but she’s just not quite where we need her to be this campaign,” he said. “A spell will do her the world of good.”

The third declarations for the Melbourne Cup are set to be released on Monday morning as the field continues to take shape for the November 4 feature.