Herbert Power Stakes winner Amralah will not run in the Caulfield Cup.
Amralah’s victory on Saturday guaranteed him a start in the Caulfield Cup and he firmed from $41 to $11.
But owner Lloyd Williams announced on Sunday he would not contest the race.
“His next start will be in either the Melbourne Cup or the Mackinnon Stakes,” Williams said.
“He won’t run in both and whatever race he runs in will be his last start for the year.”
Amralah can be re-handicapped for the Melbourne Cup in which he has 51.5kg.
Racing Victoria handicapper Greg Carpenter will announce any Melbourne Cup penalty for Amralah on Monday.
Williams spent Sunday morning at the Werribee quarantine centre inspecting two of his other Melbourne Cup hopefuls, the Aidan O’Brien-trained Kingfisher and Bondi Beach.
The leviathan owner recently bought shares in several Ireland-based Coolmore horses including the pair who arrived in Australia on Saturday with stablemate, Cox Plate contender Highland Reel.
“They’re in good order,” Williams said.
“We’ve got three weeks with them.”
The Williams-owned Fawkner, runner-up in last year’s Cox Plate, felt the effects of the firm track at Caulfield on Saturday when sixth behind Criterion in the Caulfield Stakes.
Williams said the gelding had jarred up on the surface.
New Zealander Mongolian Khan, third in the Caulfield Stakes, is now the $4.60 favourite for Saturday’s Caulfield Cup (2400m) ahead of Japanese horse Fame Game who remains the $7 favourite for the Melbourne Cup.
