The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained Sir Delius, who had been high up in Melbourne Cup and Cox Plate betting, has been withdrawn from contesting both races.
Racing Victoria stewards, acting on veterinary advice, ordered the five-year-old’s withdrawal from both races on Friday.
As part of the process to accept for the Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington on November 4, Sir Delius was this week taken to the University of Melbourne Equine Centre at Werribee for CT (Computed Tomography) scans of his distal limbs.
Those scans, reviewed by a panel of diagnostic imaging specialists comprising representatives from Australia, the UK and USA, determined Sir Delius was at a heightened risk of injury.
The Waterhouse and Bott stable was offered the opportunity of a PET (Positron Emission Tomography) scan on Sir Delius which can help determine the status of an area of concern.
Those scans, taken on Thursday, were again sent off to members of the imaging specialists who advised RV Veterinary Services they remained of the view Sir Delius was currently at a heightened risk of injury.
On the advice of RV Veterinary Services, Sir Delius has been stood down from competing further in the Melbourne Spring Carnival.
Sir Delius was at the forefront of betting for the Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley on Saturday week and the Melbourne Cup following his win in the Turnbull Stakes (2000m) at Flemington on October 4.
That victory followed a gritty win in the Underwood Stakes (1800m) at Caulfield on September 20.
Sir Delius had been purchased by connections of Waterhouse and Bott with the express aim of winning both the Cox Plate and Melbourne Cup.
RV introduced scans for all horses competing in the Melbourne Cup in 2021 following the death of Anthony Van Dyke in the 2020 Melbourne Cup after fracturing a fetlock.
His death was the seventh recorded in the Melbourne Cup in as many years while there have been no deaths since RV introduced mandatory scanning of all runners ahead of the race.
Betting markets for both the Melbourne Cup and Cox Plate are expected to shift significantly following Sir Delius’ withdrawal. For the latest odds and bookmaker offers, visit Australia’s top betting sites.
