Yucatan out of the Caulfield Cup

Image: Quentin Lang

Yucatan will not run in the Caulfield Cup

Team Williams have decided they would not run Herbert Power Stakes winner Yucatan on the quick back-up in the Caulfield Cup 2018.

Connections announced this morning the emphatic Caulfield winner would line-up in the race but have reversed their decision saying he may now head to the 2018 Cox Plate to take on Winx although it is likely he will now head straight to the Melbourne Cup 2018.

The decision comes after Greg Carpenter announced the winner of the Caulfield Cup could be penalised for the Melbourne Cup.

Yucatan was the $4.60 favourite in Caulfield Cup odds before the announcement with the final field to be released Tuesday morning.

The Chris Waller-trained Youngstar is the TAB’s new $5.50 Caulfield Cup favourite while Yucatan is at the head of the Melbourne Cup market at $9 alongside Avilius who is trained in Australia by James Cummings.

Williams could still have two Caulfield Cup runners, the O’Brien-trained The Cliffsofmoher and Homesman prepared by the owner’s private trainer, Liam Howley.