Racing dodges another nightmare after mid-race fall; Derby Day trainer charged by stewards

The shape of the Melbourne Cup changed dramatically on Saturday morning after Irish import and expected pace-maker Defiantly failed a vet test.

The Joseph O’Brien stayer has set European racing alight in the past six months by adopting daring catch-me-if-you can tactics and was expected to turn Tuesday’s 3200m race at Flemington into a gruelling test of stamina that would suit the Europeans.

The five-year-old gelding had sensitivity in a hind foot when first inspected at Werribee earlier this week, but the O’Brien stable was quietly hopeful it would come good by the follow-up veterinary examinations today.

But Racing Victoria vets were unable to pass it fit ton run.

The scratching means that another O’Brien runner, Kizlyar, will make the starting 24.

Defiantly, purchased by Australian Bloodstock earlier in the year with the Melbourne Cup always its focus, is part-owned by media identities Yvonne Sampson and her husband Chris O’Keefe.

Dozens owners and their friends and families are in Melbourne for the race and are said to be devastated to have come so far, only to be scratched at the 11th hour.

Racing Victoria said on Saturday that stewards had concluded the first of two rounds of mandatory pre-race physical veterinary inspections.

“A panel of RV veterinarians re-examined Defiantly (Joseph O’Brien), Wine Dark Sea (Harry Charlton) and Enfjaar (Roger Varian) after those three horses were not passed when inspected on Thursday,” RV said in a statement.

“In the opinion of the veterinarians, Defiantly remains unsuitable to accept for the Melbourne Cup and has been withdrawn from the race by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice.

“Wine Dark Sea and Enfjaar had made appropriate improvement from Thursday’s inspection and in the opinion of the veterinarians are suitable to accept.

“In addition, the veterinarians re-inspected Small Fry (Joseph O’Brien) and in their opinion the horse is no longer suitable to accept for the Melbourne Cup. Small Fry is currently 33rd in the order of entry.”