The Gai Waterhouse-trained Alligator Blood is in doubt for the Cox Plate after Racing Victoria vets found him to be lame in the off fore during the mandatory pre-race inspection.
The six-year-old gelding will undergo another inspection on Friday morning. The stable said Alligator Blood had shown no recent sign of lameness, had not been treated for lameness and has not missed any work.
Alligator Blood is considered a 15-1 chance in the race behind race favourite Anamoe, who is trained by James Cummings for Godolphin.
He won the Underwood Stakes two starts back and is one of the most popular horses in the race among racing fans. Alligator Blood was among 10 horses checked before the race, with vets to check Young Werther and El Bodegon on Friday.
Alligator Blood is in doubt for the Cox PlateCredit:Getty
The decisions arising from the controversial checks have incensed trainers at times in the past few seasons.
Last year, Gold Trip was scratched after failing a vet test on Thursday morning before the race and the follow-up inspection on Friday. Racing Victoria said he had displayed lameness in his off fore and off hind leg, though the horse’s jockey Damien Oliver was shocked at the news. It also frustrated trainer David Eustace who said Gold Trip had been “very mildly lame in his right hind” but had improved enough to race and had passed all the scans.
Future Score was scratched from the Melbourne Cup on race morning last year after failing a mandatory inspection.
Meanwhile, connections of Geelong Cup winner Emissary were hoping for a weight penalty to boost his chances of running in the Melbourne Cup. Emissary was 31st in the order of entry before the win but a 2-kilogram penalty would guarantee him a start and connections are confident of his chances on a dry track.
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