The Melbourne Cup has been reduced to a field of 23 after Point Nepean was scratched on Monday due to elevated blood results.
The decision means that Lloyd Williams = who owns Point Nepean – now has just one runner in the race with his colours to be worn by Johnny Allen on Serpentine.
Point Nepean had been exempt from the ballot after winning the Andrew Ramsden Stakes in May but the late call will again leave owners of horses that just missed out on a run disappointed that there are no emergencies in the Melbourne Cup as the totalisator cannot handle more than 24 numbers in any race.
Loft, Durston and Makram were scratched from the race before final acceptances last week with Durston and Makram taken out due to results from Racing Victoria’s mandatory scans ahead of the race.
Alana Kelly wins the Andrew Ramsden with Point Nepean.Credit:George Sal, Getty Images
The five-year-old had not raced since finishing second last in the Herbert Power Handicap at Caulfield in early October and was not considered a serious chance of winning the race.
Lloyd Williams’ runner Serpentine only qualified to run in the race on Saturday when he finished second in the Lexus Archer Stakes but is considered only an outside chance in the Cup.
Robert Hickmott is the trainer of the owner’s horses with Lloyd Williams winning the Cup seven times with his most recent winner being Twilight Payment who led all the way to win in 2020.
