Sans Frontieres ruled out of Melbourne Cup
One of the market leaders for the Melbourne Cup, San Frontieres, has been ruled out of the race after suffering from a muscle related illness following a routine workout on the Newmarket gallops yesterday evening.
The Jeremy Noseda trained colt, who is owned by Sir Robert Ogden, would have headed the European contingent of horses to travel to Australia as his form this season has been hugely impressive. After a slow start to the campaign he went onto win the Princess of Wales's Sportingbet.com Stakes and the CGA Geoffrey Freer Stakes, before going on to comfortably land the Irish St Leger last month.
The son of Galileo, who had been in quarantine for the past two weeks, was originally scheduled to complete his preparation today, before flying out to Victoria on Thursday. However, he has been struck down with a bout of azoturia, a condition that affects the muscles of horses, which apparently was triggered off by an Australian food mix that he had gradually been given in preparation for his trip abroad.
A statement from Ogden's racing manager Barry Simpson read: "The welfare of the horse is paramount as a result of this setback, Sir Robert has decided to withdraw the horse from the Melbourne Cup.
"This is a severe blow and a huge disappointment to Sir Robert. He was so much looking forward to the challenge of this event and running in a race that carried so much prestige and history.
"We have no immediate plans for the horse until his recovery is complete."
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