Horse Racing

Melbourne Cup hopeful Maldivian is out of the Spring Racing Carnival after pulling up lame during this morning’s track work.

The seven year old sustained a 12.5 per cent tear to a tendon, which was discovered during a routine vet check.

Trainer Mark Kavanagh is devastated by the news as the Cox Plate winner was scheduled to run in this Saturday’s Caulfield Cup and would go on to race in the Cox Plate.

The son of Zabeel had only three runs in this year’s Autumn Racing Carnival ending with a solid fourth in the 2000m Turnbull Stakes on October 3.

To add to Kavanagh’s upsetting morning, his other Cup contestant Cats Whisker has also been scratched after the mare was found to have bone chips in a joint.

Winning four out of her five starts, the mare will be now be spelled and her future will be determined at a later date.

Kavanagh will now focus his attention on Cox Plate favourite Whobegotyou and the four year olds Spring Racing campaign.

Betting markets for the Caulfield Cup and Cox Plate are now temporarily suspended as bookies work around the scratching of Maldivian, Cats Whisker and Speed Gifted.

Speed Gifted is likely to miss the Caulfield Cup to focus on the Cox Plate before entering in the Melbourne Cup.