Top Japanese stayer Meiner Kitz has been ruled out of the 2010 Melbourne Cup on November 2 after the headline runner sustained an injury last week.

Eight-year-old Sakae Kunieda-trained Meiner Kitz pulled up lame on his off-side after trackwork in Japan last Thursday morning forcing his Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival trip to be abandoned.

Before being withdrawn from the list of entries for the 150^th edition of the Melbourne Cup, Meiner Kitz was the leading international contender in the ante-post betting markets at [sportsbet] paying $17.

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Kunieda will now target Meiner Kitz for the Japan Cup on November 28, but if the horse doesn’t improve than he will not race again this season.

The withdrawal of Meiner Kitz means that the top three horses in this year’s Group 1 Tenno Sho, Japan’s premier staying race, will all miss the $6 million Melbourne Cup at Flemington.

Originally Tenno Sho winner Jaguar Mail along with second and third placegetters Meiner Kitz and Meisho Dontaku were all nominated for the 2010 Melbourne Cup, but have since been removed from contention by their connections.

Owned by the same interests that won the 2006 Melbourne Cup quinella with Delta Blues and Pop Rock, Jaguar Mail had his Melbourne Cup hopes dashed after a delay in approving Japanese quarantine facilities.

Sans Frontieres is now the shortest-priced overseas raider in the Melbourne Cup betting markets, paying $17 through [sportsbet], after winning his two spring starts in Europe.

The only likely horse to now represent Japan at Flemington is Hanshin Daishoten winner Tokai Trick, currently a $51 chance for the Melbourne Cup at [sportsbet].

Bart Cummings’ mare Dariana is still the warm early favourite to win the 2010 Melbourne Cup at $13 through [sportsbet], followed by last year’s winner Shocking at $15.

The 2010 Melbourne Cup handicaps will be released this Wednesday, September 1 and we will be the first to publish the list of weights so bookmark this page.

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Offering better odds than the TAB and with a free $100 bet for new customers, now is the perfect time to discover the benefits of betting at [sportsbet]!