Leon MacDonald’s dual Derby winner Rebel Raider has suffered a career threatening injury that has ruled the five-year-old out of the spring carnival including the 2010 Melbourne Cup.

The $1.4million stakes earner was one of the top early entries for the 150^th Melbourne Cup, due to run at Flemington on Tuesday November 2, with leading online bookie Sportsbet paying $26 for Rebel Raider in their Melbourne Cup betting markets.

Morphettville-based trainer MacDonald revealed yesterday that X-rays taken on Rebel Raider have confirmed the Reset entire has fractured a sesamoid in its leg.

Uncertain how or when the injury occurred, MacDonald is certain of one thing, that Rebel Raider’s spring campaign is over and his future in racing is now under a serious cloud of doubt.

Backing up from a win in the Group 3 Spring Stakes at Morphettville last month, Rebel Raider was able to beat home just one other runner in the Group 2 Makybe Diva Stakes at Flemington last start.

MacDonald and co-trainer Andrew Gluyas at first thought Rebel Raider’s failed run was to do with the heavy track and were still targeting this weekend’s Group 1 Underwood Stakes at Caulfield.

However swelling around Rebel Raider’s leg had Gluyas investigate further with the X-ray that showed the serious injury.

Rebel Raider was ruled out of last year’s Melbourne Cup after suffering a separate leg injury less than 24 hours after the Cup weights were released, making this a double blow for connections of the 2008 Victoria Derby winner.

The withdrawal of Rebel Raider from the 2010 Melbourne Cup Field is sure to impact the odds on the remaining contenders, which are lead by reigning champion Shocking.

After claiming an upset win in the 2009 Melbourne Cup, Shocking is the short favourite to make it back-to-back success with Sportsbet paying $8.

To view the Melbourne Cup Odds for all the other entries including top international hopeful Sans Frontieres and the Bart Cummings-trained Dariana, head to [sportsbet] today and receive a free $300 bet!