Two international horses are in doubt for the 2010 Melbourne Cup at Flemington next Tuesday after Racing Victoria stewards found Profound Beauty and Bauer to have lameness issues, throwing the Melbourne Cup betting markets into chaos.
Veterinarians inspected a number of horses at the Werribee quarantine centre yesterday and it is believed they have serious concerns over both overseas’ headliners being fit and able to contest the $6 million Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) on November 2.
Dermot Weld’s classy mare Profound Beauty is number nine on the Melbourne Cup order of entry, assured of a spot in the 24-horse field and currently paying $19 through Luxbet.
Luca Cumani’s eight-year-old grey Bauer, who was defeated by a mere nose in the 2008 Melbourne Cup by Bart Cummings’ 12th Melbourne Cup winner Viewed, is number 24 on the ballot and could be pushed outside of contention with the Victoria Derby Day results on Saturday.
A decision over the horses’ fitness will be decided today, but if Profound Beauty and Bauer are ruled unfit then Bart Cummings’ Moonee Valley Cup winner Precedence (26th) will move up the order of entry and have a genuine shot of getting into the Melbourne Cup field.
Precedence would be the fourth horse lining up in the 150th Melbourne Cup for the Cups King Cummings, the legendary trainer currently suffering from adverse health.
Racing Victoria chief steward Terry Bailey and two veterinarians also extensively examined John O’Shea’s Sydney Cup winner Jessicabeel, the fully qualified Melbourne Cup contender cleared to run in tomorrow’s Group 3 The Lexus (2000m), the winner of which will earn an automatic entry into the Melbourne Cup.
Irish trainer Dermot Weld, who has twice won the Melbourne Cup, is reportedly furious over the possibility Profound Beauty could be found unsound to race in the world’s richest handicap.
“As far as we are concerned she is perfect. Physically she is great,” son Mark Weld said.
Bailey will decide on Profound Beauty and Bauer today, before the 2010 Melbourne Cup final declarations are taken tomorrow.
To check out the current Melbourne Cup odds on all of the contenders, head to Luxbet now!
