Just hours after shortening in the markets due to her ideal barrier draw, hot favourite Atlantic Jewel has officially been scratched form the Cox Plate 2013 field due to a tendon injury.

Atlantic Jewel has been scratched from the 2013 Cox Plate field. Photo: Race Horse Photos Australia.

The Mark Kavanagh-trained mare was looking the horse to beat in this year’s $3 million Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m) after her blistering four length victory in the Caulfield Stakes over the distance (2000m) last start.

A mare whose stellar career has been restricted to just 11 starts due to ongoing tendon issues, Atlantic Jewel was to shoot for Group 1 win number five in the Cox Plate.

There were no reported issues from camp Kavanagh at the 2013 Cox Plate barrier draw in Melbourne this morning, the injury only just occurring in the past hour.

Kavanagh advised Racing Victoria stewards that he was withdrawing the Cox Plate star around 11am (AEST) after she was found to have an off fore tendon injury after cooling off from a gallop.

There was swelling in the lower sheath of a flexor tendon in her off side foreleg, ruling out a Cox Plate bid.

Scans then confirmed the damage, with Kavanagh saying he would be resting the mare with a decision on her future to be made by connections over the coming weeks.

There is a chance that because of her previous history of tendon injuries, retirement may be considered for Atlantic Jewel.

As it stands she has had 11 starts for 10 wins and a second winning $1,587,925 in prize money.

The shock Cox Plate scratching paves the way for the first emergency Shamus Award to gain a run from their gun barrier three draw.

That means two three-year-olds will be in the Cox Plate field this year with the Danny O’Brien-trained Caulfield Guineas third placegetter to face off against their last start winner, Peter Snowden’s Guineas hero Long John on the weekend.

It seems Cox Plate betting markets will now be dominated by the likes of Atlantic Jewel’s last start conqueror It’s A Dundeel, Melbourne Cup-bound Puissance De Lune and the Gai Waterhouse-trained stayer Fiorente.

Stay tuned to Races.com.au for more updates.

Our preferred online bookie Ladbrokes.com.au are also set to release the updated Cox Plate odds shortly so make sure you’ve signed up with them and ready to go!

Updated 2013 Cox Plate Field

Moonee Valley Race 10 – 26/10/2013