Chris Waller’s promising stayer Antonio Giuseppe will miss the 2016 Group 1 $3m BMW Caulfield Cup (2400m) at Caulfield on Saturday and will head to the paddock for a break.

Antonio Giuseppe, above, is out of the Caulfield Cup at Caulfield. Photo by Steve Hart.

Antonio Giuseppe was chasing his fifth win on the trot when second to Sir John Hawkwood in the Group 1 $750,000 McGrath Estate Agents Metropolitan (2400m) at Randwick on October 1 and Waller said that he was not completely happy with the four year old since the run.

Waller released a statement on twitter that Antonio Giiseppe had pulled up with some muscle soreness and he would miss the rest of the Spring Carnival.

“A decision has been made to spell Antonio Guiseppe and he will take no further part in the Spring Carnival,” Waller tweeted.

“I had not been completely satisfied with his action since the McGrath Estate Agents Metropolitan on October 1 and our vet has diagnosed some muscle damage.”

“For this reason, he will be spelled immediately and be prepared for an Autumn 2017 campaign. He made excellent progression this preparation and I eagerly await his return next year.

“At this stage we will have two runners in the Caulfield Cup, Preferment (Hugh Bowman) and Sacred Master (Tommy Berry).

“Grand Marshal and Who Shot Thebarman will both head towards either the Moonee Valley Cup or the Geelong Cup.”

The non-appearance of Antonio Giuseppe will leave Waller with two runners in the Caulfield Cup with Hugh Bowman to ride Preferment and Tommy Berry to stick with Sacred Master.

Preferment is rated a $21 chance for the Caulfield Cup at Ladbrokes.com.au after running fourth to Hartnell in the Group 1 $500,000 Yellowglen Turnbull Stakes (2000m) at Flemington on October 2 while Sacred Master is marked at $31 following his last start fourth to Sir John Hawkwood in the Metropolitan.

The Ciaron Maher trained Jameka is a clear favourite for the Caulfield Cup at $3.20 ahead of Godolphin’s English stayer Scottish at $7.50 and the Darren Weir trained Real Love at $9.

Jameka is a proven stayer and will have no problem with the 2400m of the Caulfield Cup after winning the Group 1 $1m Crown Oaks over 2500m at Flemington during the 2015 Melbourne Spring Carnival as well as running second to Tavago in the Group 1 $2m BMW Australian Derby (2400m) at Randwick during this year’s Sydney Autumn Carnival.

The four year old mare’s recent form has also been first class with a win in the Group 3 $150,000 Bendigo Bank East Malvern MRC Foundation Cup (Naturalism Stakes) (2000m) at Caulfield on September 17 followed by a second to Hartnell in the Turnbull Stakes.

English import Exospheric, now trained by Lee and Anthony Freedman, is also well in contention for the Caulfield Cup at $10 with French galloper Articus, Aidan O’Brien’s Sir Isaac Newton and Godolphin’s Australian stayer Tally all sharing the next line of betting at $11.

To view the full list of Caulfield Cup betting go to Ladbrokes.com.au – the home of Odds Boost (T&Cs apply).