Away He Goes Out Of Melbourne Cup 2021: James McDonald Loses Ride

October 27, 2021

Away He Goes Out Of Melbourne Cup 2021: James McDonald Loses Ride

Jockey James McDonald has lost his ride in next Tuesday’s Group 1 $8 million Lexus Melbourne Cup (3200m) with the news European visitor Away He Goes has been ruled out of the two-mile classic with a tendon injury.

Verry Elleegant Horse Form (Photo: Steve Hart) | Races.com.au

Jockey James McDonald is a chance to partner Verry Elleegant in the 2021 Melbourne Cup field. Photo: Steve Hart.

There are now just two international Melbourne Cup horses in 2021 left to contest his year’s edition of the ‘race that stops a nation’ with the Ismail Mohammed-trained UK raider Away He Goes ruled unfit to race.

Sydney-based McDonald looks in doubt of securing another ride with few contenders available within his weight range having only been announced to ride Away He Goes on Sunday.

McDonald was set to partner the horse for a piece of trackwork at Werribee on Wednesday morning but never got the chance with the tendon issue discovered beforehand.

“His groom who bandages the horse’s legs every morning, he walked in and noticed a bit of swelling in the tendon. He brought in the vet and he has confirmed it’s a tendon injury,” Racing Victoria General Manager International and Racing Operations Paul Bloodworth told Racing.com.

“It’s a mild, mild tendon injury, but of course it means he can’t race.”

Trainer Chris Waller is yet to make a final call on whether or not he will run his ruling Australian Racehorse of the Year Verry Elleegant in the 24-horse Melbourne Cup field with McDonald now sweating on the decision.

The nine-time Group 1 winning mare was last seen running a typically brave third in last weekend’s Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m) and is assured of a start in the Cup sitting third on the order of entry.

Winner of last year’s Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) over the mile and a half, whether Verry Elleegant would see out the two miles is still a query.

She remains the $12 third favourite in all-in Melbourne Cup odds at Ladbrokes.com.au to improve on her seventh in last year’s race when a shade under four lengths beaten in a strong performance.

Should she run, McDonald is a chance to secure the mount with her Cox Plate hoop Damian Lane looking to partner Kiwi galloper The Chosen One in this year’s Melbourne Cup.

This year’s runaway Caulfield Cup hero Incentivise for Peter Moody is firm $2.50 favourite in Melbourne Cup betting.

One of the two remaining raiders, Spanish Mission, is the $6 second elect.

The other international is defending champion Twilight Payment for last weekend’s Cox Plate winning trainer Joseph O’Brien.

O’Brien chases his third ‘Loving Trophy’ having also won the Melbourne Cup back in 2017 with Rekindling and Twilight Payment is at a current quote of $13 to enjoy multiple wins in the race for the first time since the historic three-peat of Makybe Diva (2003-05).

The withdrawal of Away He Goes sees the Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott-trained import Sir Lucan move into 23rd on the updated Melbourne Cup order of entry.

Into 24th is Mosh Music, Archie Alexander’s mare racing in Wednesday’s Group 3 $400,000 Bendigo Cup (2400m).

Click here for the latest Melbourne Cup 2021 betting markets online at Ladbrokes.com.au.

Latest 2021 Melbourne Cup Order Of Entry

Last 10 Horse Sex Age Trainer Ballot Weight Penalty Hcp Rating
1 111111×111 INCENTIVISE G 5 Peter G Moody 1 57kg 1.5kg 112
2 x221211251 GRAND PROMENADE (GB) G 6 Ciaron Maher & David Eustace 2 52kg 1.0kg 99
3 x3112x2143 VERRY ELLEEGANT (NZ) M 6 Chris Waller 3 57kg 1
4 1131×33912 TWILIGHT PAYMENT (IRE) G 9 Joseph O’Brien 4 58kg 1.5
5 17x2513x2x SPANISH MISSION (USA) H 6 Andrew Balding 5 57kg 2.5
6 132113×950 EXPLOSIVE JACK (NZ) H 4 Ciaron Maher & David Eustace 6 54kg 108
7 29431×0090 JOHNNY GET ANGRY (NZ) G 4 Denis Pagan 7 53kg 105
8 x2606x3420 THE CHOSEN ONE (NZ) H 6 Murray Baker & Andrew Forsman 8 54kg 107
9 86541×0840 SELINO (GB) G 6 Chris Waller 9 53.5kg 6
10 78333×0095 MIAMI BOUND (NZ) M 5 Danny O’Brien 10 52kg 105
11 2324×37197 SHE’S IDEEL M 6 Bjorn Baker 11 52kg 6
12 1x610x5059 OCEAN BILLY (NZ) G 6 Chris Waller 12 53.5kg 6
13 111x6x4210 DELPHI (IRE) H 5 Anthony & Sam Freedman 13 53.5kg 1.0kg 103
14 5x1244x373 PERSAN G 5 Ciaron Maher & David Eustace 14 53kg 104
15 3x8511x909 KNIGHTS ORDER (IRE) G 7 Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott 15 53kg 103
16 12114×3321 TRALEE ROSE (NZ) M 5 Symon Wilde 16 51kg 100
17 07422×4747 CARIF G 6 Peter & Paul Snowden 17 52.5kg 7
18 x22x722x54 PONDUS (GB) G 6 Robert Hickmott 18 52.5kg 103
19 x663x00030 MASTER OF WINE (GER) G 7 Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes 19 52.5kg 7
20 x1510x0600 PORT GUILLAUME (FR) G 5 Ben & JD Hayes 20 52kg 101
21 3x6133x086 FUTURE SCORE (IRE) G 7 Matt Cumani 21 51.5kg 100
22 4100×66730 FUN FACT G 6 Bjorn Baker 22 51.5kg 8
23 x41x81x248 SIR LUCAN (IRE) H 4 Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott 23 50kg 8.5
24 51716×8078 MOSH MUSIC M 7 Archie Alexander 24 50kg 99
25 4×13275155 GREAT HOUSE (IRE) G 5 Chris Waller 25 50kg 9.5
26 x55x011132 FLOATING ARTIST (GB) G 6 Ciaron Maher & David Eustace 26 50kg 94
27 x547x77133 HASTA LA WAR G 6 Sue Murphy 27 50kg 9.5
28 121x41x804 AMADE (IRE) G 8 Phillip Stokes 28 52.5kg 102
29 0x0558x968 CONSTANTINOPLE (IRE) G 6 Aaron Purcell 29= 50kg 89
30 1x2031x275 EMISSARY (GB) G 5 Michael Moroney 29= 50kg 80
31 x111733x74 KING’S CHARISMA (IRE) G 5 Ciaron Maher & David Eustace 29= 50kg 76
32 31222×2322 MANKAYAN (IRE) G 6 Ciaron Maher & David Eustace 29= 50kg 78
33 3×11222117 TOORADIN G 5 Ciaron Maher & David Eustace 29= 50kg 92
34 388×31161 FORGOT YOU (NZ) C 3 Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young 29= 49kg 69

Table Credit: Racing Australia.

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