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In breaking Melbourne Cup 2022 news and a blow for the connections of German raider Loft the Marcel Weiss-trained second favourite has come out of next Tuesday’s $8 million classic with a suspected tendon injury.

Jockey James McDonald (pictured winning the 2021 Melbourne Cup on Verry Elleegant) could be without a ride in the 2022 race after the shock withdrawal of second favourite Loft. Photo: Steve Hart.

“It’s true,” Loft’s disappointed part-owner Ozzie Kheir confirmed to Racing.com on Friday morning.

“He’s got swelling around his tendon and he definitely won’t be running on Tuesday.”

Loft was heavily supported in Melbourne Cup betting at $7 at the time of his withdrawal trailing only fellow international, English visitor Deauville Legend who will be ridden by three-time Melbourne Cup winning jockey Kerrin McEvoy.

The withdrawal of Loft, who was to be ridden by last year’s winning jockey James McDonald, leaves two of Australia’s leading hoops without a current ride in the Group 1 Lexus Melbourne Cup (3200m).

McDonald, who guided Verry Elleegant to victory in the 2021 Melbourne Cup, could sit out the 162^nd edition of the world’s richest handicap along with another three-time Cup champion, Damien Oliver, who was booked to ride Chris Waller’s Caulfield Cup champ Durston.

Durston was officially withdrawn on Thursday after failing to pass a mandatory pre-race scan.

Loft came out on Friday morning, but it is unsure whether the horse sustained the tendon injury on Thursday or Friday morning ahead of his inspection by Racing Victoria vets.

“That’s racing,” Kheir said.

“You’ve got to take the bad with the good. But this is pretty tough, especially after Le Don De Vie was ruled out earlier in the week.

“I appreciate all the effort to bring a horse of Loft’s credentials out here and hopefully he’ll recover and he’ll be in the field next year.

“We’ve still got a minor hope if Interpretation gets in. That could be a silver lining.”

Interpretation is prepared in Australia by Ciaron Maher & David Eustace and is now right on the cusp of gaining a start in the official 24-horse Melbourne Cup field.

The five-year-old Galileo entire has had three starts in including Australia performing well second-up when under a length off Lunar Flare finishing third in the Group 3 The Bart Cummings (2510m).

He was last seen running four lengths back sixth behind Emissary in the Group 3 Geelong Cup (2400m) on October 19 and pays $51 in all-in Melbourne Cup betting markets at Ladbrokes.com.au.

Click here for the latest pre-field Melbourne Cup 2022 odds.

Latest 2022 Melbourne Cup Order Of Entry

Table Credit: Racing Australia.