The Grahame Begg-trained mare Lunar Flare has officially been scratched from today’s 2022 Melbourne Cup field after failing to pass her race morning re-inspection by Racing Victoria vets.

Lunar Flare has been scratched from the 2022 Melbourne Cup field today due to lameness in her off fore. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.
Interpretation for Ciaron Maher & David Eustace has been passed fit to run after also being re-checked following his unsuitable Friday vetting and will take his spot as one of five for the stable in the Group 1 $7.75 million Lexus Melbourne Cup (3200m).
Both horses were under an injury cloud on Friday, but the dream of taking out the 162nd edition of the ‘race that stops a nation’ has ended for only one.
Begg’s nicely-bred seven-year-old Fiorente mare was found to be lame in the off fore and withdrawn from the world’s richest handicap.
Lunar Flare, one of six mares originally in contention, was rated a genuine chance after her Group 3 The Bart Cummings (2510m) win at the track two back and second in the Group 2 Moonee Valley Gold Cup (2500m) in the wet.
The news is a major blow for in-form jockey Michael Dee who was in with a chance at another major after riding Durston to victory in the Caulfield Cup and Manzoice in last Saturday’s Victoria Derby for the Waller stable.
Lunar Flare was drawn barrier 12.
All horses drawn gates 13 or above now move in one closer to the rails.
Interpretation meanwhile remains a chance drawn a treat in barrier six for jockey Craig Newitt.
The Irish-bred Galileo entire is fit fourth-up ahead of Flemington Race 7 today having run third to Lunar Flare in The Bart Cummings before a sixth to Emissary in the Group 3 Geelong Cup (2400m) last start.
He pays $51 in current Melbourne Cup betting.
The Melbourne Cup field is now down to 22 runners with Point Nepean also scratched earlier after showing elevated blood levels.
James Ferguson’s classy raider Deauville Legend remains clear favourite in Melbourne Cup betting at $3.60 through Ladbrokes.com.au drawn barrier nine with three-time winning hoop Kerrin McEvoy taking the reins.
Flemington is currently rated a Soft (6) with only showers on the radar.
Click here for the latest Melbourne Cup markets thanks to Ladbrokes.com.au.
Updated 2022 Melbourne Cup Field & Barriers
No | Last 10 | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Barrier | Weight | Penalty | Hcp Rating |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 52x3x33529 | GOLD TRIP (FR) | Ciaron Maher & David Eustace | Mark Zahra | 14 (into 13) | 57.5kg | 119 | |
2 | 96117×0688 | DUAIS | Edward Cummings | Hugh Bowman | 10 | 55.5kg | 116 | |
3 | x3521x1343 | KNIGHTS ORDER (IRE) | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | Tim Clark | 24 (into 22) | 55.5kg | 114 | |
4 | 14x718x434 | MONTEFILIA | David Payne | Jason Collett | 11 | 55.5kg | 116 | |
5 | x60211x225 | NUMERIAN (IRE) | Annabel Neasham | Tommy Berry | 7 | 55.5kg | 114 | |
6 | 11x20311x2 | WITHOUT A FIGHT (IRE) | Simon & Ed Crisford | William Buick | 18 (into 17) | 55.5kg | 113 | |
7 | 3217x551x8 | CAMORRA (IRE) | Ben & JD Hayes | Ben Melham | 17 (into 16) | 55kg | 113 | |
8 | 4x2x12121x | DEAUVILLE LEGEND (IRE) | James Ferguson | Kerrin McEvoy | 9 | 55kg | 117 | |
9 | 127×964418 | STOCKMAN (NZ) | Joseph Pride | Sam Clipperton | 2 | 54kg | 114 | |
10 | x8x00x5356 | VOW AND DECLARE | Danny O’Brien | Blake Shinn | 4 | 54kg | 111 | |
11 | 32x528x430 | YOUNG WERTHER (NZ) | Danny O’Brien | Damian Lane | 21 (into 19) | 54kg | 110 | |
12 | 312×322318 | HOO YA MAL (GB) | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | Craig Williams | 15 (into 14) | 53.5kg | 114 | |
13 | 786x0x0902 | SERPENTINE (IRE) | Robert Hickmott | John Allen | 23 (into 21) | 53.5kg | 104 | |
14 | 111213×070 | DAQIANSWEET JUNIOR (NZ) | Phillip Stokes | Daniel Moor | 13 (into 12) | 53kg | 108 | |
15 | 2516x7x594 | GRAND PROMENADE (GB) | Ciaron Maher & David Eustace | Harry Coffey | 1 | 53kg | 108 | |
16 | 2721712382 | ARAPAHO (FR) | Bjorn Baker | Ms Rachel King | 19 (into 18) | 52.5kg | 106 | |
17 | 53x35x1581 | EMISSARY (GB) | Michael Moroney | Patrick Moloney | 3 | 51.5kg | 0.5kg | 106 |
18 | 1156×46612 | LUNAR FLARE | Grahame Begg | Michael Dee | 12 | 51.5kg | 0.5kg | 105 |
19 | 2219×92117 | SMOKIN’ ROMANS (NZ) | Ciaron Maher & David Eustace | Ms Jamie Kah | 16 (into 15) | 51.5kg | 1.5kg | 114 |
20 | x33219x700 | TRALEE ROSE (NZ) | Symon Wilde | Dean Yendall | 22 (into 20) | 51.5kg | 106 | |
21 | x7x2111x90 | POINT NEPEAN (IRE) | Robert Hickmott | Wayne Lordan | 20 | 51kg | 106 | |
22 | 9x25x34161 | HIGH EMOCEAN (NZ) | Ciaron Maher & David Eustace | Teo Nugent | 8 | 50kg | 102 | |
23 | 11144×6536 | INTERPRETATION (IRE) | Ciaron Maher & David Eustace | Craig Newitt | 6 | 50kg | 100 | |
24 | 51x006x033 | REALM OF FLOWERS | Anthony & Sam Freedman | Damien Thornton | 5 | 50kg | 104 |
Table Credit: Racing Australia.