The Grahame Begg-trained Lunar Flare is officially out of the 2023 Melbourne Cup with the classy mare to be retired immediately after suffering a career-ending injury in Friday night’s Group 2 $750,000 Ladbrokes Moonee Valley Gold Cup (2500m).
It was with a heavy heart her Cranborne-based trainer made the announcement via X on Saturday morning.
Regrettably Lunar Flare has been ruled out of the Melbourne Cup after suffering a career ending injury after last nights race & she will be retired immediately.She has been a very much loved part of our stable for the last 4 years & we are devastated for her amazing owners. pic.twitter.com/LoYAt5a7Xp
— Grahame Begg Racing (@Grahame_Begg) October 28, 2023
“Regrettably Lunar Flare has been ruled out of the Melbourne Cup after suffering a career ending injury after last nights race & she will be retired immediately. She has been a very much loved part of our stable for the last 4 years & we are devastated for her amazing owners,” Grahame Begg Racing sent out on the platform.
Lunar Flare went around as the $3.90 favourite in the Moonee Valley Gold Cup, a race she won back in 2021 and was second in last year.
She finished fourth with excuses last night behind the Kris Lees-trained Cleveland after being held up for a run.
The eight-year-old daughter of Fiorente had 41 career starts for nine wins amassing $2,043,680 in earnings for connections.
Her last victory was in the Listed Andrew Ramsden Stakes (2800m) at Flemington on May 13 this year by 5.5 lengths that saw her punch her ticket into the Melbourne Cup field.
She was one of four horses exempt from ballot for the Group 1 $8.41 million Lexus Melbourne Cup (3200m), to run at Flemington on Tuesday November 7, at the time of her retirement.
Lunar Flare was also a top fancy in all-in Melbourne Cup odds for Australia’s most famous race paying $12 at Ladbrokes.com.au before her withdrawal.
Willie Mullins‘ Irish raider Vauban remains the firm $4.20 favourite in all-in Melbourne Cup betting.
Click here for the latest pre-field Melbourne Cup 2023 odds courtesy of Ladbrokes.com.au ahead of third acceptances on Monday.
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