The Melbourne Cup 2026 horses list has undergone a major shake-up with classy stayer Saint George officially scratched from the ‘race that stops a nation’ after failing mandatory pre-race scans, opening the door for several horses on the fringe of the final field and reshaping the outlook for next Tuesday’s Flemington feature.

One of the leading contenders in early Melbourne Cup 2026 betting at Ladbrokes, Saint George had been expected to take his place among the 24-horse field for the $10.2 million classic after an outstanding spring campaign that included a runner-up finish in the Caulfield Cup and a brave fifth in the Cox Plate. Instead, the Ciaron Maher-trained galloper has become the latest high-profile horse to miss the Cup under Racing Victoria’s strict safety protocols.

Saint George Withdrawn from Melbourne Cup 2026 Field

The withdrawal leaves a significant hole in the anticipated Melbourne Cup 2026 field, with Saint George considered one of the strongest local hopes after returning to career-best form this preparation.

Racing Victoria stewards advised that an independent panel of diagnostic imaging specialists reviewed both CT and PET scan results and determined the horse was at a heightened risk of injury if permitted to compete.

Dual Melbourne Cup-winning owner Ozzie Kheir confirmed the disappointing news on Thursday.

“He won’t be going, he failed the mandatory scans,” he told the media.

“He passed the trot-up, the confusion is he passed the trot-ups but since the trot-ups the CT has come back.

“The scans came back about an hour after the trot-ups.

“He’s failed, he won’t be running and will be out for the rest of the spring.”

The scratching brings an abrupt end to what had been an excellent campaign for the son of Roaring Lion, who had won twice earlier in the season before producing top performances at Group level, culminating in his Caulfield Cup placing behind Kingswood.

Melbourne Cup 2026 Horses List Changes After Scratchings

Saint George’s withdrawal has several flow-on effects for the final Melbourne Cup horses list 2026.

The biggest winner is Bendigo Cup hero So You Are, who received a one-kilogram penalty following his victory on Wednesday and now gains a start in the race. The talented stayer is set to carry 54kg and will be partnered by leading jockey Rachel King.

The scratching also guarantees a place in the final 2026 Melbourne Cup field for international raider Hopewell Rock, who moves safely into the top 24 and can no longer be displaced from the order of entry.

Connections of Hopewell Rock will take confidence from the gelding’s impressive Flemington trackwork this week as he prepares to represent the powerful Wathnan Racing operation.

Further down the order, veteran stayer Future History has also benefited from the movement and now secures a coveted place among the confirmed Melbourne Cup 2026 horses after reports that The Euphrates will not progress towards the race.

Last year’s Melbourne Cup-winning jockey Jamie Melham has reportedly been booked for the Greg Hickman-trained galloper.

Why Melbourne Cup Horses Must Pass Pre-Race Scans

Mandatory CT and advanced imaging scans have become an integral part of the Melbourne Cup selection process in recent years.

Introduced to improve horse welfare and reduce the risk of catastrophic injuries, the system requires every international and selected local horse to undergo detailed veterinary screening before being cleared to start.

Saint George now joins a growing list of notable Melbourne Cup horses denied a start after failing the examination process, alongside names such as Sir Delius, Marmelo and Jan Brueghel.

In a statement, Racing Victoria stewards explained the decision.

“The nominated panel members reported to RV Veterinary Services that the CT scan results for Saint George indicated that the horse is currently at heightened risk of injury,” the statement read.

Following the initial findings, connections elected to have the horse undergo a Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scan.

However, after reviewing both sets of results, specialists maintained the same recommendation.

“The PET scan results, reviewed alongside the initial CT diagnostics, confirmed Saint George remained at heightened risk of injury.”

Ciaron Maher Still Boasts Powerful Melbourne Cup Team

While Saint George’s withdrawal is a significant setback, champion trainer Ciaron Maher remains strongly represented among the confirmed Melbourne Cup 2026 horses.

Maher is still expected to saddle a remarkable seven runners in the race, including:

• Point Of Law
• Shockletz
• Mr Monaco
• Juja Kibo
• Middle Earth
• Royal Supremacy
• Zahrann

The stable continues to hold a commanding hand in the race, with several of those runners prominent in the latest Melbourne Cup 2026 odds.

Updated Melbourne Cup 2026 Horses List Outlook

With final acceptances approaching, the composition of the Melbourne Cup 2026 field continues to evolve.

The withdrawal of Saint George has elevated the prospects of horses waiting on the border of the top 24 and tightened the race for the final places in the field. It also removes one of the more intriguing local hopes from calculations after a spring campaign that had many punters believing he was ready to peak in Australia’s greatest staying race.

For now, So You Are, Hopewell Rock, and Future History are among the key beneficiaries as the final Melbourne Cup 2026 horses list takes shape ahead of Tuesday’s 3200m feature at Flemington.

Punters can expect further changes before final acceptances are declared, but one thing is now certain: Saint George will not be among the confirmed Melbourne Cup horses chasing glory in the 2026 Melbourne Cup.