Who Shot Thebarman has been ruled out of the 2017 Melbourne Cup after being found with an elevated temperature this morning.

Who Shot Thebarman will not take his place in the 2017 Melbourne Cup field. Photo by: Ultimate Racing Photos

Who Shot Thebarman was set to contest the Melbourne Cup for the fourth time in his career following his victory in the Moonee Valley Gold Cup at The Valley on Ladbrokes Cox Plate Day, but trainer Chris Waller informed Racing Victoria stewards this afternoon that the veteran stayer will not take his place in the Melbourne Cup field.

“This afternoon when returning to the stables Who Shot Thebarman presented with an elevated temperature and due to the level of elevation I have no option but to withdraw the horse from the 2017 Emirates Melbourne Cup,” Waller said in a statement.

“It is obviously of great disappointment to the owners, my staff and I, however the welfare of the horse comes first and for that reason he must be scratched from Tuesday’s race.

“Who Shot Thebarman had pleased me in his progress this weekend and had showed no signs of ill effect following his win in the Moonee Valley Gold Cup.”

Who Shot Thebarman ran in the Melbourne Cup for the first time in 2014 and he finished a gallant third behind Protectionist and Red Cadeaux.

He was never able to get into the race when he finished 12th behind Prince Of Penzance in the 2015 Melbourne Cup, but he still produced some of the fastest closing sectionals in the race before he finished a tough sixth behind Almandin in ‘the race that stops a nation’ 12 months ago.

Almandin and Marmelo are locked in a battle for favourtism in 2017 Melbourne Cup betting markets at a quote of $8.50 and there isn’t much between them and the likes of Humidor ($9.50), Johannes Vermeer ($10), Wall Of Fire ($13) and Rekindling ($13).