Tom Melbourne out of 2017 Emirates Stakes Field

Professional placegetter Tom Melbourne has been scratched from the 2017 Group 1 $2m Emirates Stakes (2000m) at Flemington on Saturday.

Tom Melbourne, above in the white cap, has been scratched from the 2017 Emirates Stakes at Flemington. Photo by Steve Hart.

Racing Victoria Stewards reported that Tom Melbourne was showing lameness in the off front leg and his withdrawal along with the early scratching of Sir Isaac Newton has left a field of thirteen to contest the Emirates Stakes on the last day of the four day Melbourne Cup Carnival.

The Chris Waller trained Tom Melbourne has been racing consistently but has struggled to find the winners’ stall after collection five runner’s up cheques from his last six start.

Tom Melbourne’s latest outing saw him run second to his stablemate Shillelagh in the Group 1 $1m Kennedy Mile (1600m) at Flemington.

The scratching of Tom Melbourne has seen the Emirates Stakes market at Ladbrokes.com.au tighten up slightly with the Charlie Appleby trained Folkswood the ruling $4.80 favourite just ahead of the Kiwi galloper Gingernuts at $5.50 and the only three year old in the field Cliff’s Edge at $6.

Folkswood finished third behind super mare Winx in the Group 1 $3m Ladbrokes Cox Plate (2040m) at The Valley on October 28 and Appleby said that the English galloper has done everything right since.

“Folkswood came out of the Cox Plate in good form and has prepped well going into this race,” Appleby said.

“A repeat performance of that run will put him bang there in the Emirates.”

Appleby’s travelling foreman Chris Connett has been looking after Folkswood while in Australia and said that the Exceed And Excel five year old had recovered well from his Cox Plate third placing.

“We couldn’t be happier with him,” Connett said.

“He came out of the race (Cox Plate) very well and he did his last serious gallop on Saturday and then he stretched his legs this morning.

“She (Winx) is a superb mare and running against her is kind of like knocking your head up against a brick wall.

“We would’ve taken our chance and tried our best but it does make it easier (that she’s not in the race).”

Cox Plate jockey Kerrin McEvoy will take the ride again on Folkswood who will jump from the outside gate in the thirteen horse field.

Go to Ladbrokes.com.au to get all the best odds for the 2017 Emirates Stakes.