Future Score has been scratched from today’s 2021 Melbourne Cup field after the Matt Cumani-trained stayer failed to pass his race morning vet check by Racing Victoria (RV).

There are 23 stayers remaining in the mix for the 161st edition of the Group 1 $8 million Lexus Melbourne Cup (3200m) following the news of Future Score’s withdrawal due to lameness in his right fore-leg.

Trainer Cumani described the decision as “a bit frustrating” but understands Racing Victoria have all the horses’ welfare first and foremost in their minds.

“I think there’s a lot of pressure on Racing Victoria to be ultra, ultra conservative. And for them it was a real margin call, it went down to 7.29am to make the decision,” Cumani told Racing.com.

“They decided to be ultra-cautious. I can understand their point of view when they don’t know a horse inside out. But for me and my vet, who know him inside out, and know he presented in the same way going into the Cranbourne Cup, which he won convincingly, it’s a bit frustrating.

“He is a horse that’s consistent in his action and has been racing with that action for the past year and a half.

“Look, he was a 200-1 shot, but he was absolutely flying, he was peaking for this performance.

“I’m confident he will be racing again (this prep).”

Cumani remains convinced Future Score was fit to line up in the ‘race that stops a nation’, the issue only found minutes before the official 7:30am (AEDT) Melbourne Cup scratchings cut-off.

Future Score was drawn barrier 15, meaning race favourite Incentivise now comes into that gate having originally drawn 16.

A seven-year-old son of Cape Cross, Future Score was the rank outsider in Melbourne Cup betting at Ladbrokes.com.au paying around $151 at the time of his scratching having opened at $301 earlier in the week.

The horse’s regular rider Dean Yendall is now without a ride.

Updated Melbourne Cup odds have the Peter Moody-trained Caulfield Cup winner Incentivise at $2.90 to continues his heroic rise through the ranks and complete the coveted Spring Cups double for the first time since Ethereal (2001).

Click here for the latest Melbourne Cup 2021 betting odds courtesy of Ladbrokes.com.au.