Melbourne Cup 2024 order of entry: Trainers fume at 'perplexing' decision to scratch two runners
Updated . First published
The Lexus Melbourne Cup field has been hit with another two horses being pulled from it just days from the great race.
Racing Victoria vets on Thursday ruled both Muramasa and Brayden Star were at a "heightened risk of injury" if they were to run the 3200m feature at Flemington on Tuesday.
Both horses are under the care of Cranbourne trainers Trent Busuttin and Nat Young and leaves the stable with one runner - Mostly Cloudy - in the order of entry.
READ MORE: Big-money stars hit the NRL market on November 1
READ MORE: Addo-Carr sacked by Bulldogs after failed drug test
READ MORE: Walsh inks richest deal in Broncos history
It follows vets also ruling top international raider Jan Brueghel out of contention earlier in the week, while favourite Via Sistina was withdrawn by trainer Chris Waller.
Daniel Moor riding Muramasa wins the Queen Elizabeth Stakes. Getty
"Having been advised we're out of the running for the Cup because 'there may be a shadow that could possibly develop into a stress fracture in the future' is perplexing," the Busuttin-Young stable said in a statement.
Top Irish trainer Aidan O'Brien also took aim at Racing Victoria for pulling Jan Brueghel out of contention.
"There comes a point when it becomes ridiculous, the horsemen and women have been taken out of the picture," O'Brien told Racing Post.
Watch the 2024 Melbourne Cup Carnival on Nine and 9Now!
"In this part of the world, it's horsemen who decide. There are other parts of the world where we have had a horse, where the horse trots in front of a phone. The phone videos the trot and the phone tells you whether he is sound or not."
The final Melbourne Cup field will be comprised of the top 24 horses in the order of entry come Saturday afternoon.
The Aidan O'Brien trained Jan Brueghel ridden by Dean Gallagher during trackwork session at Werribee. Getty
2024 MELBOURNE CUP ORDER OF ENTRY (November 1)
Exempt horses
1. JUST FINE (7yo gelding, Waterhouse & Bott) - 53kg
1. THE MAP (6yo mare, Dan Clarken & Oopy MacGillivray) - 50kg
Passed first ballot clause
3. VAUBAN (7yo gelding, Willie Mullins) - 55.5kg
4. CIRCLE OF FIRE (5yo entire, Ciaron Maher) - 54.5kg
5. BUCKAROO (6yo gelding, Chris Waller) - 54.5kg
6. WARP SPEED (6yo entire, Noboru Takagi) - 54.5kg
7. ZARDOZI (4yo mare, James Cummings) - 51kg
8. SHARP 'N' SMART (5yo gelding, G & D Rogerson) - 53.5kg
9. KOVALICA (5yo gelding, Chris Waller) - 53.5kg
10. LAND LEGEND (5yo gelding, Chris Waller) - 53kg
11. ABSURDE (7yo gelding, Willie Mullins) - 52.5kg
12. ATHABASCAN (6yo gelding, O'Shea & Charlton) - 52kg
13. MAHRAJAAN (7yo gelding, Ritchie & Murray) - 52kg
14. KNIGHT'S CHOICE (5yo gelding, Symons & Laxon) - 51.5kg
15. OKITA SOUSHI (7yo entire, Ciaron Maher) - 50kg
16. ONESMOOTHOPERATOR (7yo gelding, Brian Ellison) - 51kg
17. VALIANT KING (5yo gelding, Chris Waller) - 50.5kg
18. INTERPRETATION (7yo gelding, Ciaron Maher) - 50kg
19. FANCY MAN (7yo gelding, Neasham & Archibald) - 50kg
20. MOSTLY CLOUDY (6yo gelding, Busuttin & Young) - 50kg
21. POSITIVITY (4yo mare, Andrew Forsman) - 50kg
22. MISSION OF LOVE (5yo mare, Symons & Laxon) - 50kg
23. TRUST IN YOU (6yo gelding, Wallace & Cooksley) - 50kg
24. SAINT GEORGE (5yo entire, Ciaron Maher) - 50kg
25. MANZOICE (5yo gelding, Chris Waller) - 50kg
26. KINESIOLOGY (5yo entire, Chris Waller) - 50kg
Not passed first ballot clause
27. FRANCESCO GUARDI (7yo gelding, Chris Waller) - 52kg
27. LE VON DE VIE (9yo gelding, Ciaron Maher) - 52kg
29. SEA KING (6yo gelding, Harry Eustace) - 50kg
29. WALTHAM (5yo gelding, Matthew Smith) - 50kg
29. WHISKY ON THE HILL (5yo gelding, Moroney & Thompson) - 50kg