Champion trainer down to one horse as Cup roughie scratched

Asterix has been scratched just hours before the Lexus Melbourne Cup in a major blow for trainer Chris Waller and connections.

The eight-year-old gelding was a rough hope in the field before being pulled out by Racing Victoria stewards on Tuesday morning.

He had been heavily beaten across his past two starts in the Turnbull Stakes and Caulfield Cup, but has now been scratched from the $10m Flemington feature.

Stewards found that Waller had administered the medication Penetrene to both of the horse’s forelegs on Tuesday morning without receiving permission.

The medication is a topical product used as an anti-inflammatory, predominantly for horses with muscle strains, sprains or soreness.

Any substance, including any topical application, administered on race day is not allowed without being green-lit by the stewards prior.

“Stewards will continue their inquiries into the circumstances with Waller later today,” a statement from Racing Victoria said.

It means champion trainer Waller, who won the Cup in 2021 with Verry Elleegant, will only have one runner left in this year’s race, Soul Of Spain.

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It also means Jye McNeil – who rode the 2020 winner Twilight Payment – will be without a ride for the Cup.

At this stage, there have been no other scratchings since the final field was confirmed on Saturday afternoon.

The remaining 23 runners will race at 3pm AEDT.