Melbourne Cup hero Without A Fight faces spring-defining scans as long rehab continues

Without A Fight remains under the care of rehab guru Lee Evison as he continues his slow journey back from a tendon injury following his 2023 Melbourne Cup triumph.

Without A Fight is no certainty to defend his Melbourne Cup crown. Picture: Vince Caligiuri—Getty Images.

Melbourne Cup hero Without A Fight is set to undergo scans this week which will go some way to determining his immediate future, as the champion stayer still undergoes rehab for a tendon injury suffered last year.

The Anthony and Sam Freedman-trained import remains with rehab guru Lee Evison in Victoria, with connections aborting a rough plan to send him to Queensland over the winter to spell in the Sunshine State.

After missing the autumn, Without A Fight’s spring is up in the air, with Sam Freedman saying they would not push the star galloper, which was the first horse since 2001 to complete the Caulfield-Melbourne Cup double.

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“He is still at Lee Evison’s doing his rehab and we will know more next week when he has another scan,” Freedman said.

“It has been progressing well but we aren’t rushing it.

“We’d love to have him back, but we have to make sure everything is right.”

“We are still optimistic with the spring, if it’s not to be, it’s not to be.

“If he ends up racing in the spring, it’s not because we are rushing him, it will be because he is 100 per cent right to go.”

Without A Fight will have scans on his injured tendon this week. Picture: Vince Caligiuri — Getty Images.

Without A Fight is part of a two-pronged attack for big time owner Sheikh Mohammed Obaid al Maktoum and the Freedman stable, with Royal Champion set to aim up in the Victorian spring after missing the Queensland winter.

The Royal Ascot winner is one of the most highly credentialed imports to come to Australia, with the father and son training duo originally hoping to kick him off in Queensland.

After some setbacks and a run of wet tracks, they elected to pull the pin on winter to aim up for spring.

Without A Fight is just one of a number of horses to come out of the 2023 Melbourne Cup with significant injuries.

Fellow placegetters Soulcombe and Sheraz face uncertain futures with similar injuries.

Gold Trip was also retired after one run in the autumn following his poor performance in the Cup.

The Freedmans also have highly touted import Post Impressionist from the William Haggas stable, which was scratched from Saturday’s abandoned Caloundra Cup (2400m).

The $300,000 race is now scheduled to be run next Sunday.

Originally published as Melbourne Cup hero Without A Fight faces spring-defining scans as long rehab continues