All-Star Mile favourite Arcadia Queen fails third vet check on race morning

All-Star Mile favourite Arcadia Queen has been withdrawn from the big race after failing a race morning vet check.

Arcadia Queen has been a race morning scratching from the $5m All-Star Mile. Photo: Vince Caligiuri/Getty Images

Arcadia Queen’s $5m All-Star Mile quest was aborted on race morning when she failed a third vet check.

The champion West Australian mare, found to be lame on Thursday after pulling a shoe, failed her second inspection on Friday but was given until race morning to recover.

Stewards had reported Arcadia Queen presented with “2/5“ lameness in the off fore, up from the initial 1/5 rating on Thursday.

However come race day and Arcadia Queen was still found to be lame.

First emergency, beaten Australian Cup favourite Fifty Stars replaces Arcadia Queen in the field.

Racing Victoria reported by twitter on Saturday morning: “Arcadia Queen underwent her third inspection this morning with vets reporting she is still lame in the off fore leg. The mare will be withdrawn on vets advice. First emergency Fifty Stars will now gain a start.”

.@allstarmile Update: Arcadia Queen underwent her third inspection this morning with vets reporting she is still lame in the off fore leg. The mare will be withdrawn on vets advice. First emergency Fifty Stars will now gain a start

— Racing Victoria (@RacingInsider) March 12, 2021

Arcadia Queen had eased from $3.40 out to $4.80 in the 24 hours before being withdrawn and now Probabeel is a firm $3.20 favourite with Russian Camelot second pick at $4.80. Fifty Stars is $19.

Racing Victoria’s chief steward Robert Cram said John Allen would ride Fifty Stars and with that horse now in the field William Pike gets the mount on Cox Plate hero Sir Dragonet which is a $13 chance.

Originally published as All-Star Mile favourite Arcadia Queen fails third vet check on race morning