Caulfield Cup runner scratched as Racing Victoria vets clear internationals and Without A Fight
A Caulfield Cup runner has been scratched, paving the way for emergency United Nations to get a start.
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Nonconformist has been scratched from the Caulfield Cup.
The news emerged about 3pm Friday after Racing Victoria earlier cleared the four internationals to contest Saturday’s $5m Group 1 Caulfield Cup.
His scratching has opened the door to the Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained United Nations, to be ridden by Carleen Hefel, getting a run.
Mandatory veterinary inspections were completed Friday morning.
Without A Fight and Nonconformist, who failed the initial assessment on Thursday, were re-examined Friday afternoon.
Without A Fight has been passed fit to run.
Update: The Grahame Begg stable has advised that Nonconformist will be withdrawn from tomorrow's Caulfield Cup. https://t.co/eUe8eKTZ9s
â Racing Victoria (@RacingVictoria) October 20, 2023
• Caulfield Cup runner-by-runner preview
The RV veterinary panel on Friday morning and cleared internationals Breakup, West Wind Blows, Okita Soushi and Valiant King.
It comes after Without A Fight (left front leg) and Nonconformist (right hind leg) displayed degrees of lameness on Thursday.
Without A Fight, trained by Anthony and Sam Freedman, was ruled out of the Zipping Classic last spring on veterinary advice — less than three weeks after competing in the Melbourne Cup.
• Tony Brassel’s Top 5 for the Caulfield Cup
Grahame Begg, the trainer of Nonconformist, experienced the disappointment last year of Lunar Flare being withdrawn form the Melbourne Cup on race morning after a failed veterinary examination.
• Caulfield Cup two-minute form guide
As of 4pm Friday, Gold Trip is the $6 favourite ahead of West Wind Blows ($6.50) and Soulcombe ($7).
Valiant King has been slashed from $21 into $10 with TAB, with Breakup also popular at $9.50.
Francesco Guardi ($15 in from $17) has attracted interest at double figure odds.
Originally published as Caulfield Cup runner scratched as Racing Victoria vets clear internationals and Without A Fight