Big guns Order of St George and Protectionist both set to miss Melbourne Cup

BRITISH raider Big Orange is the most significant mover in Melbourne Cup markets amid reports long-time favourite Order Of St George and 2014 winner Protectionist will miss the race.

Big Orange has firmed to equal favourite for the Melbourne Cup. Picture: John Walton/PA Wire

BRITISH raider Big Orange is the most significant mover in Melbourne Cup markets amid reports long-time favourite Order Of St George and 2014 winner Protectionist will miss the race.

Majority owner Lloyd Williams on Wednesday indicated Order Of St George would contest the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at Chantilly on October 2, and Protectionist’s race future is in doubt because of a back injury.

WINX ON TARGET FOR MAIN EVENT

The probable absence of Order Of St George, the Ascot Gold Cup winner, and Protectionist means Cup weights will almost certainly be raised at final acceptances next month.

The northern hemisphere stars were allocated 58kg — 1.5kg more than last year’s winner, Prince Of Penzance, and Preferment — but new race rules demand the topweight must carry a minimum of 57kg. All other runners would also carry 500g more.

Order of St George is likely to skip the Melbourne Cup in favour of the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.

TAB spokesman Nick Quinn said Big Orange, fifth in last year’s Cup and twice a Group 2 winner in England this season, had shortened from $21 to $15 to share favouritism with Ireland’s Wicklow Brave.

“After a brilliant win in the Ascot Gold Cup, Order Of St George shot to the top of Melbourne Cup betting, but punters were guarded about his chances of coming to Melbourne,” Quinn said.

“He was a betting drifter from as short as $13 out to $21 before the decision by Aidan O’Brien was made for the second straight year not to bring him to Melbourne.”

Wicklow Brave’s trainer Willie Mullins said victory over Order Of St George in last weekend’s Irish St Leger was “a nice surprise”.

Protectionist is battling to overcome a back injury.

“I was hoping to be placed and to get the win is a huge bonus,” he said. “We may have caught Order Of St George on the hop. He may have been ridden overconfidently.”

Wicklow Brave was given 55kg in the Cup, the same as stablemate and last year’s runner-up Max Dynamite, who Mullins said was out of form and out of Cup contention.

“Both horses improved at this time of the year,” Mullins said. “He (Wicklow Brave) still needs more improvement but I think it’s going to happen.”

Order Of St George’s stablemate Bondi Beach, 16th last year, will return and will be ridden at Flemington by champion Ryan Moore.

The first shipment of internationals will arrive on October 1 and could include Godol­phin’s Scottish, Tryster, Fran­cis Of Assisi, Oceanographer, Second Wave and Qewy.

Protectionist’s German trainer And­reas Wohler will return with Articus and Red Cardinal.

Moonee Valley Racing Club confirmed two of its Cox Plate invitees, French galloper Vadamos and Godolphin’s Tryster, would come out for the race.

Originally published as Big guns Order of St George and Protectionist both set to miss Melbourne Cup