Last-minute drama casts ‘dark shadow’ over Melbourne Cup

Only 23 runners will feature in the Melbourne Cup after an eleventh-hour call cast a “dark shadow” over the highly-anticipated race.

Future Score is missing out on the great race. (George Salpigtidis/Racing Photos via Getty Images)

Only 23 runners will feature in the 2021 Melbourne Cup after a horse was scratched from the race that stops a nation on Tuesday morning.

Future Score was scratched one minute before the 7.30am AEDT deadline after vets re-examined lameness in his right foreleg.

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It is a devastating blow for trainer Matt Cumani and jockey Dean Yendall.

“Just very sad for the owners of the horse, we thought he was a better chance than 200-1, he was really peaking for this week,” Cumani told SEN on Tuesday morning.

The trainer questioned the last-minute decision and was critical of the “ultra-conservative” stance from Racing Victoria. Safety measures for Cup runners have been ramped up this year as a result of an investigation into safety practices after six horses died in the Cup over the past seven years.

Future Score (Matt Cumani) has been re-examined by veterinarians this morning and will be withdrawn from today’s Lexus Melbourne Cup after again presenting with lameness in his right foreleg.

— Racing Victoria (@RacingVictoria) November 1, 2021

Cumani said the strict measures went too far for his runner.

“I think there’s a lot of pressure on Racing Victoria to be ultra, ultra conservative. And for them it was a real margin call, it went down to 7.29am to make the decision,” he said, according to Racing.com.

“They decided to be ultra-cautious. I can understand their point of view when they don’t know a horse inside out. But for me and my vet, who know him inside out, and know he presented in the same way going into the Cranbourne Cup, which he won convincingly, it’s a bit frustrating.

“He is a horse that’s consistent in his action and has been racing with that action for the past year and a half.”

He said he expects Future Score to race again this month.

OTI Racing echoed Cumani’s remarks in a statement: “The process behind the scratching of Future Score by RVL vets casts a dark shadow over the integrity and professionalism of trainers and their consulting vets.

“The process must change.

“We are extremely disappointed for connections of Future Score with today’s decision.”

Trainer Matt Cumani after his horse Future Score. Brett Holburt/Racing Photos via Getty Images

Leading syndicator Terry Henderson was scathing of the process that resulted in Future Score being rubbed out.

“I don’t want to put focus on this on Cup Day because it’s too big a race but there will be plenty said after the Cup,” Henderson said, per the Herald Sun.

“Without going into specifics about this horse it’s more about the processes that have been applied.

“Clearly those processes are not appropriate based on whatever happens around the world.

“As a result of that it’s very frustrating to have people looking forward to their horse going into the race come out for reasons that may or may not be appropriate.

“It’s got to be fixed and hopefully it will be.

“We’re happy with the horse, in our opinion the horse could’ve taken his place today but that’s not the opinion of Racing Victoria vets.

“Certainly (that’s) the opinion of our vets and other vets that have looked at X-rays and trot ups but they’re not the ones that count the way things are at the moment.”

Future Score is missing out on the great race. (George Salpigtidis/Racing Photos via Getty Images)

There are no emergencies in the Melbourne Cup, which often proves one of the more hotly contested topics when the race rolls around and attrition – invariably – plays its part post acceptances.

The main reason is Tabcorp’s wagering system can’t easily accommodate more than 24 runners and an update to this would come at a significant cost and have large repercussions on international betting operators.

Meanwhile, Delphi ($21) was given the all-clear to race in the Melbourne Cup after passing an extra veterinary test this morning.

Delphi presented signs of lameness in his left foreleg on Monday, but pulled up fine on Tuesday and vets gave him the green light.

You can follow our live coverage of the 2021 Melbourne Cup here.

Melbourne Cup 2021 field (horse, weight, trainer, jockey)

1 – TWILIGHT PAYMENT 58kg, Joseph O’Brien, Jye McNeil

Barrier: 2

2 – INCENTIVISE 57kg, Peter G Moody, Brett Prebble

Barrier: 16

3 – SPANISH MISSION 57kg, Andrew Balding, Craig Williams

Barrier: 14

4 – VERRY ELLEEGANT 57kg, Chris Waller, James McDonald

Barrier: 19

5 – EXPLOSIVE JACK 54kg, Ciaron Maher & David Eustace, John Allen

Barrier: 4

6 – THE CHOSEN ONE 54kg, Murray Baker & Andrew Forsman, Damian Lane

Barrier: 5

7 – DELPHI 53.5kg, Anthony & Sam Freedman, Damien Oliver

Barrier: 3

8 – OCEAN BILLY 53.5kg, Chris Waller, Damien Thornton

Barrier: 13

9 – SELINO 53.5kg, Chris Waller, Ron Stewart

Barrier: 24

10 – JOHNNY GET ANGRY 53kg, Denis Pagan, Lachlan King

Barrier: 22

11 – KNIGHTS ORDER 53kg, Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott, Daniel Stackhouse

Barrier: 9

12 – PERSAN 53kg, Ciaron Maher & David Eustace, Luke Currie

Barrier: 11

13 – CARIF 52.5kg, Peter & Paul Snowden, Blaike McDougall

Barrier: 8

14 – MASTER OF WINE 52.5kg, Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes, Fred Kersley

Barrier: 6

15 – PONDUS 52.5kg, Robert Hickmott, Rachel King

Barrier: 1

16 – GRAND PROMENADE 52kg, Ciaron Maher & David Eustace, Kerrin McEvoy

Barrier: 21

17 – MIAMI BOUND 52kg, Danny O’Brien, Patrick Moloney

Barrier: 17

18 – PORT GUILLAUME 52kg, Ben & JD Hayes, Harry Coffey

Barrier: 23

19 – SHE’S IDEEL 52kg, Bjorn Baker, Craig Newitt

Barrier: 20

20 – FUTURE SCORE: SCRATCHED

21 – TRALEE ROSE 51kg, Symon Wilde, Dean Holland

Barrier: 12

22 – FLOATING ARTIST 50kg, Ciaron Maher & David Eustace, Teo Nugent

Barrier: 10

23 – GREAT HOUSE 50kg, Chris Waller, Teo Nugent, Michael Dee

Barrier: 7

24 – SIR LUCAN 50kg, Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott, Glen Boss

Barrier: 18

— with Luke Sheehan, punters.com.au

Originally published as Last-minute drama casts ‘dark shadow’ over Melbourne Cup