Brayden Star and Muramasa scratched from Melbourne Cup after failing CT scan, Interpretation in doubt

Trainer Trent Busuttin has lost two Melbourne Cup hopes after the latest round of vet checks, while a Ciaron Maher runner is under a cloud.

Two more Melbourne Cup hopefuls have been withdrawn after failing a compulsory CT scan.

A failed CT scan led to the controversial scratching of one-time Melbourne Cup favourite Jan Brueghel on Tuesday, prompting a furious reaction from Irish trainer Aidan O’Brien.

Locally-trained gallopers Brayden Star and Muramasa were the latest Melbourne Cup entry to be ruled out of the $8m event after the latest round of scans.

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And the Ciaron Maher-trained Interpretation ($17) faces another inspection by vets on Friday after he was not passed fit to race on Thursday.

Brayden Star and Muramasa co-trainer Trent Busuttin would not comment on the decisions.

However, Brayden Star’s connections released a statement announcing the Busuttin and Natalie Young-trained galloper’s withdrawal on Thursday, describing their surprise with the ruling.

“Having been advised we’re out of the running for the (Melbourne) Cup because “there may be a shadow that could possibly develop into a stress fracture in the future’ is perplexing,” the statement read.

The import’s ownership group, managed by Seymour Bloodstock, acknowledged horse welfare was paramount and “welcome the processes put in place by Racing Victoria”.

“However, there is no sugar coating it, our team is very disappointed as our horse has never been so outwardly happy, healthy and in great form,” the statement read.

The Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young-trained Brayden Star will miss the Melbourne Cup after failing a CT scan. Picture: Vince Caligiuri/Getty Images

• COMMENT: Why we must back the vet’s call on Cup runners

Brayden Star had finished in the first four at his last three runs, including an unlucky fourth behind Okita Soushi in last Friday night’s Group 2 Moonee Valley Cup.

Brayden Star’s spring campaign is over.

The gelding will undergo further exploratory testing of the affected area before heading to Seymour Park for a spell before an autumn carnival campaign.

Brayden Star’s ownership group said it would continue to work with Racing Victoria’s chief vet Dr Grace Forbes with the aim of securing positive outcomes from the experience.

The owners aimed to “further advance the process of data determination” after scanning horses while ensuring “industry participants are better informed of details surrounding the (CT scanning) process.

“The vets and their panels are only enforcing the rules,” the group said.

“If continued robust investigation of the outcomes lends itself to a change of rules to take speculation out of decisions, it could only be a good thing for the industry.”

Brayden Star was a $61 chance in Ladbrokes’ Melbourne Cup market while Muramasa was a $41 shot.

MELBOURNE CUP 2024 – POSSIBLE FIELD
$8 million | 3200m | Tuesday, November 5
1 – VAUBAN (Trainer: Willie Mullins; Jockey: William Buick) 55.5kg
2. – BUCKAROO (Chris Waller; Joao Moreira) 54.5kg
3 – CIRCLE OF FIRE (Ciaron Maher, Mark Zahra) 54.5kg
4 – WARP SPEED (Noboru Takagi; Akira Sugawara) 54kg
5 – KOVALICA (Chris Waller, Damian Lane) 53.5kg
6 – SHARP ‘N’ SMART (Graeme & Deborah Rogerson, Michael Dee) 53.5kg
7 – JUST FINE (Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott; Jye McNeill) 53kg
8 – LAND LEGEND (Chris Waller; Zac Purton) 53kg
9 – ABSURDE (Willie Mullins; Kerrin McEvoy) 52.5kg
10 – ATHABASCAN (John O’Shea & Tom Charlton; Zac Lloyd) 52kg
11 – MAHRAJAAN (Shaune Ritchie & Colm Murray; Declan Bates) 52kg
12 – KNIGHT’S CHOICE (John Symons & Sheila Laxon; Robbie Dolan) 51.5kg
13 – OKITA SOUSHI (Ciaron Maher; Jamie Kah) 51kg
14 – ONESMOOTHOPERATOR (Brian Ellison; Craig Williams) 51kg
15 – ZARDOZI (James Cummings; Andrea Atzeni) 51kg
16 – VALIANT KING (Chris Waller; Craig Newitt) 50.5kg
17 – INTERPRETATION (Ciaron Maher; Teo Nugent) 50kg
18 – FANCY MAN (Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald; Ron Stewart) 50kg
19 – SEA KING (Harry Eustace; Hollie Doyle) 50kg *
20 – THE MAP (Dan Clarken & Oopy MacGillivray; Rachel King) 50kg
21 – MOSTLY CLOUDY (Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young; Karis Teetan) 50kg
22 – POSITIVITY (Andrew Forsman; Winona Costin) 50kg
23 – MISSION OF LOVE (John Symons & Sheila Laxon; Nikita Beriman) 50kg
24 – TRUST IN YOU (Bruce Wallce & Grant Cooksley; Mark Du Plessis) 50kg
NEXT IN ORDER OF ENTRY
25 – SAINT GEORGE (Ciaron Maher; TBC) 50kg
26 – MANZOICE (Chris Waller, TBC) 50kg
27 – KINESIOLOGY (Chris Waller, TBC) 50kg
28 – FRANCESCO GUARDI (Chris Waller, TBC) 52kg
29 – WALTHAM (Matthew Smith, TBC) 50kg

* Sea King likely faces a weight penalty for his Bendigo Cup win on Wednesday.

Originally published as Brayden Star and Muramasa scratched from Melbourne Cup after failing CT scan, Interpretation in doubt