2024 Caulfield Cup, Melbourne Cup fancy Riff Rocket undergoes emergency surgery after colic attack

Caulfield and Melbourne Cup fancy Riff Rocket underwent emergency colic surgery overnight and has been ruled out of the 2024 Spring Carnival.

Riff Rocket (James McDonald) races clear to win the Group 1 ATC Australian Derby at Royal Randwick in April. Picture: Jeremy Ng / Getty Images

Caulfield and Melbourne Cup fancy Riff Rocket underwent emergency colic surgery overnight and has been ruled out of the 2024 Spring Carnival.

Trainer Chris Waller released a statement this morning that revealed three-time Group 1 winner Riff Rocket’s surgery was successful.

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“The early signs are promising but the next few days will obviously be very important for his ongoing health and survival, which is our main concern,’’ Waller said

“He is at the South Eastern Equine Hospital who have done a fantastic job working through the night.

“They found the impaction in his large colon which has been relieved, so our thanks go out to them as well as our stable vet and staff who picked up the issue early.

“Our thoughts are with the horse and his connections at this time and hopefully he will make a full racing return in 2025.’’

** Riff Rocket ** pic.twitter.com/xPkmExCTS4

— Chris Waller Racing (@cwallerracing) September 10, 2024

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Riff Rocket was among entries for Saturday’s Group 1 $750,000 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) at Flemington.

The champion three-year-old of his generation in 2023-24, Riff Rocket had been among the nominations for all the major races this spring. Before being removed from markets this morning, he was $9 chance for the Caulfield Cup, $18 for the Cox Plate and $21 for the Melbourne Cup.

🐦 Check out the bird's eye view of Riff Rocket's win in the G1 ATC Australian Derby today 👇@aus_turf_club@[e-mail]/7xfl5dNWUy

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) April 6, 2024

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Owned and bred by Debbie Kepitis of Winx fame, Riff Rocket has won seven of his 12 starts, earning more than $3.5 million prizemoney with big-race wins in the ATC Australian Derby, Rosehill Guineas and VRC Derby last season.

Originally published as 2024 Caulfield Cup, Melbourne Cup fancy Riff Rocket undergoes emergency surgery after colic attack