Melbourne Cup runner Sea King injures tendon, sidelined for up to 12 months

A promising stayer which had been one of the top fancies for the 2024 Melbourne Cup has injured his tendon and faces a lengthy stint on the sidelines.

Sea King, pictured when demolishing the Bendigo Cup field last year. Picture: Racing Photos via Getty Images

Melbourne Cup runner Sea King has injured a tendon and could be sidelined from racing for a year.

The overseas raider started a $12 chance in the 2024 Melbourne Cup after blowing away his opposition in the Bendigo Cup when being trained by UK-based Harry Eustace.

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Sea King finished 14th in the Melbourne Cup – beaten six lengths by Knight’s Choice – and owners OTI then transferred him to Murwillumbah trainer Matt Dunn.

Things again didn’t go to plan when Sea King was unplaced in the Listed Christmas Cup (2400m) at Randwick in December, but Dunn had been convinced he had him on song for a Queensland winter carnival assault.

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Dunn had been eyeing off rich staying races during the Queensland carnival before the import had a crack at the 2025 Melbourne Cup.

However trouble has struck and Sea King has been ruled out of the 2025 Melbourne Cup.

“He has done a tendon injury at a track gallop, he was getting close to having a trial,” Dunn said.

“But it’s not the end of the world.

“He will go to OTI’s rehab program at Warrnambool.

Sea King’s trainer Matt Dunn.

“Cepheus once did the same injury, it was almost a year from when he did the injury to when he trialled next.

“My horses actually don’t seem to get many tendon injuries, so this is just unfortunate.

“It’s certainly not the end of his racing career, he will make it back, and he’s actually quite lightly raced.”

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Six-year-old Sea King had been a $51 chance in early TAB fixed odds betting markets on the 2025 Melbourne Cup.

Originally published as Melbourne Cup runner Sea King injures tendon, sidelined for up to 12 months