Melbourne Cup 2023: Lunar Flare retired and will miss $8.4 million race

There was more heartbreak for the connections of Lunar Flare after the mare was retired following her unplaced run in the Moonee Valley Gold Cup.

Lunar Flare has been retired and will miss the Melbourne Cup for the second straight year. Picture: Racing Photos via Getty Images

Grahame Begg has suffered another heartbreaking setback before a spring major with Melbourne Cup fancy Lunar Flare ruled out of the race and forced into retirement after suffering a career-ending injury in the Moonee Valley Gold Cup.

There are now 44 horses left in contention for the Melbourne Cup.

The star eight-year-old mare finished a luckless fourth when starting favourite on Friday night but Begg confirmed on Saturday morning that she had been injured.

It’s the second straight year the nine-time winning mare has been withdrawn from the Melbourne Cup.

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She was scratched on the order of the stewards on Cup morning last year, with Begg frustrated with the process, believing she had been fit to run.

Lunar Flare was a $17 chance to win this year’s $8m race after qualifying with a win in the Andrew Ramsden in May.

Begg confirmed the injury news early on Saturday, saying the stable and the owner could not be more thankful for the ride his mighty mare had taken them on.

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“Regrettably Lunar Flare has been ruled out of the Melbourne Cup after suffering a career ending injury after last night’s race & she will be retired immediately,” Begg said on X (formerly Twitter).

“She has been a very much loved part of our stable for the last 4 years & we are devastated for her amazing owners.”

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The news comes after the Chris Waller-trained Francesco Guardi, who finished second last in the Caulfield Cup, would go for a spell.

On Thursday, Geelong Cup winner Amade received a 0.5kg penalty, and is now 27th in the order of entry.

The updated standings included the withdrawals of Spanish Mission, 2022 Melbourne Cup runner-up Emissary and First Immortal, along with the promotion of Geelong Cup runner-up Ashrun to 22nd.

Ciaron Maher and David Eustace have five stayers inside the top 24, including golden ticket holder Future History (ballot exempt), reigning champion Gold Trip (5th), Right You Are (13th), High Emocean (18th) and Ashrun.

Waller still boasts four potential starters with El Bodegon (7th), Soulcombe (11th), Magical Lagoon (14th) and Sheraz (19th).

Amade is unlikely to progress to the Melbourne Cup with trainer Phillip Stokes keen on the Group 3 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2800m) at Flemington on November 11 for the 10-year-old gelding limited by serious injuries early in his career.

A field of 24 horses will be declared for the Melbourne Cup on Derby Day next Saturday.

Ballot order — Horse — Trainer — Weight

1= WITHOUT A FIGHT (IRE) Anthony & Sam Freedman 56.5kg

1= ABSURDE (FR) Willie Mullins 53kg

1= FUTURE HISTORY (GB) Ciaron Maher & David Eustace 50kg

4 GOLD TRIP (FR) Ciaron Maher & David Eustace 58.5kg

5 ALENQUER (FR) Michael Moroney 56.5kg

6 EL BODEGON (IRE) Chris Waller 55.5kg

7 BREAKUP (JPN) Tatsuya Yoshioka 55kg

8 VAUBAN (FR) Willie Mullins 55kg

9 KNIGHTS ORDER (IRE) Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott 54kg

10 SOULCOMBE (GB) Chris Waller 53.5kg

11 VOW AND DECLARE Danny O’Brien 53kg

12 RIGHT YOU ARE Ciaron Maher & David Eustace 53kg

13 MAGICAL LAGOON (IRE) Chris Waller 51kg

14 VIRTUOUS CIRCLE (NZ) Liam Howley 51kg

15 LASTOTCHKA (FR) Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) 51kg

16 FAME Peter G Moody & Katherine Coleman 51kg

17 HIGH EMOCEAN (NZ) Ciaron Maher & David Eustace 50kg

18 SHERAZ (FR) Chris Waller 51.5kg

19 DAQIANSWEET JUNIOR (NZ) Phillip Stokes 51.5kg

20 VALIANT KING (GB) Joseph O’Brien 50kg

21 ASHRUN (FR) Ciaron Maher & David Eustace 51.5kg

22 CLEVELAND (IRE) Kris Lees 51.5kg

23 OKITA SOUSHI (IRE) Joseph O’Brien 51.5kg

24 MILITARY MISSION (IRE) Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott 51kg

■ ■ ■ ■ ■

25 KING FRANKEL (IRE) Annabel Neasham 51kg

26 SERPENTINE (IRE) Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott 51kg

27 AMADE (IRE) Phillip Stokes 50.5kg

28 MORE FELONS (IRE) Chris Waller 50.5kg

29 TRUE MARVEL (FR) Matthew Smith 50kg

30 LADIES MAN (NZ) Allan Sharrock 50kg

31 ATHABASCAN (FR) John O’Shea 50kg

32 UNITED NATIONS (IRE) Ciaron Maher & David Eustace 50kg

33 FANCY MAN (IRE) Annabel Neasham 50kg

34 HASTA LA WAR Sue Murphy 50kg

35 KALAPOUR (IRE) Kris Lees 50kg

36 INTERPRETATION (IRE) Ciaron Maher & David Eustace 50kg

37 RAGING BULL Mark Minervini 50kg

38 FERAGO Patrick F Ryan Jnr 50kg

NOT PASSED FIRST ELIMINATION CLAUSE

39= CARINI (FR) Danny O’Brien 50kg

39= DENY KNOWLEDGE (IRE) Michael Kent 50kg

39= GREGOLIMO (FR) Michael Moroney 50kg

39= MOSTLY CLOUDY (IRE) Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young 50kg

39= THE MAP Dan Clarken & Oopy MacGillivray 50kg

39= MEDATSU (NZ) Chris Waller 49kg

Originally published as Melbourne Cup 2023: Lunar Flare retired and will miss $8.4 million race