Onesmoothoperator under fitness cloud, Brayden Star and Muramasa scratched after failing CT scan

One of the race favourites has not been passed fit to run in the Melbourne Cup, after trainer Trent Busuttin lost two hopes to vet checks.

Racing Victoria vets completed the first of two mandatory pre-race Melbourne Cup examinations with UK raider Onesmoothoperator the only contender under a fitness cloud.

Onesmoothoperator on Friday presented with a cut to its right hind heel bulb and could not be passed suitable to race.

The Geelong Cup winner, trained by Yorkshireman Brian Ellison, must be reinspected on Saturday after being re-shod.

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RV vets cleared Melbourne Cup second favourite Vauban on Friday, along with Willie Mullins-trained stablemate Absurde.

UK import and Bendigo Cup winner Sea King, Japanese raider Warp Speed and Kinesiology – now 26th in the order of entry – were all passed suitable to race.

Champion trainer Chris Waller on Friday confirmed Kinesiology would be considered for the Melbourne Cup if he scraped into the field.

“He might not make the Melbourne Cup this year,” Waller said.

“It’s all about getting up for the next 12 months and making sure he runs well if he does run.

“I think you’d be more likely to see him in the (Group 3) Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2600m) on the final day.”

Onesmoothoperator hasn’t been passed to fit to race in the Melbourne Cup. Picture: Pat Scala/Racing Photos via Getty Images

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

Kinesiology, a four-year-old stallion, has won three of 10 starts and been runner-up six times.

“He’s a very lightly-raced horse, that’s my only concern, if he gets into the field we’ll discuss it with connections,” Waller said.

“Obviously it’s a dream to have runners in the Melbourne Cup but at the same time we got to make sure he’s ready for it.”

Athabascan, The Map, Trust In You and Waltham were all inspected and cleared interstate.

The John Symons and Sheila Laxon-trained Mission of Love has been withdrawn on veterinary advice after inspection.

The Ciaron Maher-trained Interpretation was also cleared on Friday after a change in gait was detected upon inspection 24 hours earlier.

Interpretation will wear Equicast – synthetic hoof filler – on its left fore foot.

Maher could have four runners in the Cup on Tuesday with Saint George promoted to 24th in the elimination order following the withdrawal of Mission Of Love.

Final acceptances for the Melbourne Cup will be taken at 4.30pm (AEDT) on Saturday.

A second pre-race veterinary inspection of all horses in the final field will be conducted by a panel of RV veterinarianson Monday.

On Thursday, stablemates Brayden Star and Muramasa were 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.

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

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

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.

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 – SEA KING (Harry Eustace; Hollie Doyle) 50.5kg
17 – VALIANT KING (Chris Waller; Craig Newitt) 50.5kg
18 – INTERPRETATION (Ciaron Maher; Teo Nugent) 50kg
19 – FANCY MAN (Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald; Ron Stewart) 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 – TRUST IN YOU (Bruce Wallce & Grant Cooksley; Mark Du Plessis) 50kg
24 – SAINT GEORGE (Ciaron Maher; TBC) 50kg
NEXT IN ORDER OF ENTRY
25 – MANZOICE (Chris Waller, TBC) 50kg
26 – KINESIOLOGY (Chris Waller, TBC) 50kg
27 – FRANCESCO GUARDI (Chris Waller, TBC) 52kg
28 – WALTHAM (Matthew Smith, TBC) 50kg