Second favourite Spanish Mission will undergo a third examination to determine his fitness to be among final declaration for the Melbourne Cup.
Racing Victoria vets reported the UK stayer to be lame in the right foreleg when inspected on Thursday and while that swelling had resolved they were still concerned with heat detected in the area.
Vets say this is consistent with a case of mild cellulitis, an infection under a horse’s skin.
In consultation with representatives for trainer Andrew Balding, the decision was made to send Spanish Mission to the U-Vet Equine Centre in Werribee on Friday for further examination with the stayer since returning to his stable at the Werribee quarantine centre.
RV vets will re-examine Spanish Mission on Saturday to determine his suitability to be among the final acceptances for the 2021 Melbourne Cup ahead of the 4.30pm deadline.
News of Spanish Mission’s ongoing vet examinations has seen the stayer drift from $6 on Friday morning to $9 with TAB in the latest Melbourne Cup market.
Caulfield Cup winner Incentivise is the $2.30 favourite while last year’s winner Twilight Payment has firmed from $13 into $10 and sits on the third line of betting.
The Chosen One and Delphi, who were displaying signs of lameness when inspected on Thursday, were re-examined on Friday and passed suitable to accept on Saturday.
Future Score, She’s Ideel, Fun Fact and Forgot You were the last of the 29 horses to be examined and also given the all-clear to accept when inspected on Friday.
Knights Order, Great House, Fun Fact, Emissary, Mankanyan and King’s Charisma are all down to run in the Hotham Stakes (2500m) at Flemington on Saturday and will be re-examined following the race before the final acceptance deadline for the Melbourne Cup as will Forgot You who runs in the Victoria Derby (2500m).