Imported galloper Without A Fight has been ruled out of the Group 2 Zipping Classic at Caulfield after Racing Victoria vets ruled him unsuitable to race.

As part of RV’s strict veterinary protocols for horses coming to Australia for the Melbourne Spring Carnival, those gallopers must undergo a CT scan of their distal limbs before racing.

Without A Fight was scanned on Monday ahead of Saturday’s Group 2 2400m contest with reports from members of the international panel who reviewed those scans indicated the stayer was at a heightened risk of injury.

The latest scans were compared with scans taken on October 25 from Without A Fight prior to running 13th in the Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) on November 1 which showed noticeable variances.

Acting on the advice from the international imaging panel, the new trainers of Without A Fight, Anthony and Sam Freedman, were informed by RV that the stayer was unsuitable to start in the Zipping Classic on Saturday.

Without A Fight’s scratching leaves Melbourne Cup winning rider Mark Zahra without a mount in Saturday’s race.