Melbourne: The Melbourne Cup was reduced to 22 runners early on Tuesday after Cavalryman became the second horse to withdraw from the 154th version of the A$6.2 million (Dh19.8 million) race.
The 20-1 chance was scratched on the orders of the Racing Victoria stewards just a few hours before the start of the 3,200-metre handicap (8am UAE) because of a swollen foreleg, local media reported.
That follows the withdrawal of rank outsider Sea Moon from the 24-strong field because of a high temperature on Monday.
Cavalryman’s scratching left Dubai’s Godolphin operation with just one runner, Willing Foe, who finished fifth. A Godolphin-trained horse has never won Australia’s biggest race.
The big race was later won by German raider Protectionist, but the event was overshadowed by the death of pre-race favourite Admire Ratki.
