Green Moon is a doubtful starter for the $3 million Caulfield Cup after pulling up sore in Saturday’s Turnbull Stakes at Flemington.
Owner Lloyd Williams said he had intended to run the 2012 Melbourne Cup runner in the Melbourne Racing Club's signature event.
But, that had now been effectively ruled out after the eight-year-old pulled up “very sore in the back”.
“Green Moon was definitely going to run, but I doubt whether he’ll run now. He’s pretty sore.”
Williams described the Turnbull Stakes meeting as a “very bad day” for his horses as Thought Worthy, who was effectively eased out of the race before the 200 metres, is also sore in the back.
He said he would push on with a Caulfield Cup start with Sea Moon, who finished finished fifth behind Who Shot Thebarman in the Bart Cummings at Flemington
Williams said he'd hoped that Sea Moon would not have been buried away on the rails.
Fawkner, last year’s winner of the Caulfield Cup, will run in Saturday’s Caulfield Stakes en route to the $3 million Sportingbet Cox Plate at Moonee Valley.
Ex-UK stayer Amralah, currently in the Werribee quarantine centre, is likely to make his Australian debut in the Geelong Cup.
Williams said he would assess his options after Amralah settles in at his Mt Macedon complex after next Saturday.
“I like him. He’s a front-running stayer. He’s won his past two starts well,” he said.