Reigning Australian Cup winner Sirmione will miss the opportunity to give his trainer Bart Cummings his 14th victory in the $1 million race at Flemington on Saturday.The Cummings stable reported to stewards that Sirmione pulled up with hamstring soreness after he received a hefty bump in the St George Stakes (1800m) in which he finished last to Theseo at Caulfield on February 21.Racing Victoria stewards failed to pass Sirmione to start in the Australian Cup after examining him before and after h
Reigning Australian Cup winner Sirmione will miss the opportunity to give his trainer Bart Cummings his 14th victory in the $1 million race at Flemington on Saturday.
The Cummings stable reported to stewards that Sirmione pulled up with hamstring soreness after he received a hefty bump in the St George Stakes (1800m) in which he finished last to Theseo at Caulfield on February 21.
Racing Victoria stewards failed to pass Sirmione to start in the Australian Cup after examining him before and after he galloped on the course proper at Flemington on Tuesday.
The Encosta De Lago five-year-old was found to be suffering from slight muscle soreness in his hindquarters.
The dual Group One winner is expected to return to Sydney where Cummings is hoping to get him right to run in the Ranvet Stakes (2000m) on March 21 and $2.25 million The BMW (2400m) on April 4, both at Rosehill.
Meanwhile, Theseo further tightened his grip on the Australian Cup when he drew barrier one in the 2000m feature.
The dual Group One winner is a clear-cut $2.25 favourite with 2007 Caulfield Cup winner Master O'Reilly the second pick at $10 in TAB Sportsbet's fixed odds market.
Road To Rock and Niconero are both at $11.
David Hayes, who won the race with Better Loosen Up in 1991, has two runners, Niconero, who drew barrier 10, and Zagreb, who came up with gate three in the 12-horse field.
Craig Williams retains the ride on dual Futurity Stakes winner Niconero while Kerrin McEvoy is happy to be on stablemate Zagreb.
"He's a good pick-up ride. He's an outsider in the race," McEvoy said.
"You have Theseo, Master O'Reilly and Niconero, but the rest of them are an even lot.
"The race might be a little bit down on quality this year and I'm looking forward to riding him."
The Zabeel four-year-old has had two runs back since he was a late scratching from the Caulfield Cup due to an injury.
The entire has had a light preparation for the race and goes in after his second-up fourth to Ab Almalik in the Kilmore Cup (1600m) when handled by Williams on February 15.
Zagreb, who won the Naturalism Stakes (2000m) at Caulfield last spring, is at $16.