Racing Victoria stewards today conducted veterinary examinations of three Emirates Melbourne Cup entrants ahead of final declarations for the $6m race at 5pm on Saturday. The Bart Cummings-trained mares Faint Perfume and Dariana, who raced below expectations in the BMW Caulfield Cup at their most recent appearances on 16 October, were examined and passed fit for racing. Faint Perfume will have her final hit-out in the Group 1 Mackinnon Stakes at Flemington on Saturday, whilst Dariana will head i
Racing Victoria stewards today conducted veterinary examinations of three Emirates Melbourne Cup entrants ahead of final declarations for the $6m race at 5pm on Saturday.
The Bart Cummings-trained mares Faint Perfume and Dariana, who raced below expectations in the BMW Caulfield Cup at their most recent appearances on 16 October, were examined and passed fit for racing. Faint Perfume will have her final hit-out in the Group 1 Mackinnon Stakes at Flemington on Saturday, whilst Dariana will head into the Melbourne Cup without another run.
The John O'Shea-trained Jessicabeel was also examined by Racing Victoria's veterinary surgeon after she displayed lameness in her off foreleg when well beaten in the Cathay Pacific Airways Cup at Moonee Valley last Saturday. Jessicabeel was passed fit for racing and will take her place in the Group 3 The Lexus Stakes at Flemington this Saturday. She will again be vetted after the race.
In other news, Racing Victoria stewards have ordered the connections of Melbourne Cup entrants Master O'Reilly and Harris Tweed to supply a veterinary certificate declaring their horse's fitness by 5pm tomorrow. Both Master O'Reilly and Harris Tweed have suffered colic attacks in the past fortnight and stewards have sought confirmation of their fitness before final acceptances given neither is engaged to race prior to the Melbourne Cup.