Another Melbourne Cup campaign is in doubt for the mighty Godolphin stable as the casualty list for next week's big race grew longer with an injury to the English stayer All The Good.Unless his condition changes dramatically overnight, the Caulfield Cup winner seems likely to join defending champion Efficient on a high-profile missing list.Trainer Saeed bin Suroor said today All The Good had been lame and had stiffness in his hindquarters after working at the Sandown quarantine centre yesterday.
Another Melbourne Cup campaign is in doubt for the mighty Godolphin stable as the casualty list for next week's big race grew longer with an injury to the English stayer All The Good.
Unless his condition changes dramatically overnight, the Caulfield Cup winner seems likely to join defending champion Efficient on a high-profile missing list.
Trainer Saeed bin Suroor said today All The Good had been lame and had stiffness in his hindquarters after working at the Sandown quarantine centre yesterday.
But bin Suroor said he hadn't given up hope.
"There is no swelling and the X-rays don't show any damage," he said.
"We will check him tonight and again in the morning.
"But for now we are not sure what is the problem."
All The Good had been a $12 chance prior to the injury and had been regarded as one of the top chances in the $5.5 million showpiece.
The horse had taken several days to recover from his Caulfield Cup exertions, but had pleased his trainer with his recent work.
Bin Suroor, who arrived in Melbourne last weekend, said he believed All The Good had been in the best form of his career and had been ready to deliver Godolphin its first win in a race it has been trying to win for more than a decade.
In that time, the world's largest racing stable has had its share of frustration and disappointment.
The stable has had three Cup placegetters, but has three times had its top chance scratched from the race through injury.
Two years ago the Godolphin team departed without striking a blow when their horses disappointed in training in Melbourne.
This season, the fortunes of the stable controlled by the ruling family of Dubai appeared to have changed for the better.
All The Good, who has been in the stable only four months, scored a shock win in the Caulfield Cup, a race generally regarded as more difficult for European horses to win than the Melbourne Cup.
On his European form, the horse would have been better suited by the 3200m of the Flemington feature.
His absence has caused further tightening at the top of the betting market where the Irish runner Septimus has firmed from $4.50 to $4.20 with second favourite Mad Rush, who is trained in England, in from $6.50 to $5.50.
Another Irish galloper, Profound Beauty, is on the fourth line at $12.
The other doubtful international entry, Yellowstone, has continued to improve after injuring his hip in his box on Monday.
Trainer Jane Chapple-Hyam and jockey John Egan said the horse moved freely and showed no sign of pain on the track this morning.
"As far as we're concerned it's all go," Chapple-Hyam said.
Mad Rush showed he has maintained his form after his unlucky fourth in the Caulfield Cup.
The Luca Cumani-trained runner was fresh and bright at Sandown with the trainer's daughter in the saddle.
Cumani said he was "delighted" with his horse's condition.
"As you can see, he's very, very well," he said.
"Just where I want him."
Stablemate Bauer, who had been in danger of missing a run, didn't appear on the track, Cumani restricting him to a walk around the stable yard this morning.
"He's also just where I want him, all he needed to do today was have a walk."
Another positive report came from French-based Englishman Richard Gibson whose mare Varevees continues to work well at Sandown.
"She's in as good condition as I've seen her," Gibson said.
Profound Beauty performed her usual strong canter over 2400m today and will have a more serious gallop tomorrow with race jockey Glen Boss aboard.
Race favourite Septimus and stable companions Honolulu and Alessandro Volta will have the most testing gallop of their campaign tomorrow with race riders Johnny Murtagh, Colm O'Donoghue and Wayne Lorden up.