Leading Melbourne Cup fancy under cloud of uncertainty following failed Friday veterinary examination

Leading Melbourne Cup hopeful Onesmoothoperator has had doubt cast over his fitness for Tuesday’s $8 million Melbourne Cup (3200m) after failing a veterinary examination on Friday morning due to a cut on his heel. The Brian Ellison-trained international runner stormed into contention for the major race with a two-and-a-quarter length demolition of his rivals in the Geelong Cup on October 23, with that race historically proving a propitious lead-up and producing previous Melbourne Cup champions such as Media Puzzle, Americain and Dunaden. Racing Victoria - who have been criticised for their stringent veterinary protocols this week by already ruling out Jan Brueghel, Muramasa and Brayden Star - released a statement immediately after regarding his condition. “RV vets today inspected Onesmoothoperator, who has sustained a cut to its right hind heel bulb. The horse was not passed at this time. He will be re-inspected tomorrow after being re-shod.” The betting market instantly responded to the news, with TABtouch unwinding the seven-year-old to $9 after the announcement, meaning Buckaroo ($5) and Vauban ($6.50) now rate well clear of their rivals. Onesmoothoperator is now an identical quote to Bendigo Cup bombshell Sea King, with the pair separated by just a nose when Sea King finished sixth and Onesmoothoperator seventh in York’s Ebor Handicap in August. Sea King exploded into Cup discussions following his Wednesday three-and-three-quarter length romp, which guaranteed his place in Tuesday’s epic contest but also earned him a 0.5kg penalty. Despite the arrogance of the victory, trainer Harry Eustace said he had not had any ambition of chasing the time-honoured feature until very recently. “Curiously, coming down, we never even thought we’d get close and, of course, since we’ve been here, the Cup, as everyone is well aware, has really started cutting up,” Eustace said. “So, the closer we got to getting in the more pressure there was I suppose. “It’s incredibly exciting. A lot was riding on it, it’s the last win-and-you’re-in for the Cup, so it’s an absolute dream result.” Geelong Cup placegetter Interpretation, who displayed a changed gait on inspection on Thursday, was also re-examined on Friday and passed fit after initially failing. Racing Victoria stewards announced, however, that five-year-old mare Mission Of Love will not be progressing to the race. The lightweight nature of the Melbourne Cup has ruled many leading jockeys out of the race, with several high-profile names like James McDonald left without mounts. Though McDonald was down to ride favourite Via Sistina who was removed from the race earlier in the week, hoops like Blake Shinn and Nash Rawiller were never given a sniff with topweight Vauban only carrying 55.5kg and only four horses with 54kg or more. Rawiller will ride Here To Shock in The Big Dance at Randwick instead, meanwhile, fellow leading jock Tommy Berry will partner Gringotts in the race.