Goodwood Cup runner-up Away He Goes has suffered a late setback which will rule him out of the Melbourne Cup, leaving intended jockey James McDonald unlikely to have a ride.
The news is a blow to connections having gone through the rigorous veterinary checks introduced ahead of this year's Spring Carnival for overseas runners.
Ismail Mohammed's five-year-old, who was last seen finishing seventh in the Ebor, is reported to have suffered a tendon injury.
Crack jockey McDonald had been booked and it was a second big blow for him having also seen his Cox Plate mount, Zaaki, ruled out on the morning of the race.
"I rocked up at Werribee and I walked over to his box and they gave me the bad news," McDonald told www.racing.com.
"The horse actually looked absolutely glowing in the past, but unfortunately, he had a sore leg.
"It's just another one that's gone amiss before a big day.
"As they say, that's racing.
"They're highly tuned athletes that are trained to the absolute peak condition, and anything can happen with them."
Australian Associated Press
