Two horses set to line up in Saturday's $5 million Cox Plate at Moonee Valley will have to undergo a second fitness check on Friday morning, after Racing Victoria (RV) vets found both Gold Trip and Callsign Mav to be lame on Thursday.
“Racing Victoria veterinarians have today inspected all 10 horses accepted to run in this Saturday's Ladbrokes Cox Plate at The Valley,” RV said in a media release.
“The John Bary trained Callsign Mav displayed lameness in his left front leg and as such will be re-examined tomorrow.
“Stewards were advised that the gelding has been attended to by the stable veterinarian and farrier and has missed no work.
“The Ciaron Maher and David Eustace trained Gold Trip also displayed lameness in his off fore and off hind leg and will be re-examined tomorrow.
“All other horses were passed fit to race.
“A further update will be provided tomorrow following the re-examinations.”
New Zealand galloper Callsign Mav – a +7000 outsider – will be chasing his third straight Group 1 victory in Saturday's 2040m race should he be cleared fit to start.
His trainer, John Bary, will be looking to go one better than he did in 2011 Cox Plate with Jimmy Choux, who was beaten 1.25 lengths by Pinker Pinker.
As for Gold Trip, trainers Ciaron Maher and David Eustace will be looking to go back-to-back in the weight-for-age classic, after winning the race with Sir Dragonet in 2020.
Gold Trip is now owned by Australian Bloodstock after the leviathan syndicate purchased the entire following his third-placed effort in the Group 1 GP Sount Cloud (2400m) in July.
The son of Outstrip has only the one win but has been placed in three Group 1 races and also finished fourth in the 2020 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, where he beat home both Enable and Stradivarius.
Gold Trip sits on the fourth line of betting at +1100 alongside State Of Rest – the only one of the three internationals in the field that was not declared lame on Thursday.
Zaaki is still the +200 favourite with the top betting sites, ahead of three-year-old colt Anamoe at +290, while Verry Elleegant (+400) is looking to add another major to her CV and bring up Group 1 win number 10.