Melbourne Cup favourite Sir Delius ruled out

Sir Delius, who had been favourite for the Melbourne Cup, has been ruled out of the Flemington showpiece on veterinary advice.

Trained by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, the four-year-old had also been due to run in the Cox Plate but will have to miss the rest of the Spring Carnival.

Formerly trained in France by Jean-Claude Rouget where he was known as Delius, he had won his last two races at Group One level.

A statement on www.racingvictoria.com.au read: “In accordance with the conditions of the Lexus Melbourne Cup, Sir Delius was presented this week at the University of Melbourne Equine Centre in Werribee for a compulsory Computed Tomography (CT) scan of its distal limbs.

“CT scan results are reviewed by an independent panel of diagnostic imaging specialists which comprises representatives from Australia, UK and USA. Three members are nominated to review the scans for each horse independent of one another.

“The nominated panel members reported to RV Veterinary Services that the CT scan results for Sir Delius indicated that the horse is currently at heightened risk of injury.”

In line with protocols, the Waterhouse-Bott team were allowed to send him for a Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scan which can help determine the status of an area of concern.

The statement went on: “Having reviewed the PET scan results alongside the CT scan results, the panel members have advised RV Veterinary Services that they remain of the view that Sir Delius is currently at heightened risk of injury.

“Following advice from RV Veterinary Services in relation to the specialist opinions from the imaging panel, RV Stewards have stood down Sir Delius from competing in the remainder of the 2025 Spring Racing Carnival. The Stewards have appraised the connections of the key information that they relied upon in making their decision.”