Racing: Carte Diamond cut from Melbourne Cup field again

MELBOURNE - English stayer Carte Diamond was yesterday scratched from the A$5 million ($5.7 million) Melbourne Cup by stewards on the advice of four separate veterinary surgeons.

Racing Victoria's director of veterinary services Dr John McCaffrey and prominent vets Dr Barry Smyth and Dr Geoff Hazard all examined Carte Diamond.

They found a tendon in his right front leg to be swollen, painful on palpation and exhibiting significantly more heat compared to the other front leg. The vets also performed an ultrasound which identified a significant core lesion in the horse's tendon.

They agreed the injury was not capable of healing prior to the running of the Melbourne Cup on November 7.

All agreed there would be an unacceptably high risk of the horse breaking down if he was to run in the race.

On the request of Carte Diamond's trainer Brian Ellison, the scans were also examined by Brian Anderson at Ballarat Veterinary Clinic.

Anderson concurred with the opinions of the other three vets and the decision was made by stewards to withdraw Carte Diamond.

Chief stipendiary steward Des Gleeson said: "While he wasn't showing any signs of lameness there was a significant injury which constituted a risk to the horse and others competing against it."

It is the second year in a row Carte Diamond has missed a start in the Melbourne Cup.

Last year he was staked in the leg by an upright of the running railing in a freak training mishap at Flemington the week before the race.

- AAP