Full coverage of today's big race from 5pm on nzherald.co.nz
KEY POINTS:
MELBOURNE - There was big disappointment for the New Zealand connections of The Fuzz when the David Hayes-trained runner was a late scratching from the Melbourne Cup today.
The Fuzz was officially withdrawn at 11.45am (NZT) on vet's advice after Hayes reported his galloper had heat in a joint this morning.
Waikato farmers Phil and Jackie Rogers, who bred The Fuzz, still own a 20 per cent share in the Danasinga gelding after selling him to Hayes' clients earlier this year.
He was rated the best chance of Hayes' five Cup runners after his second to Sculptor in Saturday's Saab Quality (2500m).
Meanwhile, another New Zealand horse, The Lloyd Williams-owned Gallic, has also been scratched from today's race.
Williams, who will still be represented by Efficient and Zipping, says the horse has injured a joint and will be unable to take his place in the field in the $6.2 million race at Flemington.
The winner last season of the Sydney and Adelaide Cups, Gallic rocketed into Melbourne cup calculations with his last start win in the Moonee Valley Cup 10 days ago.
Gallic was quoted as a 20-1 chance by most bookmakers, and his scratching leaves 23 starters for the big race.
He is well known as the favourite among Williams' hundred or so horses.
"It's very disappointing but he had some heat in the joint this morning and there's no chance we could run him," Williams said.
The scratching of Gallic follows the disappointment of last year's Cup when Williams was forced to scratch the Derby winner Efficient from the race.
The betting
The top picks for this year's Melbourne Cup are in position with barely a few hours to go.
The Danny O'Brien-trained Master O'Reilly remains the favourite with punters, at $5.
Punters are also keen on English raider Purple Moon, who finished sixth in the Caulfield Cup, and Zipping.
"Already around $2 million have been generated for the event with Master O'Reilly being the most heavily backed," said Neil Evans, media officer at Centrebet in Australia.
The New Zealand Racing Board had taken around $700,000 in bets by 11 am today.
TAB New Zealand racing manager Michael Dore said that this is a 10 per cent dip from what was the figures recorded a year ago.
The favourites for the event from New Zealand are Master O'Reilly and Purple Moon.
"If the weather situation improves we might see more people flocking out to place their bets," he Mr Dore said.
- NZPA, AAP, NZ HERALD STAFF
