Melbourne Cup winner ruled out of title defence but key Irish entries remain in contention

Without A Fight will not defend his Lexus Melbourne Cup crown at Flemington next month. Sam and Anthony Freedman’s seven-year-old has not been seen on the track since beating Soulcombe by two and a quarter lengths in last year’s race and was not among the 72 accepters for the race on Tuesday.

The Sheikh Mohammed Obaid-owned gelding was allocated top weight of 9st 3lb [58.5kg] a fortnight ago but Via Sistina, a Group 1 winner at the Curragh when trained by George Boughey, now heads the weights for Chris Waller at 8st 11lb [56kg].

Waller, who won the race in 2021 with Verry Elleegant, has 12 others in contention for the Flemington showpiece on November 5 including Kinesiology, a Group 3 runner-up at Leopardstown for Jessica Harrington last month.

The Willie Mullins-trained Vauban and Absurde are still on course to run in the race for the second successive year, while Jan Brueghel is Aidan O’Brien’s sole representative as the Ballydoyle trainer targets Australia's biggest race for the first time in four years.

Northumberland Plate winner Onesmoothoperator and Sea King, whose trainer Harry Eustace’s brother David won the race alongside Ciaron Maher with Gold Trip in 2022, are the only British-based contenders left.

Onesmoothoperator: one of two possible British-trained runners in the Melbourne CupCredit: GROSSICK RACING

Andrew Balding’s duo Night Sparkle and Relentless Voyager and John and Thady Gosden’s Arrest were not confirmed at the first acceptance stage.

The Noboru Takagi-trained Warp Speed could represent Japan and bids to end a run of three successive southern hemisphere winners since Twilight Payment’s victory for Joseph O’Brien in 2020.

Many of those left in contention could run at Flemington on Saturday including Via Sistina, who is favourite for the Turnbull Stakes.

The Victoria Racing Club's executive general manager Leigh Jordon said: "There is a strong group of 72 local and international contenders hoping to achieve the ultimate success in this year's Lexus Melbourne Cup.

"This weekend's race day will be a great form reference for those horses who are racing towards the first Tuesday in November with the day a proven path for trainers and connections."

Lexus Melbourne Cup (4.00 Flemington, November 5)
William Hill: 7 Vauban, 8 Jan Brueghel, 14 Saint George, 16 Absurde, Warmonger, Circle Of Fire, 20 Point King, 25 bar

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