'The process must change' - late Melbourne Cup scratching criticised by owners

Racing Victoria’s veterinary procedures drew further criticism on Melbourne Cup day with connections of late scratching Future Score calling for a change to the process.

Terry Henderson, who runs leading syndicate OTI Racing, described the withdrawal of the outsider, trained by Matt Cumani, as “very frustrating”, with Racing Victoria vets making the call moments before the final scratching deadline on Tuesday morning.

The race has been marred by fatalities in recent years, leading to enhanced veterinary protocols being enforced, and there were two injuries reported among the 23 runners.

Hot favourite Incentivise was found to have swelling on his near foreleg after finishing second, while Tralee Rose, who finished ninth, will stay overnight at Werribee Vet Hospital after being struck into, but the mare sustained a laceration to a hind leg rather than any tendon damage.

Future Score, a winner at Pontefract for Mick Appleby in 2018 before being sold to Australia, failed a last-minute inspection, presenting with lameness in his right foreleg having passed all previous checks.

Cumani felt the six-year-old presented in the same way as he did prior to winning the Cranbourne Cup last year and, in his view, should have been able to take his chance.

“I don't want to put focus on this on Cup day because it's too big a race but there will be plenty said after the Cup,” Henderson told Racenet.

“Without going into specifics about this horse it's more about the processes that have been applied. Clearly those processes are not appropriate based on whatever happens around the world.

“As a result of that it's very frustrating to have people looking forward to their horse going into the race and then come out for reasons that may or may not be appropriate.

“The process has got to be fixed and hopefully it will be. We're happy with the horse, in our opinion he could have taken his place but that's not the opinion of Racing Victoria's vets.

“It's certainly the opinion of our vets and other vets that have looked at x-rays and trot-ups, but they're not the ones that count the way things are.”

Cumani felt Racing Victoria were “ultra-cautious” in their decision and is confident Future Score will be back in action again at the Spring Carnival.

Cumani said: “I think there’s a lot of pressure on Racing Victoria to be ultra, ultra conservative and for them it was a real margin call, it went down to 7.29am to make the decision.

“They decided to be ultra-cautious. I can understand their point of view when they don’t know a horse inside out. But for me and my vet, who know him inside out, and know he presented in the same way going into the Cranbourne Cup, which he won convincingly, it’s a bit frustrating.

“He’s consistent in his action and has been racing with that action for the past year and a half.

“He was a 200-1 shot, but he was absolutely flying and peaking for this performance.”

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