Trainer left baffled as racing stewards scratch Melbourne Cup hopeful from Tuesday’s big race due to a heart issue

Athabascan has been forced to withdraw from Tuesday’s Melbourne Cup after veterinary professionals advised the horse should not run.

The decision has been contested by the five-year-old’s owners OTI Racing with his trainer John O’Shea admitting his bewilderment at the decision. 

The horse underwent a final vet inspection on Monday but was found to have a cardiac arrhythmia, according to Channel Seven.

It means that only 23 horses will participate in this week’s showcase event at Flemington, with Athabascan being backed at $61 outsider to win the race.

The shock news comes after the five-year-old gelding stormed to victory at the Group 3 $500,000 ATC St Leger Stakes (2600m) at Randwick last month.

O’Shea had subsequently confirmed his intention to race Athabascan in the Melbourne Cup and had backed him to ‘run a very good race’.

But Racing Victoria stewards confirmed on Monday that the Cup hopeful would not be fit to race this week.

‘ECG reports and the results of blood tests were then forwarded to three independent experts specialising in equine internal medicine, including cardiology,’ the stewards said in a statement.

‘They each independently advised that, due to the nature of the cardiac arrhythmia, Athabascan should undergo further extensive testing before being permitted to race again on the grounds of safety.

‘Acting on these opinions and having considered additional material provided by the stable, RV veterinarians advised the Stewards that in their view the horse should be withdrawn from the Melbourne Cup due to an increased risk of a cardiac episode.’

OTI Racing chief executive Terry Henderson questioned the decision, stating that the owners have since requested a meeting with the stewards to contest the ruling.

Trainer John O’Shea admitted he was baffled b the decision, claiming that the horse had been ‘100 per cent healthy’

‘We have presented what we believe to be very strong evidence to say there is absolutely nothing wrong with this horse, it’s a heart arrhythmia issue which they raised,’ Henderson said.

‘We’ll be having a meeting with the stewards to review why the horse was withdrawn when in John’s opinion the horse was perfectly fine to race.’

O’Shea had also explained the decision at length on Monday, claiming that he too was left baffled as to why the horse had been scratched, claiming Athabascan was ‘100 per cent fit and healthy’.

‘At his veterinary examination today he had a slightly irregular heartbeat at standing, at rest, which we’ve provided significant data on his ECGs and gallops,’ O’Shea said per The Australian.

‘He had an ECG on his gallop Saturday, the horse was fine, provided veterinary evidence to stewards that he has a low troponin level – no issue with his heart, but they have decided irrespective of all the veterinary advice that we provided to withdraw him.

‘Unfortunately, I am the bearer of bad news, I can’t explain it, the horse is 100 per cent healthy, and all our data that we use is spectacularly good but for whatever reason they have decided to withdraw the horse and they haven’t given me a reason why, they just said experts have suggested, I don’t know what experts.

Athabascan’s owners, OTI Racing, have requested a meeting with stewards over the ruling 

‘Unfortunately, Athabascan will be scratched from tomorrow’s Melbourne Cup, I’m very deeply sorry for everyone involved, but it’s out of my hands and they’ve only just notified me now.’

Willie Mullins-trained Vauban is the current favourite to win Tuesday’s big race alongside Buckaroo at $7.