Aidan's Cup runner out, again

Who would have thought - another Aidan O'Brien horse out of the Melbourne Cup well before raceday.

It was confirmed overnight that St Leger hero Scandinavia will not contest this year’s Melbourne Cup, with O’Brien confirming the colt has been put away for the remainder of the season.

Speculation that Scandinavia may have failed a Racing Victoria vet inspection persist - but neither O'Brien or Racing Victoria have commented.

The progressive son of Justify has emerged as one of Europe’s top stayers, winning the Group 3 Bahrain Trophy at Newmarket and the Goodwood Cup before claiming the St Leger at Doncaster in gutsy fashion under Tom Marquand.

His victory sparked speculation that a trip to Australia for the Melbourne Cup could be on the cards, but O’Brien said on Tuesday the colt will instead be prepared for next year’s Ascot Gold Cup.

“Scandinavia won’t be going to the Melbourne Cup. He’s finished for the season and we’ll train him for the Gold Cup next year,” O’Brien said.

O'Brien of course once vowed to never send a horse to Melbourne again after Jan Breughel was scratched last year by vets. Racing Victoria introduced strict vetting protocols after too many international horses died. Many of them were O'Brien's horses.

Despite this, O'Brien has previously labelled the protocols as ridiculous.