IRISH stayer Scorpion pulled up sore after trackwork yesterday and is in danger of missing the $5 million Melbourne Cup at Flemington next Tuesday, writing another chapter in a tale of woe for the Coolmore operation over the past 48 hours.
Trainer Aidan O’Brien is en route from the US, where he watched as one of his stable, George Washington, fractured sesamoid bones while contesting the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Monmouth Park at the weekend.
Now one of the best horses in his team has a stifle injury in the off hind leg and it will take a miracle to get him to the barriers in seven days time.
O’Brien will go to Sandown this morning, where the horse will have scans to ascertain the root and extent of the injury.
Scorpion and stablemate Mahler were tested in a track gallop at Sandown yesterday, however, upon cooling down, the Melbourne Cup topweight was lame in a hind leg.
Tom Magnier, son of Coolmore principal John Magnier, advised stewards of a problem with Scorpion yesterday afternoon, having made the $2200 payment for the third declaration stage earlier in the day.
"We don’t know what it is at the moment. X-rays will be taken first thing in the morning and once we know what they show we will make a decision," Magnier said.
"We just have to hope. It is hard for me to say what the percentage chance of him racing in the Cup is. I wouldn’t want to call it yet, but put it this way, I wouldn’t be excited. Still, every cloud has a silver lining. Mahler might storm across the line."
Scorpion had been a $13 chance and was to carry 58.5kg in next Tuesday’s race. Following news of the latest development, bookmakers pushed his price out to $26.
If Scorpion is scratched, the weights will have to be raised 0.5kg and last year’s favourite, Tawqeet, will be the new top weight.
Overseeing yesterday’s gallop was travelling foreman Andrew Murphy, who was pleased with the way the pair strode out over 1400m. He had observed a trouble-free preparation, in which the horses had adapted to their new surroundings at the quarantine compound.
Mahler firmed from $11 into $10 yesterday, which did not surprise Murphy, who has sung the northern hemisphere three-year-old’s praises since arriving last Tuesday.
"While he is definitely on trial, Mahler has to have a serious, serious chance. Scorpion is weighted up to the hilt, while he has no weight," Murphy said.
Source: foxsports.com.au
