Melbourne Cup and Cox Plate favourite Sir Delius has been ruled out of both races after failing the pre-race scanning process.
Sir Delius had six starts in Europe for three wins before coming to Australia and joining the Waterhouse/Bott stable where his record stands at four starts for three wins and a second.
He had captured the imagination of the spring carnival with wins in the Group I Underwood Stakes and Group I Turnbull Stakes which saw him the ruling favourite for both the Cox Plate and Melbourne Cup.
Racing Victoria have installed strict protocols around the vetting of runners heading into the major spring races in recent years which has seen Caulfield Cup winner Durston ruled out of the subsequent Melbourne Cup in 2022, and last year saw pre-post race favourite, Aiden O’Brien’s unbeaten Jan Brueghal, also ruled out.
Racing Victoria stewards reported the following:
“In accordance with the conditions of the Lexus Melbourne Cup, Sir Delius was presented this week at the University of Melbourne Equine Centre in Werribee for a compulsory Computed Tomography (CT) scan of its distal limbs.
“CT scan results are reviewed by an independent panel of diagnostic imaging specialists which comprises representatives from Australia, UK and USA. Three members are nominated to review the scans for each horse independent of one another.
“The nominated panel members reported to RV Veterinary Services that the CT scan results for Sir Delius indicated that the horse is currently at heightened risk of injury.
“Given the imaging panel’s advice, in accordance with RV’s enhanced 2025 veterinary protocols, the Waterhouse-Bott stable was afforded the opportunity for Sir Delius to undergo a Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scan which can help determine the status of an area of concern.
“Sir Delius presented yesterday (Thursday, 16 October) for a PET scan at the University of Melbourne Equine Centre and the results were shared with the same three members of the imaging panel for review over the past 24 hours.
“Having reviewed the PET scan results alongside the CT scan results, the panel members have advised RV Veterinary Services that they remain of the view that Sir Delius is currently at heightened risk of injury.
“Following advice from RV Veterinary Services in relation to the specialist opinions from the imaging panel, RV Stewards have stood down Sir Delius from competing in the remainder of the 2025 Spring Racing Carnival.”
The new Cox Plate favourite is Via Sistina at $2.10 with TAB.com.au and Melbourne Cup favourite is Al Riffa at $4.50.
