CUP CHAMP SIDELINED

Melbourne Cup winner out of autumn carnival with injury

Melbourne Cup winner Gold Trip has been ruled out of the autumn racing carnival with a leg injury.

The Ciaron Maher-trained seven-year-old, who won the 2022 Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) and last year’s Group 1 Turnbull Stakes (2000m), has suffered a tendon injury.

It will not only spoil autumn plans for the stayer, but place his immediate racing career in doubt.

Ciaron Maher Racing announced the news in a social media statement on Wednesday afternoon.

“It is with sadness we announce that Gold Trip (pictured) has sustained a tendon injury, ruling him out of the autumn,” the statement said.

“It is on the less serious side, as far as tendon injuries go, and we will rehabilitate him regardless of whether he races on or not.

“A decision will be made on his immediate future in the coming days.

“His Australian racing career delivered arguably the stable’s crowning achievement to date with his dominant performance in the 2022 Melbourne Cup.

“His win in the 2023 Turnbull Stakes was just as impressive, and he showed us how talented and resilient he is, competing in the Caulfield Cup, Cox Plate and Melbourne Cup in back-to-back years.

“He is an entire, and a horse of obvious ability, with his fourth place in the (Prix de) l’Arc de Triomphe sitting alongside a Melbourne Cup win that rated 106.

“Our rehab program has seen horses such as Ashrun return from extended time off, and while Gold Trip is a 7YO, he is relatively light-raced so the decision will not be an easy one.

“We would like to thank his wonderful owners for their support. He has taken us on an incredible journey and changed all of our lives. A decision will be made in the coming days after further consultation with our vets and his owners.” Gold Trip was set to be targeted towards the Group 1 Australian Cup at Flemington on March 30 and Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) at Randwick on April 13.