Cup second favourite scratched

Melbourne Cup second favourite Loft is out of the Melbourne Cup but his part-owner Ozzie Kheir says “There is no blue.”

News Corp exclusively revealed on Friday morning Racing Victoria vets found an issue with Cup second pick Loft at his trot up and he would not race on Tuesday.

Kheir confirmed they found a tendon issue with the well supported German stayer and said: “I can confirm he will not be running in the 2022 Melbourne Cup. It is disappointing for all the owners.”

It leaves superstar jockey James Mcdonald, who soared to Cup glory last year on Verry Elleegant, without a ride.

Vets were not satisfied with Friday’s trot-up of the $6.50 second pick for Tuesday’s Cup.

Loft is trained by German Marcel Weiss.

The news came a day after vets ruled out Caulfield Cup winner Durston.

It is rotten news for Kheir who also had imported galloper Le Don De Vie ruled out of the Cup recently after failing vetting processes. However, he said he had “no blue” with the fact Loft would not be racing.

“I don’t want to be a sook,” Kheir said.

“I am just disappointed for the trainer and the fellow owners – and for racing – as we were very confident he would be hard to beat.

“But there has been swelling around his tendon.

“There is no blue with the (vet) process.

“It’s been a tough time because we also lost Le Don De Vie from the Cup.

“But we have had a lot of successes, so it can’t always be smooth sailing.”

Bookmakers reacted to the Loft news by making fellow international raider Deauville Legend an even more pronounced Melbourne Cup favourite, at $3.80.