Boss launches last-ditch Cup appeal

Glen Boss will launch a desperate appeal to maintain the ride on the Melbourne Cup favourite as a host of internationals were cast under an injury cloud, including last year’s runner-up Marmelo and highly-rated Godolphin raider Ispolini.

The Everest-winning jockey - who is trying to equal the riding record for most Melbourne Cup wins lodged an official notice late on Monday of his intention to appeal a careless riding suspension which threatens to rob him of the mount on Constantinople.

It came on a dramatic day of Cup news with the number of horses still in the running trimmed to 42 and Racing Victoria confirming Werribee lodgers Marmelo and Ispolini had shown signs of soreness over the weekend.

Official vets will discuss the results of a standing CT scan with Marmelo’s trainer Hughie Morrison on Tuesday, when he is expected to arrive in Melbourne, while Ispolini was sent to a Ballarat vet clinic on Monday for further testing.

Marmelo ($13) ran second in last year’s race behind Cross Counter despite jockey Hugh Bowman weighing in overweight and has been set for a third tilt at Australia’s great race.

The concern over German St Leger winner Ispolini ($17) , a stablemate of Cross Counter, was also worrying for Charlie Appleby after his representatives elected to send the five-year-old to Ballarat for further testing.

While Appleby has some cause for concern with Ispolini, there were no such issues with Cross Counter which passed a precautionary exam without issue.

Boss’ fate will not be known until days before the Cup despite Lindsay

Park putting Hong Kong-based wizard Joao Moreira on standby for the ride if the 50-year-old can’t beat a ban incurred on Bondi Stakes day at Randwick.

Boss is still in line to ride Chris

AAP

Waller’s Kolding in the $7.5 million Golden Eagle at Rosehill on Saturday, but is set to serve a six-meeting ban which will rule him out of Melbourne Cup week.