Joseph O’Brien’s racing manager Kevin Blake has called for emergencies to become part of the Melbourne Cup after stewards scratched Defiantly on Saturday due to concerns about his gait.
The stewards had to make the decision three days out from the race due to the need to lock in the field of 24 at 4.30pm on Saturday, despite the fact the horse may have made the necessary improvement in the remaining two days to take his place.
Emergencies are considered impossible because betting technology can’t handle late inclusions to a field of 24.
It means if there are late scratchings between 4.30pm Saturday and the race start, fewer runners will race rather than the next qualified horses in the order of entry being granted a start.
“We know it’s rigorous, we know it’s tough, and so we’re not going to cry about [the decision]. We’re all big boys and girls, but probably the main takeaway from it is they probably need to sort out their emergency situation,” Blake said.
“I’m a guest here so I don’t want to be telling people what to do, but for the reason to be that the technology can’t cope with more than 24 runners in 2026 … I don’t feel that’s good enough.”
Defiantly’s withdrawal gives stablemate Kizlyar a start, meaning the O’Brien stable still has five runners – but it robs the race of a natural leader, with the four-year-old gelding a noted frontrunner.
Blake said the jockey Dylan Brown-McMonagle, who had been booked to ride Defiantly, would now jump on Sons And Lovers, who was the best drawn of their five starters with barrier three.
He said local jockeys James McDonald and Craig Williams would need to weave some magic to their mounts Trustyourinstinct and James J Braddock in a good spot after they drew barriers 18 and 24 respectively.
McDonald is the in-form jockey after an exhilarating Derby Day where he won four races including the Derby and Trustyourinstinct is sure to win support due to his presence in the saddle.
“James is going to have to work his magic to get in and get cover [and] get him racing efficiently, but he is a very classy horse unexposed to the trip,” Blake said.
“[He] looks to have a leading chance in the book, so you just hope he gets a kind spin from the draw.”
Last year’s runner-up Goodie Two Shoes is said to be in better form than last season and is expected to carry big bets from his owner J.P. McManus. Blake also talked up Kizlyar’s chances despite his disappointing run in the Moonee Valley Cup, which became a sit and sprint at the finish.
Defiantly may run in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes on Saturday as a consolation, with O’Brien due to fly in from the Breeders’ Cup, which is raced in the US, on Monday.
Meanwhile at Werribee, Ethan Brown was pleased with Point of Law’s work on Sunday when he visited the horse he rode to victory in the Geelong Cup.
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