Co-owner Lloyd Williams has revealed that Amralah will not take his place in the 2015 Melbourne Cup field at Flemington on Tuesday.
Amralah has been withdrawn from the 2015 Melbourne Cup. Photo by: Ultimate Racing Photos
Amralah started his 2015 Spring Racing Carnival campaign with a flat performance at Caulfield on August 29 before he recorded his maiden Australian race win with an impressive performance in the Listed Penang Trophy (1800m) at Morphettville on September 19.
The Teofilo entire did not have a great deal of luck in the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes (2000m) at Flemington on October 4 and he could finish no better than seventh, but he stamped himself as a genuine Melbourne Cup contender with a dominant staying performance in the Group 2 Herbert Power Stakes (2400m) at Caulfield on October 10.
Amralah was towards the top of 2015 Melbourne Cup betting markets and Damien Oliver had been booked to take the ride, but the Macedon Lodge team revealed that Amralah had received negligent treatment 18 days ago and is now unable to take his place in ‘the race that stops a nation’.
“Amralah was treated by the Ballarat Veterinary Practice and they provided treatment to the horse 18 days ago,” Williams said in a statement.
“Connections have now been advised that the treatment provided by negligent.
“The horse is now unable to run in the Melbourne Cup.”
The withdrawal of Amralah means that fellow Macedon Lodge-trained galloper The United States will score the final place in the 2015 Melbourne Cup field and will be ridden by Hong Kong-based Joao Moreira.
The United States started his 2015 Spring Racing Carnival campaign with a win in the Sweeney Estate Agents Handicap (1500m) at Moonee Valley on August 22, but he was narrowly denied wins in both the Craig Opie Cup (1600m) at the same venue on September 5 and the Group 3 Naturalism Stakes (2000m).
He was never given a chance in the Group 3 JRA Cup (2040m) at Moonee Valley on October 23, but he returned to winning form in the Group 2 Moonee Valley Cup (2500m) last weekend and received a penalty of 2.5 kilograms from Racing Victoria Chief Handicapper Greg Carpenter that got him closer to a place in the Melbourne Cup field.
The United States is currently available at 2015 Melbourne Cup odds of $21 with Ladbrokes, while Fame Game ($3.80) remains a clear favourite from Trip To Paris ($8), Preferment ($9), Almoonqith ($15), Criterion ($15), Max Dynamite ($15) and Who Shot Thebarman ($15).
You can score the best 2015 Melbourne Cup odds with leading online bookmaker Ladbrokes!
