Melbourne Cup contender Moudre won’t run at Moonee Valley today and could go into the Cup on Tuesday week without another run.

Moudre has been scratched from the Drake International Cup at Moonee Valley today. Photo by: Taron Clarke

Moudre was an $8 chance in the Group 2 $250,000 Drake International Cup (2500m) today but trainer Ciaron Maher decided to miss the run after blood tests from the seven year old weren’t one hundred per cent.

“It would not worry me if I went straight in the Cup,” Maher said.

Moudre is borderline in order of entry for the Group 1 $6m Emirates Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington on November 6 at twenty-eight and if Maher doesn’t want to take the risk of missing out on a start could line up in the Listed $250,000 Jayco Bendigo Cup (2400m) at Bendigo on October 31 looking for a penalty.

The Blevic gelding has mixed his form this Spring and resumed with an unlucky third to Southern Speed in the Group 2 $300,000 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on September 8 and then felt the hard track when last of sixteen behind Green Moon in the Group 1 $500,000 Turnbull Stakes (2000m) at Flemington on October 6.

Then the seven year old was always well back when fourteenth to Dunaden in last week’s Group 1 $2.5m BMW Caulfield Cup (2400m) and jockey Kerrin McEvoy struggled to find a clear passage in the straight.

“He went OK, he was stuck on the inside and I had my momentum stopped at the 300 which didn’t help my chances,” McEvoy said.

Moudre is currently a $61 chance in the Melbourne Cup with the Caulfield – Melbourne Cup winner Dunaden and 2010 Melbourne Cup winner Americain fighting for favouritism around the $7 mark.

International stayers Mount Athos ($9), Red Cadeaux ($12) and Brigantin ($12) are next in line in the market.