Melbourne Cup favorite Via Sistina dropped out of the race after the Cox Plate win

Melbourne Cup favorite Via Sistina was eliminated from the race.

Owner Yulong Investments announced on social media that the Cox Plate winner would not compete next Tuesday after becoming the world’s top runner.

“Via Sistina has officially been voted the No. 1 racehorse in the world! The Cox Plate has always been their main goal, winning it is nothing short of a dream,” Yulong Investments said in a statement on X on Wednesday morning.

“Following this outstanding performance and after careful consideration, it has been decided that she will not compete in the 2024 Melbourne Cup.”

Via Sistina became the highest-ranked horse in the world with her eight-length win in course record time last Saturday at Moonee Valley.

The decision leaves champion jockey James McDonald without a ride for the Melbourne Cup.

While trainer Chris Waller was at the track in Flemington on Tuesday to watch his Spring Carnival charges do their best, Via Sistina spent some recovery time on a farm.

Via Sistina was bought by Yulong Investments for $5.5 million in December last year and broke Winx’s race record in the 2,040m Group 1 race.

Jockey Damien Lane, who will ride another Waller-trained Cup mount Kovalica, finished second in the Cox Plate aboard Prognosis. He described Vis Sistina as a “freak”.

“He (Prognosis) was great and we couldn’t have been happier with his performance,” Lane said.

“We thought we executed the plan well, but were beaten by a freak that day.”

“Via Sistina was incredible… I wanted to run the fastest 2,000 meters I could and I did that and when she passed me it was a shock.”

European star Jan Brueghel was ruled out on Tuesday due to veterinary advice. This was followed by a CT scan that took place last Saturday.

A statement from Racing Victoria did not elaborate on the issue but said there was an “increased risk of injury” to the Irish four-year-old.

Meanwhile, Gai Waterhouse insists her Cup chance, Just Fine, will live up to its name after finishing last in the Moonee Valley Gold Cup on Friday.

“He’s a quirky horse,” Waterhouse said Tuesday from Flemington.

“We went into the Gold Cup thinking it would go really well and hoping we wouldn’t make it [weight] We got a penalty and there’s no way we didn’t, so we finish with 53 kilograms, on a track where he was successful.

“He’s slated for the Cup and it’s happened before. Horses have run poorly at various tracks and races and he is doing well. He’s just fine.”

More than 30 horses are still on the Melbourne Cup entry list. The final field will be confirmed after Saturday’s meeting in Flemington.

AAP