Sir Delius ruled out of Cox Plate and Melbourne Cup by scans

Import Sir Delius, a pre-post favourite to join some of the greats of Australian racing in completing a Cox Plate-Melbourne Cup double, has been ruled out of both races.

Racing Victoria stewards have ordered the Tulloch Lodge star’s withdrawal from two of Melbourne spring’s headline races after acting on specialist veterinary opinion.

Under the entry conditions of the Melbourne Cup, Sir Delius was presented this week at the University of Melbourne Equine Centre in Werribee for a compulsory computed tomography (CT) scan.

The scans are reviewed by an independent panel of diagnostic imaging specialists from Australia, the UK and the United States.

Three panel members are nominated to independently scrutinise each horse’s scan.

They found Sir Delius presented with “a heightened risk injury” should he be allowed to race in the $6 million Cox Plate at Moonee Valley on Saturday week.

Co-trainers Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott accepted an opportunity for Sir Delius to undergo a positron emission tomography (PET) scan, which can help determine the status of a concern area.

That scan was performed on Thursday.

“Having reviewed the PET scan results alongside the CT scan results, the panel members have advised RV Veterinary Services that they remain of the view that Sir Delius is currently at heightened risk of injury,” a Racing Victoria statement read.

“Following advice from RV Veterinary Services in relation to the specialist opinions from the imaging panel, RV stewards have stood down Sir Delius from competing in the remainder of the 2025 spring racing carnival.

“The stewards have appraised the connections of the key information that they relied upon in making their decision.”

An opportunity to follow up a PET scan to further investigate the results of a CT scan was introduced to RV’s veterinary protocols for this year’s spring carnival.

Waterhouse had earmarked the Cox Plate as the ideal lead-in race for the Melbourne Cup at Flemington on November 4.

Her strategy followed a blueprint established by her 2013 Melbourne Cup winner Fiorente.

Fiorente filled the minor placing in the Cox Plate before defeating Red Cadeaux at Flemington 10 days later.

Sir Delius was favoured to give Waterhouse her first Cox Plate triumph.

The northern hemisphere import, which Waterhouse and Bott purchased for a high-powered syndicate at last year’s Tattersalls Horses In Training Sale for $A2.7 million, was promoted to the top line of Cox Plate betting after winning the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes at Flemington on October 4.

That followed the entire’s Group 1 Underwood Stakes victory at Caulfield in September and took his Australian record to three wins from four starts after stepping out for Waterhouse and Bott for the first time with a Queensland winter carnival success.

In Sir Delius’ absence, Via Sistina has regained her position as Cox Plate favourite, firming to $2.10 to make it back-to-back wins in the prestigious weight-for-age race.

Irish-trained Al Riffa is now the $4.50 Melbourne Cup favourite ahead of Half Yours ($5), a warm elect to claim the $5 million Caulfield Cup on Saturday.

Bookmakers, including Ladbrokes, will refunds bets on Sir Delius in both races despite the all-in-market.