Harry Coffey cleared to ride Shockletz in Melbourne Cup, leaving Michael Dee without a mount

Harry Coffey will ride Shockletz in Tuesday’s $10.2 million Melbourne Cup after Racing Victoria (RV) stewards declared him fit on Monday, two days after he fractured his collarbone in a Derby Day fall.

The decision leaves Michael Dee without a ride in the race.

Dee gave up his booking on the Thomas Carberry-trained Strictly Business on Saturday so he would be available for Shockletz if Coffey was ruled out.

Dean Yendall has since been booked for Strictly Business, who carries 53kg and jumps from barrier four.

Stewards announced the clearance after Coffey’s surgeon had cleared him and RV chief medical officer Dr Ben Barresi had assessed him.

Coffey fell from Pondalowie in the Group 1 Empire Rose Stakes when the mare clipped the heels of Cilacap. He had a procedure at Melbourne’s Epworth Hospital on Sunday.

Shockletz’s breeder and managing owner, Laurence Eales, said he resisted pressure to replace Coffey.

Coffey rode Shockletz to a 2¼-length win in September’s Group 3 Archer Stakes, which earned her a ballot exemption for the Cup.

The five-year-old mare carries the 51kg minimum from barrier 17 and is one of seven runners in the field for Ciaron Maher.