Eve of Melbourne Cup 2009: Last minute news round-up

All The Good, all the bad

ALL THE GOOD, owned by Sheikh Mohammed's Goldolpin, a huge fancy for The Melbourne Cup is out of the race.

The horse had a fracture of a bone in his leg and misses the $5.5million event on Tuesday (November 5).

All was going well for All The Good, who won both the Ebor handicap (at Newbury) this year before taking Australia's main prep race for The Melbourne Cup, The Caulfield Cup.

After winning the rearranged Ebor at Newbury, the Newburgh Handicap, plans were put in place to prepare All The Good for Australia.

Trainer Saeed Bin Suroor, who was once a Dubai traffic cop, said: "He was getting better with every race and I thought we could win this year with All The Good."

Egan in trouble with 'tinpot hitlers'

Yellowstone's jockey John Egan was out of (Goose) step with the Australian authorities after a plane-talking Tv interview.

Egan is being brought to book on a charge of bringing racing into disrepute after telling Australian television that the racing Victoria vets were 'tinpot hitlers'.

Yellowstone was deemed fit to run by the vets after his final gallop for The Melbourne Cup on Tuesday.

Yellowstone bruised his hip when cast in his box but Egan seems to have bruised some egos with his remarks and is likely to be fined or suspended if found guilty.

Egan has to answer the charge at 11am on Monday.

Murtagh: Septimus will win Melbourne Cup

JOHNNY MURTAGH was oozing confidence after Septimus's work last week.

The Irish jockey said: "He is the classiest horse in the race and I expect a huge run from him in the Melbourne Cup. I can't wait to get on board."

Zagreb abscess spells Melbourne Cup absence

THE Aussie home team lost another big player when Zagreb, trained by David Hayes, was scratched from the 2009 Melbourne Cup field.

Zagreb has suffered an abscess in his foot since his disappointing run in the Turnbull Stakes at Flemington on October 4, won by Littorio.

Hayes said: "It is a sickener. Zagreb's abscess has been getting better but unfortunately we have run out of time for the big one."

Luca Cumani Mad with joy for his Melbourne Cup duo

LUCA CUMANI was over the moon after watching his daughter canter his chief Melbourne Cup hope Mad Rush at Sandown racetrack, Australia.

Cumani proclaimed: "I have Mad Rush exactly where I want him."

But Cumani also has a big chance with Bauer, who won his Australian trial, the Geelong Cup.

Cumani explained: "Bauer doesn't need to be out cantering today as he has had a race more recently than Mad Rush."
 

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