In a serious blow for the connections of UK raider Onesmoothoperator, Brian Ellison‘s impressive Ladbrokes Geelong Cup winner may come out of Tuesday’s 2024 Melbourne Cup field after sustaining a heel injury.

The news comes days after fellow international raider Jan Brueghel was withdrawn after he failed to pass an examination by Racing Victoria vets.

Onesmoothoperator sustained a cut to his right hind heel bulb and was not passed fit to run in the 164th edition of the ‘Race That Stops a Nation’ on Friday morning.

He will be reshod and reexamined on Saturday morning.

Onesmoothoperator was second favourite in the Melbourne Cup odds at Ladbrokes.com.au but has eased out to $8 third favouritism with the news of his injury.

Craig Williams is booked for the ride.

Also sweating on a reexamination is the Ciaron Maher-trained Interpretation who was not passed fit on Thursday due to a change in the horse’s gait.

Interpretation is set to be ridden by Teo Nugent on 50kg should he run.

If he comes out, stablemate Saint George will make the starting line-up.

With Saint George 25th on the Melbourne Cup order of entry, the next in line on the cusp of a start is the Chris Waller-trained Manzoice who hasn’t won a race since the 2022 Victoria Derby.

The high attrition rate for this year’s Group 1 $8.56 million Lexus Melbourne Cup (3200m) has reduced the quality of the 24-horse field but has opened it up making for a great betting race!

The Waller’s Caulfield Cup runner-up Buckaroo to be ridden by Joao Moreira on 54.5kg is the $5 Melbourne Cup favourite ahead of the official field release on Saturday afternoon.

Vauban, one of two Irish visitors returning after an unplaced run last year for Willie Mullins, is the other best in Melbourne Cup betting at $6 along with Bendigo Cup champion Sea King ($9).

Click here to view the likely 2024 Melbourne Cup field.

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