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'Honest mistake': Waller fined over Cup blunder
Shayne Hope, AAP • November 3rd, 2026 4:32 pm
A horse in the Melbourne Cup, trained by Chris Waller, has been scratched on race day | Photo: Joel Carrett/AAP
High-profile trainer Chris Waller has been fined $50,000 (AUD) after Melbourne Cup contender Asterix was scratched by stewards for mistakenly having a medication administered on race day.
Asterix, part-owned by former New Zealand international cricketer Mark Greatbatch, was found to have had Penetrene administered to both forelegs in its stable just hours before Tuesday's $10 million Flemington showpiece.
Penetrene is used to relieve muscle soreness and inflammation, and is generally allowed to be used on horses - but no treatments are allowed on race days.
Chris Waller, a winner of the Cup with Verry Elleegant, now has just one runner in today's race | Photo: Con Chronis/AAP
"The horse gets the same treatment every day," Waller told reporters.
"It's a very basic liniment most stables use and I guess the pressure of race day, the person that looks after the horse, put it on his legs right in front of the security guard, nothing to hide.
"Nothing was hidden, the security guard was right there, as soon as it happened we knew there was a problem.
"It's not her fault, I've got to wear the responsibility, it's my team.
"It's rare for us to make mistakes but the pressure of race day, you can't explain how it affects everybody, everyone is on edge on Melbourne Cup Day and you think a little bit differently."
Punters were out early to stake their spots on Cup day at Flemington | Photo: Con Chronis/AAP
Waller was handed the significant fine by stewards, who accepted the application of Penetrene was done in error by the Sydney-based trainer's stablehand.
Stewards took into account Waller's "excellent record in relation to similar offences" while also noting the seriousness of the breach.
"Unfortunately, there was a topical treatment applied to the horse this morning which is allowed during the week but not on race day," Racing Victoria chief steward Rob Montgomery told the Nine Network.
"It just is an honest mistake but unfortunately has big consequences for the connections of the horse.
"Some of the owners were over from New Zealand to watch their horse run in the Melbourne Cup."
Another massive crowd has been building at Flemington ahead of the feature, the Melbourne Cup | Photo: Con Chronis/AAP
Asterix, an eight-year-old gelding by Tavistock, had been a $51 chance before he was scratched.
The decision left Waller with only one Cup contender, Soul Of Spain, as he sought to add to his 2021 triumph with Verry Elleegant.
It also left 2020 Cup-winning jockey Jye McNeil without a ride in this year's race.
