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How to tune into Sport NationMelbourne Cup favourite scratched from Spring Carnival
Nicholas Quinlan • October 17th, 2025 6:48 pm
The favourite for the Melbourne Cup, Sir Delius, has been scratched from the race by Racing Victoria stewards on the advice from specialist veterinarians.
The five-year-old stallion had been building up to the race that stops a nation after having won the Turnbull Stakes and the SEN Underwood Stakes in recent weeks.
But a CT scan in preparation for the 3200m event would deem that Sir Delius was “currently at heightened risk of injury”.
Following that, the stallion was then sent for a PET scan, which reconfirmed that it was at risk of injury.
Racing Victoria has released a statement on the situation.
""Racing Victoria (RV) Stewards, acting on specialist veterinary advice, have today ordered the withdrawal of the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained Sir Delius from the entries for the 2025 Lexus Melbourne Cup at Flemington and 2025 Ladbrokes Cox Plate at The Valley.
"In accordance with the conditions of the Lexus Melbourne Cup, Sir Delius was presented this week at the University of Melbourne Equine Centre in Werribee for a compulsory Computed Tomography (CT) scan of its distal limbs.
"CT scan results are reviewed by an independent panel of diagnostic imaging specialists which comprises representatives from Australia, UK and USA. Three members are nominated to review the scans for each horse independent of one another.
"The nominated panel members reported to RV Veterinary Services that the CT scan results for Sir Delius indicated that the horse is currently at heightened risk of injury.
"Given the imaging panel’s advice, in accordance with RV’s enhanced 2025 veterinary protocols, the Waterhouse-Bott stable was afforded the opportunity for Sir Delius to undergo a Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scan which can help determine the status of an area of concern.
*"Sir Delius presented yesterday (Thursday, 16 October) for a PET scan at the University of Melbourne Equine Centre and the results were shared with the same three members of the imaging panel for review over the past 24 hours.
*"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."
"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."
