Group One-winning stayer Glory Days (NZ) (Red Giant) is out of the Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m).
The seven-year-old mare injured herself in a paddock accident last week and trainer Bill Thurlow has elected not to make the third declaration payment for the Cup on Monday.
“Glory Days will not be in the declarations for the Melbourne Cup today,” he said.
“She banged her leg in the paddock last Monday and her leg has not responded as quickly as we would have hoped.
“Her welfare was always our priority, so the decision was taken to abandon pursuing with the race.”
Glory Days had three runs in Melbourne this spring, including a fifth-placing in the Gr.3 JRA Cup (2040m) and a last start ninth-placing in the Gr.2 Herbert Power Stakes (2400m).
Thurlow has now set his sights on an autumn raceday return for his stable star, a time that has been very lucrative for the daughter of Red Giant.
Earlier this year she took out the Gr.1 Auckland Cup (3200m) and placed in the Gr.1 Sydney Cup (3200m), solidifying her tilt towards the Melbourne Cup in the spring.
“At this stage we are confident, with time, she will make a full recovery and hopefully race in the autumn,” Thurlow said.
