Cup hope ‘a little bit stiff’

Melbourne Cup contender Absurde is “a little bit stiff” according to his trainer Willie Mullins.

Racing Victoria said on Thursday the international runner would need further inspection by its vets after he “presented with a change in its gait to previous veterinary examinations and will be re-examined on Saturday morning”.

Mullins will leave for Melbourne shortly and is confident his runner will be sound by Saturday.

“Absurde did a bit of work yesterday, a nice bit of work,” he told At The Races.

“He pulled up a little bit stiff behind on the trot-ups afterward, but we’re happy that he’ll pass by Saturday.”

“It’s just, he must have just pulled a little muscle behind or something. And David and Emily, who are down there, they think he’ll be fine by Saturday, but we still have to pass the trot-ups.”

“But we’re okay on the CT scans and everything like that. It’s just basically he was a little stiff behind, and I’m sure he’ll be fine.”

“He better be, because I’m flying down there after here.”

Mullins said Absurde had done all his required training.

“I’m sure if you checked every horse every day, like they do, you know, you always find something,” he said.

“But we have plenty of time before the race for him to come right and he’s done all his fast work. He had a run, you know, two weeks ago. So, I think he’s fit as I need him.”