Cup blow: Saint George scratched as Stinger Glass drifts

A Melbourne Cup hopeful has been withdrawn after failing key scans.

St George, trained by Ciaron Maher, was around $11 with TAB this week, to be ridden by Blake Shinn.

Doubt too surrounds the status of Japanese Stinger Glass, who has drifted alarmingly on Thursday. The Japanese star drifted from $15 to $26 on Thursday morning with TAB, as long as $42 with Betfair.

Racing Victoria has been contacted for comment.

RV, however, confirmed that St George failed key scans.

Scanning of all horses was introduced to improve the safety in the Melbourne Cup following a series of deaths.

Racing Victoria (RV) Stewards, acting on specialist veterinary advice, have today ordered the withdrawal of the Ciaron Maher-trained Saint George from the entries for the 2026 Lexus Melbourne Cup at Flemington,” RV statement said.

”In accordance with the conditions of the Lexus Melbourne Cup, Saint George 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 of the seven 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 Saint George indicated that the horse is currently at heightened risk of injury.

”The same three panel members reviewed a CT scan of the horse prior to the 2024 Melbourne Cup and advised that the horse was not at heightened risk of injury at that time. The horse started in that edition of the race and finished 22nd.

”Given the imaging panel’s advice, in accordance with RV’s veterinary protocols, the Maher stable was afforded the opportunity for Saint George to undergo a Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scan which can help determine the status of an area of concern.

”Saint George presented yesterday (Wednesday, 28 October) for a PET scan at the University of Melbourne Equine Centre and the results were shared with 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 Saint George 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 Saint George from competing in the remainder of the 2026 Spring Racing Carnival.”