Melbourne Cup 2023: Exciting International stayer withdrawn from the field

Exiting young International stayer from the Joseph O’Brien stable Valiant King will not feature in the final declarations for Saturday afternoon’s Melbourne Cup, as the horse’s connections have opted to focus on the future of this promising young import.

Part-owner Ozzie Kheir officially announced on Friday night that the four-year-old will be given a break, aligning with the original plan, after his commendable Australian debut that saw him finish sixth in the Caulfield Cup.

Earlier in the week, Racing Victoria veterinarians had identified Valiant King as being slightly lame during their inspections. Although they granted him until Saturday morning for a potential improvement in his condition, Kheir took a proactive approach on Friday evening, signalling the conclusion of the horse’s campaign.

Kheir stated, “After this morning’s RV inspections where Valiant King was found to be mildly lame post his work, we had our own vets this evening come back and inspect him and agree with RV’s assessment as he remained slightly lame in the front left fore.”

Kheir continued, “He was due to be inspected tomorrow morning by RV, but regardless of the outcome, we have decided that we will withdraw him from the Melbourne Cup now to allow other connections on the cusp of getting into the race to make plans.”

He expressed disappointment on behalf of the ownership group and Joseph O’Brien’s team for not being able to proceed with the horse’s Melbourne Cup campaign. However, Kheir remained optimistic about Valiant King’s future, stating, “We have always said we believe he will be a talented horse in the future, and by looking after him now, we will get the rewards in the autumn and spring next year.”

The plan now is to target the Australian Cup at Flemington in the future, provided Valiant King acclimatizes well under the guidance of Chris Waller. Kheir commended Racing Victoria’s professionalism and support in their handling of the matter.

Zac Lloyd had been booked for the ride at 50 kilograms. Despite the tough decision to withdraw Valiant King this spring, it offers a silver lining for several of the owners, ensuring that another horse in their ownership, Interpretation, will secure a spot in the final 2023 Melbourne Cup field.

Valiant King was a $31 chance with online betting sites in Melbourne Cup odds prior to being withdrawn from the race.