Japan’s hopes in the 2026 Lexus Melbourne Cup have taken a hit. Six-year-old Stinger Glass, trained by Yasuo Tomomichi and a son of Kizuna, was ruled out of the race on Friday, October 30, after failing mandatory pre-race veterinary scans.
An independent imaging panel reviewed CT and PET scans taken at the University of Melbourne Equine Centre at Werribee and advised the horse was at “heightened risk of injury.” Racing Victoria stewards stood Stinger Glass down from the rest of the 2026 Spring Racing Carnival. Because Japan has no standing equine CT scanner, the horse had been cleared to travel on an MRI scan taken on August 26 — the higher-definition CT on arrival in Australia flagged the issue.
It is the second veterinary withdrawal this week, following Ciaron Maher’s Saint George, scratched Thursday. Vauban and Litzdeel failed Thursday inspections but were re-examined and cleared on Friday; Defiantly was due to be re-examined on Saturday. The strict protocols follow the euthanasia of Ohope Wins after a Caulfield Cup fall two weeks ago — and since the scan measures were introduced, there has not been a single Cup fatality.
The withdrawal moves Future History into the top 24, handing defending champion jockey Jamie Melham a mount as she defends her crown. The Group 1 $10.2 million Lexus Melbourne Cup (3200m) runs at Flemington on Tuesday, November 3, at 3:00pm AEDT, with final acceptances closing at 4:30pm AEDT on Saturday, October 31.
Read also: Saint George withdrawn from Melbourne Cup after vet checks and Kangaroos beat Fiji 36-22 in World Cup semi-final
Bhudev Bhagaliya is an experienced and senior journalist who has carved a distinct niche for himself in the world of Hindi journalism through his profound understanding and precise writing style. With over two decades of experience in the field of journalism, he has held key responsibilities at Dainik Hindustan for 12 years and at Amar Ujala for one year. Currently, he serves as the Content Editor for the Jagrook Youth News newspaper and portal, where he plays a crucial role in ensuring the quality and credibility of the news content. Bhudev Bhagaliya consistently writes about issues that help raise awareness within society and among the younger generation.