The Melbourne Cup dream is over for this year for Warmonger (NZ) (War Decree), who has been sent to the paddock following his eighth placing in Saturday’s Caulfield Cup.
OTI Racing director Terry Henderson confirmed on Sunday morning that Warmonger’s spring campaign was over after connections decided pressing on to the Melbourne Cup would “be pushing it”.
“He pulled up fine, but he’s just had enough,” Henderson said of the Queensland Derby winner.
“The Caulfield Cup was always going to be the swinging door as it were, and he knows he’s had a hard run.
“He’s been up for a long time and I think it’s a good move.
“He’s a four-year-old and had a long season, as he only had three weeks off in the middle of the year, and Mick (Price) said this morning, you could tell he’s had enough.
“His sectional times were good, but the reality is that was a peak run and two miles in two weeks would be pushing it.
“If we put him out now, he has that extra couple of weeks to get him ready for a race like the Tancred in Sydney in the autumn.”
OTI Racing still has a chance of landing the Melbourne Cup as Sydney Cup runner-up Athabascan returned to winning form in the Group 3 St Leger (2600m) at Randwick.
Meanwhile, Henderson said another horse could also appear on the Cup scene late with import Sea King likely to run in the Bendigo Cup on Wednesday week where he could qualify himself for a Melbourne Cup start.
“He ran fifth on the Ebor and he is a two-miler, so he might end up finding himself in the Cup if he can win at Bendigo,” Henderson said.