Withhold ruled out of Melbourne Cup after bleeding from both nostrils in Geelong

Withhold came to Geelong on Wednesday to try to win his way into the Lexus Melbourne Cup, but connections were left devastated after he bled from both nostrils and picked up a three-month restriction from racing that rules him out of the contest that brought him to Australia.

Hope had been high that the Northumberland Plate winner could take the Geelong Cup and pick up at least a kilogram penalty in order to move up the order of entry for the Melbourne Cup, and he was sent off 11-5 favourite after the European domination of the spring carnival's staying contests.

Assistant trainer Tom Charlton, visibly nervous, described it beforehand as a “big moment”, and it was. Connections paid close to £75,000 to travel their star stayer halfway around the world for a crack at the Melbourne Cup, but with no guarantee of a run in the big show the plan to go straight there was altered and Geelong targeted.

Geelong Cup result

Pre-race he looked a picture and from the start things appeared to have gone to plan with Kerrin McEvoy able to get cover and obtain a prominent position. With the field for the mile and a half Group 3 going slower than they do in most Grand Nationals, McEvoy moved his mount up to second in the back straight and looked to be perfectly positioned approaching the home turn.

The first warning sign came on the bend as McEvoy began to push his mount, but with the slow gallop and Withhold's bottomless stamina it looked as if it could have been an attempt to steal first run. However, as the field straightened up Withhold was swamped, fading out of contention as Gai Waterhouse's Runaway did just that with the Au$350,000 (£192,000/€217,000) contest.

While the others returned, Withhold did not. McEvoy had dismounted and was walking him back. Charlton's white shirt was stained red. If he looked nervous beforehand he looked heartbroken afterwards.

“Unfortunately the horse has bled from both nostrils,” said McEvoy. “It's unfortunate for the horse and connections that he wasn't able to show his true form today. I travelled nicely to the top of the hill but I must admit I was surprised when I came off the bridle as early as I did.

“I wasn't aware [that he'd bled] until I pulled up; initially I thought it might have been the firm ground. It's a shame because he's a nice horse and obviously would have shown more.”

The rules of Australian racing mean Withhold will now not be allowed to race for three months, ruling him out of the contest he travelled to the other side of the world for. The plan that was hatched not long after he won the Cesarewitch last year and dictated the five-year-old's entire season had come undone in a race not even part of the original plan.

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