Setback scuppers Melbourne Cup bid for Away He Goes

Ismail Mohammed’s charge will miss the Flemington feature.

Goodwood Cup runner-up Away He Goes has met with a late setback which will rule him out of the Melbourne Cup, leaving intended jockey James McDonald unlikely to have a ride.

The news is a blow to to connections having gone through the rigorous veterinary checks introduced ahead of this year’s Spring Carnival for overseas runners.

Ismail Mohammed’s five-year-old, who was last seen finishing seventh in the Ebor, is reported to have suffered a tendon injury.

Crack jockey McDonald had been booked and it was a second big blow for him having also seen his Cox Plate mount, Zaaki, ruled out on the morning of the race.

“I rocked up at Werribee and I walked over to his box and they gave me the bad news,” McDonald told www.racing.com.

“The horse actually looked absolutely glowing in the past, but unfortunately, he had a sore leg.

“It’s just another one that’s gone amiss before a big day.

“As they say, that’s racing.

“They’re highly tuned athletes that are trained to the absolute peak condition, and anything can happen with them.”

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