Japanese Raider and pre-race favourite Admire Rakti has finished last in the 2014 Melbourne Cup after pulling up injured on the final straight.
The horse was seen either sweating profusely or possibly foaming at the mouth on the way back to the stalls post-race.
FULL STORY ON ADMIRE RAKTI’S TRAGIC DEATH HERE
After the race, the pre-race favourite returned to his stall, collapsed and died.
The horse was plucky before the race commenced, clearly ready to run. But it seems as though it picked up an injury somewhere during the race, as it went backwards fast after making it to the turn on pace with the leaders.
It looked like it could have made a burst through the middle of the pack, as the eventual winner Protectionist managed, but it fell back sharply to finish behind rank outsider Mr O’Ceirin.
The Japanese connections and fans of the horse were devastated after the race, as was chief steward for Racing Victoria Terry Bailey, who had the following to say after the incident.
“Obviously there will have to be an autopsy done and the vets are with it now,” chief steward Terry Bailey said.
“He collapsed while they were unsaddling him back at the stalls.
“The autopsy will tell the story. It will be done at Werribee. That’s the normal procedure for any horse. We’ll see what that brings up and whether that’s natural causes.”
Our condolences go out to the connections of Admire Rakti.
Full Melbourne Cup finishing order:
| FINISH | HORSE | JOCKEY | WEIGHT | MARGIN | START |
| 1 | Protectionist | Ryan Moore | 56.5 | 0 | 8 |
| 2 | Red Cadeaux | G Mosse | 57 | 4 | 21 |
| 3 | Who Shot Thebarman | G Boss | 55 | 4.5 | 21 |
| 4 | Signoff | J Moreira | 51 | 6 | 8 |
| 5 | Willing Foe | J B Mc Donald | 55 | 7 | 31 |
| 6 | Precedence | M Rodd | 54.5 | 8 | 81 |
| 7 | Araldo | D Dunn | 53 | 9.3 | 21 |
| 8 | Au Revoir | G Schofield | 53.5 | 10.8 | 71 |
| 9 | Seismos | C Newitt | 56 | 12.6 | 91 |
| 10 | Fawkner | Nicholas Hall | 57 | 13 | 8.5 |
| 11 | Opinion | T Angland | 53.5 | 15.3 | 71 |
| 12 | Gatewood | W Buick | 55 | 15.4 | 61 |
| 13 | Lucia Valentina | K Mc Evoy | 53 | 15.7 | 7 |
| 14 | Mutual Regard | D Oliver | 55 | 17.5 | 9 |
| 15 | Brambles | L Nolen | 54 | 20.8 | 81 |
| 16 | Unchain My Heart | D Yendall | 51.5 | 23.6 | 101 |
| 17 | My Ambivalent | A Atzeni | 54.5 | 24.9 | 31 |
| 18 | Junoob | J Bowman | 55.5 | 28.9 | 21 |
| 19 | Lidari | B Melham | 53.5 | 31.9 | 71 |
| 20 | Royal Diamond | S W Arnold | 55.5 | 47.9 | 101 |
| 21 | Mr O’Ceirin | C Schofield | 54 | 48.3 | 201 |
| 22 | Admire Rakti | Z Purton | 58.5 | 73.3 | 5.5 |
| Scratched | Cavalryman | N/A | 57 | N/A | N/A |
| Scratched | Sea Moon | N/A | 56.5 | N/A | N/A |
[roar_cat_gal]
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