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After a disappointing run at the Bendigo Cup on Wednesday, trainer Darren Weir has pulled the plug on a Melbourne Cup tilt for Howard Be Thy Name.
The four-year-old was carrying the heaviest weight in the field and slipped back on the final stretch to finish fifth in a field of just nine.
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The horse was guaranteed a start on the first Tuesday in November, but the decision was made to relocate his efforts towards a shorter and more manageable race on the calendar.
Howard Be Thy Name will now begin preparation for a much more suitable Queen Elizabeth Stakes on November 5.
The Group 3 race covers 2500 metres, compared to that of the famed 3200-metre distance of the Melbourne Cup.
While Weir wasn’t overly disappointed with the run at Bendigo, finishing seven lengths behind winner Francis of Assisi was enough for the veteran trainer to pull the plug.
Even before the run at Bendigo, Weir was cautious of his horse’s chances at the race that stops the nation.
“Realistically, he’s a year away from being ready for the Melbourne Cup,” the trainer said before the fifth place finish at Bendigo.
“He went terribly last start. There were no excuses. None at all… I thought he’d run well but he just didn’t turn up.”
The departure from the field is good news for the Godolphin stable, with Francis of Assisi stablemate Qewy now guaranteed a Cup start having shuffled up to 23rd on the order of entry.
It also helps the outside chances of Oceanographer, also a Godolphin entrant, who moves up to 27th in the order, just a few places away from the final field of 24 for Cup day.
Despite stringing together four wins in a row earlier in the year, the back half of the season has been less than ideal for Howard Be Thy Name.
The South Australian Derby winner has picked up just one place finish in his last starts, including a second last finish at the Herbert Power Stakes earlier in the month.
The order of entry is now down to just 30 following the withdrawal of Scottish on Wednesday.
The final field for the Melbourne Cup will be announced on Saturday the 29th after the running of the Lexus Stakes on Derby Day.
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