Top Ranked out of Cox Plate after injury strikes
Top Ranked could have run his last race – and will miss the Cox Plate on October 22 – after pulling up short in a gallop at The Valley on Tuesday morning.
At about 6.30am near the 150m mark, the Epsom Handicap winner went amiss in his near hind leg.
The seven-year-old failed to complete the gallop, with his rider dismounting and vets immediately attending to the Dark Angel stallion.
The grey walked back off the track and to the stalls, before departing in a horse ambulance at 7.25am.
His trainer Annabel Neasham was on hand at The Valley to watch Top Ranked gallop.
But she chose not to comment on the injury until getting further clarity from vets.
Top Ranked was seen as one of the leading chances for this year’s race, sitting at $13 with online bookmakers, James Cummings’ middle-distance star Anamoe the $2 favourite with Ladbrokes.
Hugh Bowman had been booked to ride Top Ranked in the Cox Plate, after piloting him to victory in his two starts this spring.