‘Come on’: Kiwi fumes after horse scratched from Melbourne Cup over cream on legs

The decision to scratch a New Zealand-owned horse from the Melbourne Cup just hours before the great race has been described as “devastating” by one of its owners, who insists it was a minor breach of the rules.

Asterix was an outside chance to win the Cup, paying about $51, and is owned by two Hawke’s Bay families and former New Zealand cricketer Mark Greatbatch.

Racing Victoria stewards confirmed Asterix “was found to have had the medication Penetrene administered to both forelegs in its stable on race morning”, according to 7News.

As such, he was scratched from the Melbourne Cup on Tuesday just hours before it was set to jump.

Penetrene is a liquid to treat conditions such as muscle soreness and sprains.

“Any substance administered to a horse on race day, including any topical application amongst any other role of administration, is considered a medication,” Racing Victoria said.

Co-owner Sam Kelt, from Hawke’s Bay, bought the horse in 2020 for $450,000 with the view of one day winning the Melbourne Cup.

He spoke to Hawke’s Bay Today in the stands at Flemington Racecourse after learning of the scratching, just hours before the race was set to begin.

“A stable hand misadministered some cream on the front legs below the knee without the appropriate application, and it constituted a breach of the rules and the stewards have scratched the horse,” Kelt said.

Asterix co-owner Sam Kelt (right). Photo / www.photosport.nz

“There is nothing wrong with the horse at all, he’s as fit as a fiddle, he’s absolutely flying.”

He said there was an appeal and a “major, major going on” behind the scenes, but the scratching stood.

“They appealed to the stewards, because it wasn’t performance-enhancing in any manner.

“Come on. It’s a mistake. It’s not going to make any difference to how the horse runs, surely.

“It’s a minor breach of the rules, and any breach of the rules you get kicked out.”

When asked if he could put how he was feeling into words, he remarked “certainly not in the manner that you can put in the paper”.

“Obviously it is quite devastating.

“We bought this horse ... I selected this horse with the O’Sullivans to win a Melbourne Cup six years ago.

“He’s had every sort of difficulty on the way through, and here we are after an unbelievably stellar record, and we run into this problem.

“So, on one hand it’s devastating, but you know the horse is okay and that’s the main thing.

“Life goes on. There are a lot of people in the world that have got a lot, lot more problems than a scratched horse in the Melbourne Cup.”

He said the owners and their families were all at Flemington.

That includes co-owners Andrew and Lauren Scott, who are also from Havelock North.

The 8-year-old horse is trained by famous trainer Chris Waller. It was going to be ridden by Jye McNeil, who won the Melbourne Cup in 2020.