Stinger Glass ruled out of Melbourne Cup after injury-risk assessment
Future History will gain a place in the field, while five other runners still need veterinary clearance.
Racing Victoria stewards have withdrawn Japanese stallion Stinger Glass from the Melbourne Cup after specialists assessed him as being at heightened risk of injury. The decision also excludes him from further racing during the 2026 spring carnival.
His place will go to Future History, ending jockey Jamie Melham’s wait to find out whether she would have a Cup ride. Stinger Glass is the second runner excluded on veterinary grounds ahead of the race, following Saint George.
The six-year-old, trained by Yasuo Tomomichi, underwent a mandatory CT scan that raised concerns about his injury risk. The stable was then given an opportunity to have a PET scan performed to establish his fitness.
Racing Victoria said the specialist panel considered both sets of images but maintained its assessment of heightened risk. Stewards acted on veterinary advice and informed the horse’s connections in Japan and Australia of the information behind the decision.
Five runners still require veterinary approval: Defiantly, equal first in the entry order; Vauban, 13th; Enfjaar, 17th; Wine Dark Sea, 18th; and Litzdeel, 32nd.
