{"id":447173,"date":"2025-09-24T01:10:16","date_gmt":"2025-09-24T01:10:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/447173\/"},"modified":"2025-09-24T01:10:16","modified_gmt":"2025-09-24T01:10:16","slug":"scandinavia-to-miss-melbourne-cup-as-obrien-puts-st-leger-winner-aside-until-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/447173\/","title":{"rendered":"Scandinavia to miss Melbourne Cup as O\u2019Brien puts St Leger winner aside until 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"

English St Leger winner Scandinavia has been ruled out of the Melbourne Cup and won\u2019t race again in 2025.<\/p>\n

\"Scandinavia\"Scandinavia won’t be travelling to Australia. (Photo: Mike Egerton\/PA Images via Getty Images)<\/p>\n

Champion trainer Aidan O\u2019Brien confirmed overnight that Scandinavia\u2019s northern hemisphere season is over despite the three-year-old\u2019s campaign springing to life with recent Goodwood Cup and St Leger victories.<\/p>\n

O\u2019Brien said the American-bred son of Justify won\u2019t be among the first acceptors for the $10 million race when an updated entry list is completed on Tuesday.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s not going (to Australia), he\u2019s finished for the year and will be trained for the (Ascot) Gold Cup next year,\u201d O\u2019Brien said.<\/p>\n

Scandinavia was given 55.5kg when Melbourne Cup weights were released last week.\u00a0<\/p>\n

This was 0.5kg more above the minimum weight than two of O\u2019Brien\u2019s previous St Leger winners, Kew Gardens (2018) and Jan Brueghel (2024), were allotted in the Melbourne Cup.<\/p>\n

Jan Brueghel shaped as O\u2019Brien\u2019s best chance for a maiden Melbourne Cup win but controversially missed the race because of a Racing Victoria ruling on veterinary grounds.<\/p>\n

A CT scan revealed a weakness in a lower leg, which stewards claimed would increase the risk of injury if Jan Brueghel were to run in the Cup.<\/p>\n

O\u2019Brien described the decision as \u201cridiculous\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was unlucky for us, lucky for (the other Cup runners),\u201d the trainer said in response to Jan Brueghel\u2019s withdrawal.<\/p>\n

Scandinavia was among the overseas contingent vying for Melbourne Cup favouritism.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

He was among three Ballydoyle horses nominated, including Mount Kilimanjaro and Aftermath. It is believed that those two horses will aslo not travel to Australia.<\/p>\n

In their absence, Al Riffa, who is trained by O\u2019Brien\u2019s son Joseph, heads a revised market at $5 from the Underwood Stakes winner Sir Delius at $6.<\/p>\n

Al Riffa, a son of Wootton Bassett, the Coolmore sire who will leave a huge hole in the dual hemisphere stallion ranks with his death on Tuesday, booked his Australian trip with a last-start win in Ireland.<\/p>\n

Now racing in the silks of Melbourne Cup-winning syndicator Australian Bloodstock, Al Riffa underlined his credentials with a powerful win in the Irish St Leger.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

On the limit – Melbourne Cup change sees lightweights surge<\/p>\n

Favourite Al Riffa will need to break a 71-year weight carrying record if he is to win the Melbourne Cup after being allotted 59kg, while there was a record representation of horses allotted the limit weight of 51kg.<\/p>\n

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