Just Fine, an Irish five-year-old bay gelding trained by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, hasn’t made the cut for the 2023 Melbourne Cup. The Irish import is the most notable Melbourne Cup omission.
Despite flying off the gates in his first three starts in Australia and being the bookies’ favourite for the 3,200-metre Melbourne Cup, Just Fine has been ruled out from the race that stops a nation.
More than Ten Lengths behind His Stablemate at Caulfield Racecourse
Just Fine made a flying start to his racing career in Australia, with his win in the Metropolitan a particular highlight. Winning the Australian Turf Club Group 1 race, and breaking the Randwick track record in the process, meant that Just Fine got a 0.5kg penalty for the Melbourne Cup. That made him the second Melbourne Cup favourite with most bookmakers.
Unfortunately, Just Fine flopped at Caulfield Racecourse last Saturday and was more than ten lengths behind Alligator Blood in The Might and Power Group 1 race. Despite being a $3.10 favourite, the Waterhouse and Bott-trained import finished the race well behind his stablemate.
After the second round of acceptances for the Melbourne Cup was released, 51 horses remain with a chance to start the popular race, including five Waterhouse and Bott runners. The third round of acceptances will be announced on Monday, October 30.
