A veterinary inspection has cleared imported stayer Winchester to continue his build-up to the Melbourne Cup.
The former United States galloper was found to be mildly lame during a routine inspection of horses on Thursday who are still in the running for a start in the Melbourne Cup.
Trained by John Sadler, Winchester is an acceptor for the $1 million Mackinnon Stakes at Flemington on Saturday for which he is one of the outsiders.
The entire has raced three times in Australia and earn some credibility as a Melbourne Cup chance with his last-start ninth in the Caulfield Cup.
“Winchester has been re-examined by our vet today and passed fit to race tomorrow,” Racing Victoria said.
The horse will be given another fitness test after Saturday’s weight-for-age race.
Meanwhile, the doubt surrounding a Melbourne Cup start for Green Moon has eased after the horse came through a searching gallop at Moonee Valley on Friday.
Owner Lloyd Williams issued a provisional all clear after the workout for Green Moon, whose Cup prospects took a battering in last weekend’s Cox Plate.
Williams said the horse would run on Tuesday and would be ridden by Hong Kong-based Australian jockey Brett Prebble.