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Yellowstone out of the race after day of drama
By Tony Bourke and Patrick Bartley
November 4, 2008
Yellowstone before light exercise at Sandown

Expatriate Australian trainer Jane Chapple-Hyam last night abandoned her bid to run Yellowstone in the Melbourne Cup after a day-long battle to prove the horse's fitness.

Earlier yesterday, three Racing Victoria vets, led by Dr Paul O'Callagan, refused to give Yellowstone the all-clear, reporting the stayer was showing signs of soreness in both front legs and the right hind leg after he worked at Sandown.

Chapple-Hyam spent considerable time trying to convince Racing Victoria's chief steward, Terry Bailey, of the horse's fitness to take his place in the field for the Cup.

"We want to give her (Chapple-Hyam) every chance to get the horse to the post after coming all this way to run in the Cup," Bailey said at the time. "At the same time, it is our duty to ensure every horse in the race is fit to run because the safety of all the other horses and riders is at stake."

At 6.15 pm last evening, Racing Victoria's director of racing operations, Leigh Jordon, announced that the connections of Yellowstone had scratched the horse "at 6.10 pm on veterinary advice."

Last Tuesday, Yellowstone received a bruised hip after becoming cast in his stall at the Sandown Racecourse Quarantine Facility. (See English Raider in doubt for Melbourne Cup)

In the week following the accident, Yellowstone failed to respond sufficiently to extensive physiotherapy and ice treatment to satisfy officialdom of a complete recovery from his injuries.