Top Melbourne Cup 2024 contender Interpretation will undergo a second veterinary examination on Friday after failing to pass an initial check.

Racing Victoria announced the update on Thursday evening following the assessment of 17 out of the 29 horses still vying for a spot in the Melbourne Cup field. These inspections come just ahead of Saturday’s acceptance deadline.

Trained by Ciaron Maher, Interpretation was noted for an altered gait during the check, which led vets to withhold clearance for the race. The news caused a slight shift in odds for Interpretation, moving from $11 to $13 with top betting sites.

Racing Victoria’s statement confirmed that the following 16 horses were examined and cleared in the first round of pre-race checks: Buckaroo, Circle of Fire, Fancy Man, Francesco Guardi, Just Fine, Kovalica, Land Legend, Maharajaan, Manzoice, Mostly Cloudy, Okita Soushi, Positivity, Saint George, Sharp ‘n’ Smart, Valiant King, and Zardozi.

The remaining Melbourne Cup horses will go through their initial vet inspection on Friday, with a final round of checks for all confirmed runners scheduled for Monday.

2024 Melbourne Cup Odds:

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