Onesmoothoperator has passed his second veterinary check and is cleared to compete in the Melbourne Cup.

British raider One smooth operator was allowed to participate in Lexus Melbourne Cup on Tuesday after undergoing a secondary veterinary examination.

The Brian Allison-trained gelding was called in for further checks by Racing Victoria vets ahead of the Flemington event after being examined on Thursday and found to have a cut on his right heel.

However, he was declared fit for Saturday’s race and is now ready to compete in the A$8 million (£4.07 million) race, in which he has a best record of 12-1.

Tuesday’s race was down to 26 runners after Brayden Star and Muramasa were the last to fail a mandatory CT scan on Thursday. Their absence follows a controversial decision to eliminate the favorite in the ante-post. Jan Brueghelwho veterinarians this week found to be “at increased risk of injury.”

Onesmoothoperator, who won the Geelong Cup last month, will partner with local jockey Craig Williams, who won the race on Vow And Declare in 2019, while Holly Doyle will be ridden by the Harry Eustace-trained Sea Kingthe only British runner in the field.

The five-year-old now has a 10-1 chance of making a winning Group 1 debut having won the Group 3 Bendigo Cup on his last start.

Chris Waller, with two Group 1 wins at the track on Saturday, is likely favorite for the Joseph O’Brien-trained Buckaroo, while Willie Mullins is in the hunt for a first Melbourne Cup success with Vauban and Absurd.

Lexus Melbourne Cup (4:00 am, Flemington, Tuesday 5 November)
Paddy Power: 4 Buckaroo, 5 Vauban, 8 Absurd, 10 Land Legend, Sea King, 12 Onesmoothoperator, 14 Interpretation, 16 Kowalitz, 20 bar

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Read more from Australia:

Coolmore’s magical journey continues in Melbourne as Chris Waller creates a potential Royal Ascot raider

“We will not sacrifice safety for the sake of the runner” – Racing Victoria responds to criticism from Jan Bruegel

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