Racing: Irish runner Scorpion is set to be retired to stud after an injury ruled him out of the Melbourne Cup next Tuesday.
Trainer Aidan O'Brien's worst fears were confirmed after the triple Group One winner pulled up lame following track work yesterday.
He inspected Scorpion upon his arrival at Sandown racecourse in Australia and found the five-year-old lame in the off-hind leg.
Although Scorpion is suffering from what only appears a minor ligament problem, O'Brien said it was too risky to take any more chances with him.
"I would imagine he would probably be retired now because the plan was if everything was well after the Melbourne Cup, we were going to keep him in training next year," O'Brien said.
"But when he has an injury like that and he's a very important horse - you couldn't take a chance with him."
O'Brien had high hopes for Scorpion after the disappointment of stablemate Yeats' seventh place last year.
"He's a little bit quicker at this stage of his life than Yeats was and he was a Group One winner - he's a very, very good horse so it's a pity for everybody," he added.
The son of Montjeu, whose big-race triumphs include the 2005 St Leger and this season's Coronation Cup, was as low as 11-1 to win the Melbourne Cup off top weight.
Mahler will still represent O'Brien in the 'race that stops a nation', with local jockey Stephen Baster set to be in the saddle.
"He looks in good shape and the staff are very happy with him," added the trainer. "To win the Melbourne Cup would be unreal but you can't come here and expect to win it.
"It is so competitive and such an unbelievable race."
Scorpion's setback exacerbates a wretched few days for O'Brien, whose Breeders' Cup dreams ended in despair after George Washington was humanely destroyed after the $5million Classic on Saturday.