By EQ Life Staff

 

The Melbourne Cup will not be defended by high-profile trainer Gai Waterhouse after one-time favourite The Offer has been withdrawn, Waterhouse told Racing Victoria stewards.

 

Last year’s Melbourne Cup was won by Damien Oliver and Fiorente and was Waterhouse’s first win at the event.

 

Waterhouse decided to withdraw The Offer after his form declined since winning the Sydney Cup earlier this year, coming 6th in the Turnbull Stakes and 11th in the Caulfield Cup. 

 

Following track work on Tuesday, Waterhouse was still hopeful The Offer could crawl back at the Melbourne Cup.

 

"In the autumn he was a horse on the rise and he was a horse down in the weights," said Waterhouse on Tuesday morning. “He has now crept up in the weights carrying 56.5kgs, which over two miles is a bit of pudding and he has been hitting hard tracks."

 

But Waterhouse later became concerned over The Offer’s condition and advised chief steward Terry Bailey she would not be running the horse in the Cup.

 

All is not lost for Waterhouse though, as she heads into the spring racing carnival with Hampton Court at Derby Day this Saturday.

 

Hampton Court won the Spring Champion Stakes at Randwick earlier this month and has since been favourite to take out the Victoria Derby.

 

"He worked very nicely this morning," Waterhouse said. “He's a big strong colt, he's coming into the race off a Group One win. He's a horse on the rise and he ticks all the boxes."