Universal Prince was scratched from Tuesday's Melbourne Cup (Aus-G1) after veterinary stewards said he failed a fitness test that was televised on Australian television. The four-year-old son of Scenic (Ire) appeared perceptibly lame in his right hind leg during the broadcast.

Trainer Bede Murray was upset at the decision and said the colt always had a slight problem in that leg but was 100% fit to run in two-mile Melbourne Cup. Murray and his team, which included veterinarians who treated the colt's leg, had given the Universal Prince treatment throughout the night in an effort to get him fit enough to contest the race.

Universal Prince's scratch reduced the field for the Melbourne Cup to 23 and all runners drawn in post positions seven outward will move in one gate.

Named champion three-year-old colt earlier this year, Universal Prince pulled up sore after the McKinnon Stakes (Aus-G1) on November 3. He won the Australian Derby (Aus-G1) earlier this season and has six wins in 22 career starts.

Universal Prince had been considered the favorite for the Melbourne Cup until the McKinnon Stakes, where he trailed the field by over 20 lengths before making up ground in the last three furlongs. He also finished sixth in the Cox Plate (Aus-G1) on October 27.—Delamere Usher