Distinction To Be Scanned After Cup Flop

Distinction will have a full body scan when he returns to Britain later this week after his disappointing effort behind Makybe Diva in Tuesday´s Emirates Melbourne Cup.

Sir Michael Stoute´s big-race hope never looked happy at Flemington, eventually finishing 19th of the 24 runners.

Harry Herbert, racing manager to Highclere Thoroughbred Racing, who own the Goodwood Cup winner, said: 'Distinction is not good. He is very stiff behind this morning and he´s probably pulled muscles over his quarters. He is the walking wounded.

'We think he hurt himself coming off the final bend - he takes and odd step and gets a bump.

'I´m hopeful he will be fine, but he´ll go for a full body scan once he has flown home on Friday to see if he has a hairline fracture in the pelvic area or anything like that.

'We hope it is nothing too serious and he races again.'

Injuries beset the European Cup challenge this year, with Godolphin sending home their main hopes, Carte Diamond receiving a bad cut, Franklins Gardens going lame a few days before the race and Collier Hill also missing out.

Franklins Gardens eventually went on to be last, although Mark Tompkins reported his horse to be fine on Wednesday.

The trainer said: 'I read that Franklins Gardens was sore on his off foreleg but that was rubbish.

'He´s 100 per cent sound but I´m not sure he tried that hard after some tough races earlier in his career.

'He´ll have a nice rest now and there is every chance he´ll be racing in blinkers from now on.'

? PA Sport