Gardens Injury Blow Franklins Gardens is in a race against time to be fit for Tuesday´s Emirates Melbourne Cup after pulling up lame following exercise. Initial reports suggested the Mark Tompkins-trained Yorkshire Cup winner was out of Australia´s most famous race. However, Tompkins said: 'It´s a nightmare but we are doing everything we can and as I speak Franklins Gardens is not out of the Cup. I certainly haven´t ruled him out. 'He worked very well but at one moment he must have taken a false step and he pulled up lame. 'The vet is with him and we´ve got ice on the problem area. All we can do is hope.' Franklins Gardens´ jockey, Darryll Holland was very disappointed to hear the news. He said: 'Obviously I want to ride in the Cup but you have to feel for connections who have spent a lot of money on the trip. 'I´m just keeping my fingers crossed he´s OK although obviously it´s not good news.'(C) PA Sport
