Crime Scene will be Godolphin's only contender in tomorrow's Emirates Melbourne Cup, "the race that stops a nation", after Kirklees was withdrawn. Saeed bin Suroor, the Dubai-based stable's trainer, made the decision on Saturday as he felt the five-year-old was not in good enough shape to compete in the big Australian race. "The horse is not injured but he does not look as good as he was back in England so he will not be running in the cup," he said.
"I'm not happy with how he is. He is just not doing well enough to run so we will take him back to Dubai." Crime Scene, who will be ridden by Kerrin McEvoy, will wear blinkers. Although Crime Scene will not be sent out among the favourites, "there will be no excuses for the horse if he is beaten," Suroor said. The 2007 winner, Efficient, will not be among the 24 runners in this year's event, in which the Bart Cummings' charge Viewed, last year's victor, may start favourite.
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