HUGHIE Morrison is planning to appeal against the decision of the Racing Victoria stewards to rule Marmelo out of Tuesday’s Melbourne Cup. Last year Marmelo was beaten just a length into second by Cross Counter, and was among the favourites this year coming off a win in the Group 2 Darley Prix Kergorlay at Deauville in August.

Marmelo was scanned at the start of this week after Racing Victoria vets found him to be sore and that test has revealed two “incomplete fractures” in both a fore and hind leg.

The stewards ordered his withdrawal on Wednesday, along with the Charlie Appleby-trained Ispolini, who also underwent a scan which “indicated pre-fracture pathology within the horse’s right front cannon bone”. Marmelo’s trainer described the scan as “inaccurate and unfounded” and said “I’m trying to sort an appeal out. It’s not only me this has happened to.”

Part-owners Aziz Kheir and John O’Neill are taking legal advice about the withdrawals.

Ispolini’s absence is another blow for Godolphin after Saeed bin-Suroor’s Cup outsider Red Galileo was ruled out and referred to the University of Melbourne Veterinary Hospital at Werribee for scans having pulled-up lame after a gallop.