Caulfield Guineas placegetter Observer will not run in Saturday’s $6 million Cox Plate after the deadline for late nominations for the race closed at noon on Monday.
The colt’s owners Godolphin had the opportunity to pay a reduced $100,000 late entry fee for the three-year-old to come into the Cox Plate entries by noon, but it was not forthcoming.
It is expected instead that Observer will run in the G2 Vase for three-year-olds over the same 2040-metre course as the Cox Plate this Saturday
The Vase is recognised as one of the preferred lead-in races to the $2 million Victoria Derby (2500m), for which Observer is the current $4.20 favourite.
It is currently expected that there will be nine final acceptances for the Cox Plate with the G1 Champagne Stakes (1600m) winner Nepotism the only likely three-year-old runner.
WATCH: Observer’s run in the Caulfield Guineas
