Irish Echo Sport

Ireland’s sole remaining challenger in this year’s Melbourne Cup has been ruled out of the November showpiece.

Highly rated Irish mare Profound Beauty has been scratched from next month’s race after her owners decided to give her a break after a long season.

Trainer Dermot Weld said the mare had no injury problems but her owners had decided a long season’s racing would have taken its toll, given their decision to keep her in training next year.

Profound Beauty resumed on June 27 with a win in the Group Three Curragh Cup, on that occasion defeating Alandi which won the Group One Prix Du Cadran recently in France.

On her last appearance, the Irish-trained marey finished fourth in the Irish St Leger on September 12 where she was beaten 24 lengths on unsuitable ground.

Racing Victoria spokesman Leigh Jordon said the news was a major disappointment.

“Dermot has been a major supporter of the carnival and would have been attempting to win the Melbourne Cup for the third time after his breakthrough win in 1993 with Vintage Crop and again in 2002 with Media Puzzle,” Jordon said.

Profound Beauty had at one point been a well-backed favourite for the race, but her withdrawal means there will now be no Irish interest in the big race on November 3.