Duke De Sessa, the reigning Caulfield Cup champion, will not line up for a title defence this spring after being withdrawn due to a slight training setback.

Racing Victoria stewards announced the removal on Friday, revealing that the Ciaron Maher-trained stayer has encountered a minor issue which has ruled him out of the 2400-metre feature at Caulfield on October 18.

The son of Lope De Vega produced a career-best performance in last year’s Caulfield Cup, giving jockey Harry Coffey and Maher a breakthrough moment in the elite staying contest.

Maher had entered 25 horses for this year’s race, with Duke De Sessa among the most anticipated, but his early withdrawal leaves 145 horses still in the running.

Late nominations for the Caulfield Cup close on Tuesday, August 12, offering one final chance for new contenders to be added to the field.

Punters can explore the latest betting markets and promotions on the 2025 Caulfield Cup through Australia’s top bookmakers here.