Sir Delius’ spring campaign hangs in the balance as Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott await further veterinary advice before deciding whether to continue his preparation.

The high-profile entire was withdrawn from the Melbourne Spring Carnival by Racing Victoria stewards last week after CT scans detected potential limb concerns ahead of the Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington on November 4.

Under Melbourne Cup entry rules, all runners must undergo advanced distal limb scans reviewed by a panel of international experts. Their assessment — which included specialists from Australia, the UK, and the USA — concluded that Sir Delius faced a “heightened risk of injury,” leading to his immediate stand down.

The setback was a major disappointment for the stable, with Sir Delius among the leading fancies for both the Cox Plate (2040m) and the Melbourne Cup. Bott said the news came as a surprise and the team would now take time to assess the situation. “We’re still processing the information and what it means for this preparation and beyond,” he said. “We’ll gather as much detail as we can before making any decisions.”

Bott floated the possibility of targeting the Five Diamonds (1800m) at Rosehill on November 8 if Sir Delius is cleared to race. “It’s not certain, but if he were to keep racing, that would be a logical option,” he said. “We just need to work through everything carefully.”

Following the stewards’ report, Racing Victoria placed a racing embargo on Sir Delius, effectively preventing him from competing in the state until further notice. Racing NSW chief steward Tom Moxon said discussions between jurisdictions were ongoing. “We’ll consider any embargoes imposed by RV and their veterinary findings before determining whether he can race in Sydney,” Moxon said.

“Until RV completes its review, it’s premature for us to make a call. We’ll wait for their full findings first.”

For the latest updates on Sir Delius and betting information for the Melbourne Cup and Cox Plate, visit Australia’s top betting sites.