Oct 30, V7N- The owners of Via Sistina, the favorite for the upcoming Melbourne Cup, have announced that the mare will not participate in the prestigious race next Tuesday. Instead, she will compete in the Champions Stakes at Flemington Racecourse the following weekend. 
 
Via Sistina gained outright favoritism for the Melbourne Cup after her impressive victory in the Cox Plate at Moonee Valley last weekend. Yulong Investments, her owner, made the announcement via social media, stating that the Cox Plate had always been her primary goal and that winning it was a "dream." The post emphasized that after careful consideration, they decided it was best for her not to contest the A$8 million ($5.24 million) Melbourne Cup.
 
In related news, another early favorite for the Melbourne Cup, Jan Brueghel, has been withdrawn from the race following veterinary advice. Racing Victoria indicated that scans revealed the Irish stallion, who won the St Leger at Doncaster in September, was at a "heightened risk of injury" and deemed "unsuitable to compete." 
 
With Via Sistina opting for the Champions Stakes, the Melbourne Cup landscape is shifting as trainers and owners finalize their decisions ahead of the much-anticipated race day.
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