Speed Gifted, Maldivian out of Caulfield Cup betting

Saturday's Caulfield Cup will not involve former bookies' favourite Speed Gifted or 2008 Cox Plate winner Maldivian.

Speed Gifted is instead off to the Cox Plate a week on Saturday as a preferred path to the Melbourne Cup while Maldivian has been found to have a warm tendon.

Before Tuesday morning's developments Speed Gifted had been at 5.50 for Saturday with IASbet, with Predatory Pricer now the favourite with the same bookmaker at 6.50.

Maldivian's suspect tendon was discovered after track work early on Tuesday and he has been ruled out for the spring.

Trainer Mark Kavanagh told Sport 927: "He's got a tear in tendon and he's out for the spring.

"After working this morning it was just a routine check, the only long-term prognosis is that he's out for the spring at this stage."

Kavanagh also revealed another of his charges, Cats Whisker, had also pulled up lame and was also out for the season.

Betting for Saturday's $2.5 million race is now wide open after connections of Speed Gifted decided he should instead head to the Cox Plate. Trainer Lee Freedman had previously indicated the horse might not appear on Saturday.

Behind Predatory Pricer, IASbet also now has Vigor at 7.00 and Cima De Triomphe at 8.00 for the 2400m run.