Racing: Topweight Scorpion out

Melbourne Cup topweight Scorpion is out of next Tuesday's big race.

Trainer Aidan O'Brien confirmed the withdrawal yesterday after making a brief inspection of the horse who injured a stifle in a workout at Sandown on Monday.

O'Brien came directly to the Sandown quarantine centre after flying in from America where he had endured a weekend to forget.

The champion Irish trainer started five horses at the Breeders' Cup meeting in New Jersey, but sent only four home after his smart galloper George Washington broke a leg and had to be put down.

He had barely come to terms with that news when he was told of Scorpion's injury while waiting for his flight to Melbourne.

O'Brien will now run only the heavily-backed Mahler in the Cup.

The son of O'Brien's former star galloper Galileo has been backed in to $9 from $26 in the eight days since he arrived in Melbourne.