Simenon guaranteed Melbourne Cup start after withdrawal

Willie Mullins’s Simenon has been guaranteed a start in Tuesday’s Emirates Melbourne Cup after the withdrawal of Silent Achiever, who was one above him in the order of entries.

Simenon, the Ascot Gold Cup runner-up, was at the risk of the winners of Saturday’s Lexus and Mackinnon Stakes leaping ahead of him in the rankings.

However, connections of Silent Achiever informed Racing Victoria stewards on Friday they would not be accepting a place as she suffered lacerations on her hind legs in the Caulfield Cup and has subsequently picked up an infection and a temperature.