Wunderwood put down

English trainer David Elsworth’s Melbourne Cup hopeful Wunderwood has been put down after a training accident at Mornington racecourse in the Australian city.

The stayer sustained multiple fractures to the lower part of one of its legs while warming up for a gallop.

“I have spoken to David and just basically he said it was multiple fractures. The horse was in a lot of pain, the right decision was to put the horse down,” said Racing Victoria director of racing operations Leigh Jordan.

Wunderwood was among a record 50 horses vying for a place in Australia’s richest and most famous race, with the final field of 24 to be decided at the weekend.