PRE-RACE favourite Admire Rakti has died following the running of the 2014 Melbourne Cup.

Pre-race favourite Admire Rakti has died following the running of the 2014 Melbourne Cup.

Pre-race favourite Admire Rakti has died following the running of the 2014 Melbourne Cup.

Race favourite Admire Rakti died after collapsing back at the stalls just five minutes after finishing last in the Cup.

The Japanese raider was paying $6 to take out the iconic three-handled trophy after winning the Caulfield Cup three weekends ago.

But the Tomoyuki Umeda-trained horse became one of the Melbourne Cup's biggest talking points for all the wrong reasons as it rounded out the field in 22nd spot.

In further misfortune, smart stayer Araldo was returning to the mounting yard when a young boy waved a white flag in the horse's face. He leapt forward, jumping the steel rail, shattered a cannon bone in the process.

Araldo was returning to scale after the race when he shied after a child waved a flag at him and shattered a cannon bone in the process.

The vets are trying their best to save him.

Racing Victoria's Head of Veterinary and Equine Welfare, Dr Brian Stewart, issued a statement after the running of the Emirates Melbourne Cup at Flemington today.

“It is with sadness that we confirm that Admire Rakti has passed away in his stall following the running of the Emirates Melbourne Cup,” Dr Stewart said.

“The exact cause of death is yet to be determined, although the circumstances of the horse’s passing are very rare. A post mortem will be conducted at the University of Melbourne Veterinary Hospital as is standard practice.

“Our sympathies are extended at this time to the owner Mr Kondo, trainer Mr Umeda and his staff who cared deeply for their horse and are naturally saddened by their tragic loss.”

Dr Stewart also advised that the Mike Moroney-trained Araldo suffered an injury to its right hind leg when it took fright upon returning to scale and kicked the fence.

The horse has been treated by the on-course veterinary team and has been transported by ambulance to the University of Melbourne Veterinary Hospital for further treatment and assessment.

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