Melbourne Cup contender Riff Rocket fighting for life after emergency colic surgery

Melbourne Cup contender Riff Rocket is fighting for his life after undergoing emergency surgery overnight.

The Chris Waller-trained horse was due to compete at Flemington this weekend in the Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes over 1600m.

But the four-year-old’s racing career is on hold after Waller announced Riff Rocket underwent a colic operation on Tuesday night.

The horse was rushed to a vet hospital after Waller employees raised concerns.

Colic can be fatal in horses.

“Early signs are promising but the next few days will obviously be very important for his ongoing health and survival, which is our main concern,” Waller said.

“He is at the South Eastern Equine Hospital, who have done a fantastic job working through the night.

“They found the impaction in his large colon, which has been relieved, so our thanks go out to them as well as our stable vet and staff who picked up the issue early.

“Our thoughts are with the horse and his connections at this time and hopefully he will make a full racing return in 2025.”

Riff Rocket has won $3.5 million in prize money with three Group 1 victories to his name — the Victoria Derby at Flemington last year, the Rosehill Guineas in March this year and the Australia Derby at Randwick two weeks later.

He is just the fourth horse to follow up a Victoria Derby triumph with victory in the next Australia Derby.

He also won the Group 3 CS Hayes Stakes and finished third in the Group 1 Australia Guineas, both at Flemington in February and March.

Riff Rocket was equal favourite for this year’s Caulfield Cup and a top contender for the Cox Plate as well as the Melbourne Cup.

He opened his account for the new season with a second-place finish behind Via Sistina in the Winx Stakes at Randwick last month.

He was only recently dispatched to Melbourne alongside Via Sistina as one of Waller’s “three headline acts” for the Makybe Diva Stakes.

“Atishu might lead them around while Riff Rocket has won a (Victoria) Derby there and Via Sistina, she’s the head girl of the block.

“They’ll venture down early in the week and have time to settle in at Flemington and we’re looking forward to it.”

Riff Rocket was recently named as one of Waller’s 21 horses on the 123-strong entry list for the Melbourne Cup.