Australian Bloodstock import Gold Trip is a serious chance to be scratched from the Cox Plate after failing a veterinary test on Thursday morning.

The European galloper had a trot-up on Thursday morning, but was not passed fit to run by Racing Victoria’s head veterinarian Grace Forbes, with RV saying he displayed lameness in his off fore and off hind leg.

He will have another trot-up on Friday morning, but connections are not confident the decision will be overturned in time for Saturday’s $5 million race.

Jockey Damien Oliver, who is booked to ride Gold Trip in the Cox Plate, was shocked at the news on Thursday after galloping the horse at Moonee Valley last Saturday.

“He felt fine to me,” Oliver told Racing.com. “I find it unusual that no one’s actually asked me how it felt because I’m the one that’s putting my neck on the line riding the horse.

“I’ve ridden internationals before, I haven’t felt comfortable on them before and actually volunteered that this horse isn’t right.

“But this horse [Gold Trip] felt fine to me last week when I galloped him. Hopefully, he does take his place because he’s obviously a really good horse. For me, he’s sound and I have no problems with his action, and I’m very comfortable to ride him if he takes his place on Saturday.”

The other horse is Kiwi galloper Callsign Mav. Racing Victoria found the horse displayed lameness in his left front leg.

Trainer John Bary said the horse had some slight bruising to one of his heels, but he was confident it would be passed fit to run.