Hayes' tragic double blow

Trainer David Hayes has been left devastated after two of his best chances for the 150th Melbourne Cup in November died within 24 hours.

Changingoftheguard, bought for a reported $1 million last year from Ireland, died of a twisted bowel during a gelding operation on Wednesday and then Our Aqaleem, who was entered for Saturday's $1 million Australian Cup, was put down after breaking a shoulder in trackwork on Thursday.

Our Aqaleem, who had run third in an English Derby as a three-year-old, impressed with a tough win at Flemington on January 30 and was expected to be a Cups contender in the spring.

He was working at half pace under jockey Steven Arnold when he went badly amiss, with the jockey pulling him up immediately.

Arnold and stable foreman Bruno Rouge-Serret feared the worst and the stallion was rushed to Werribee Equine Hospital. But vets were unable to save the six year-old.

It completes a horrible week for Hayes, who lost Changingoftheguard in what was a regulation operation earlier in the week.

Changingoftheguard was scratched on the morning of the Melbourne Cup last year by stewards, who said he was lame. Hayes lashed out furiously over the decision, which cost the expensive stayer a shot at Australia's most famous race.

The consolation for the trainer and owners was a shot at the $6 million 150th edition of Australia's greatest race, but sadly Changingoftheguard would have just one run in Australia, when 10th in the St George Stakes at Caulfield in February.