Glen Kotzen’s Oratorio gelding Viva Rio, the highest rated runner and current Cape Derby favourite, has been sold to Hong Kong and will not run in the Kenilworth feature on Saturday.
The horse was bred by Gold Star Stud and owned by the Devachander family.
It is a great disappointment for racing fans and none more so than regular jockey Morne Winnaar, who was bidding for his first Gr1 win.
He was scratched at 12h54 by trainer Glen Kotzen.