The 2019 English Derby winner Anthony Van Dyck has been put down after suffering a fractured fetlock during the running of the Melbourne Cup.

High-profile runner Anthony Van Dyck has been euthanised after failing to complete the course in the Melbourne Cup.

One of the favourites to give trainer Aidan O'Brien his first Melbourne Cup victory, Anthony Van Dyck was injured during the race.

"It is with sadness that we confirm that Anthony Van Dyck had to be humanely euthanised after sustaining a fractured fetlock during the running of the Melbourne Cup at Flemington," Racing Victoria's Jamie Steir said.

"The horse received immediate veterinary care, however he was unable to be saved due to the nature of the injury sustained."

The 2019 English Derby winner, Anthony Van Dyck was rated one of the best horses to be sent to Australia for a spring campaign.

He was on target to run well at Flemington after producing the run of the race when narrowly beaten in the Caulfield Cup.

Nick Williams, a part-owner of the winner Twilight Payment, said he was devastated to learn that Anthony Van Dyck, owned by global thoroughbred power Coolmore, couldn't be saved.

"I want to send send out all my sympathies to the team Coolmore," he told Racing.com.

"They put a huge amount of money into out sport.

"They take their best horses everywhere in the world and they've had this bad luck with such a great horse Anthony Van Dyck today.

"I just feel terrible for them. It's a shocking thing to happen at anytime."

Anthony Van Dyck raced 19 times in five countries and collected five other wins to go alongside his English Derby triumph.

Racing Victoria said the fatal limb injury was the fifth sustained at the Melbourne Cup since 1998.

All international runners, the quintet includes the O'Brien-trained The Cliffsofmoher (2018), Red Cadeaux (2015), Varema (2013) and Three Crowns (1998).