Aidan O'Brien's Jan Brueghel (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) has been ruled out of the G1 Lexus Melbourne Cup after failing a pre-race veterinary check.
The unbeaten St Leger winner had been among the ante-post favourites in his quest to provide O'Brien with a first victory in 'the race that stops a nation' at Flemington next week, but Ballydoyle will now be without a runner in the race as a result of the ruling made by the Racing Victoria Stewards.
A statement from Racing Victoria said, “Racing Victoria Stewards, acting on specialist veterinary advice, have today withdrawn Jan Brueghel from the entries for the 2024 Lexus Melbourne Cup to be run at Flemington next Tuesday, 5 November.
“In accordance with the conditions of the race, Jan Brueghel was presented at the University of Melbourne Equine Centre in Werribee on Saturday, 26 October for compulsory CT scans of its distal limbs.
“Reports received from an expert panel of internationally renowned equine surgeons and diagnostic imaging specialists, who reviewed Jan Brueghel's CT scan results, indicate that the horse is currently at heightened risk of injury.
“Following advice from RV Veterinary Services in relation to the specialist opinions from the independent imaging panel, RV Stewards ordered the withdrawal of Jan Brueghel from the Melbourne Cup on the basis that he was unsuitable to compete.”
Tom Magnier, representing owners Coolmore, told SEN Track, “We've learned this morning that Jan Brueghel won't be taking his place in the Melbourne Cup this year.
“He went through all the protocols in Ireland before departing to come down here. The lads have been very happy with the horse–he's been bouncing out there in quarantine [at Werribee].
“But the vets have come up with the decision that has been made that he doesn't pass the veterinary inspection to run in the Melbourne Cup.
“We're very disappointed. Obviously I'm extremely disappointed for the staff, all our team that have put in so much work both at home, travelling down and getting him here. I really feel for them because they were excited about this.
“But at the end of the day at Coolmore the horse comes first. A decision has been made and that's that.”
O'Brien will re-route the Classic hero to the G1 Longines Hong Kong Vase during the Longines Hong Kong International Races in early December.
“Everything was perfect with him, he went through all the hoops and scans. Our vets were happy, but the Australian vets were not happy with them,” said the Ballydoyle handler.
“It's easy to say now, but we thought he was a massive handicap blot as a classy, unbeaten horse with 8st 7lb to carry and Ryan Moore riding him.
“We will go for the race in Hong Kong now. Most scans are open to opinion, they gave him another in the last few days and found a shadow on the hind leg, but with all horses you can get shadows.
“Everything was properly done with the horse and it's all getting a little bit ridiculous.”
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