Aidan O’Brien’s Jan Brueghel has been ruled out of the Melbourne Cup after failing a pre-race veterinary check.
The three-year-old, who is the reigning St Leger hero, had travelled to Australia in a bid to give the trainer his first success in the race.
However, those plans have now been scuppered as the colt cannot partake following the routine veterinary inspection that has become mandatory for all entrants.
A statement from Racing Victoria said: “Racing Victoria Stewards, acting on specialist veterinary advice, have today withdrawn Jan Brueghel from the entries for the 2024 Lexus Melbourne Cup to be run at Flemington next Tuesday, 5 November.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.”
‘I’m extremely disappointed’
Tom Magnier, head of Coolmore Australia – the partnership that owns Jan Brueghel, expressed his disappointment at the decision.
He told SEN Track in Australia: “I’m extremely disappointed for all of the team who have put so much effort in getting him here.
“They really were excited about this, but at the end of the day the horse comes first and the decision by Racing Victoria has been made. Aidan will talk to the lads about what’s next, but we’re just very disappointed.
“He went through all of the protocols in Ireland before departing. The lads were very happy with the horse and he was bouncing in quarantine, but the vets have come up with the decision that he doesn’t pass the inspection to run.”
