Aidan O’Brien’s Jan Brueghel has been dominated out of the Melbourne Cup after failing a pre-race veterinary examine.
The three-year-old, who’s the reigning St Leger hero, had travelled to Australia in a bid to provide the coach his first success within the race.
Nonetheless, these plans have now been scuppered because the colt can’t partake following the routine veterinary inspection that has grow to be necessary for all entrants.
An announcement from Racing Victoria stated: “Racing Victoria Stewards, acting on specialist veterinary advice, have today withdrawn Jan Brueghel from the entries for the 2024 Lexus Melbourne Cup to be run at Flemington next Tuesday, 5 November.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 circumstances of the race, Jan Brueghel was introduced on the College of Melbourne Equine Centre in Werribee on Saturday, 26 October for obligatory CT scans of its distal limbs.
“Reviews obtained from an knowledgeable panel of internationally famend equine surgeons and diagnostic imaging specialists, who reviewed Jan Brueghel’s CT scan outcomes, point out that the horse is at present at heightened threat of harm.
“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.”
The Melbourne Cup takes place at Flemington on Tuesday
‘I am extraordinarily upset’
Tom Magnier, head of Coolmore Australia – the partnership that owns Jan Brueghel, expressed his disappointment on the choice.
He informed SEN Observe in Australia: “I’m extremely disappointed for all of the team who have put so much effort in getting him here.
“They actually have been enthusiastic about this, however on the finish of the day the horse comes first and the choice by Racing Victoria has been made. Aidan will discuss to the lads about what’s subsequent, however we’re simply very upset.
“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.”
