Aidan O'Brien was left bemused by the decision of the Racing Victoria vets to rule Betfred St Leger winner Jan Brueghel out of the Lexus Melbourne Cup.
The trainer was in California on Tuesday morning to see his Breeders’ Cup contenders, including Classic contender City Of Troy, get a taste of the track at Del Mar.
Of the news from Australia he said: “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.
“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.”
The three-year-old was among the favourites for the Flemington showpiece but a statement from Racing Victoria said: "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."
Reacting to the news Coolmore's Tom Magnier told SENTrack’s Giddy Up: "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.”
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