Aidan O'Brien faces disappointment as his unbeaten colt, Jan Brueghel, is withdrawn from the Melbourne Cup following a failed veterinary inspection, raising concerns about injury risks despite previous successes and an impeccable record.
Aidan O'Brien expressed deep disappointment after his promising three-year-old horse, Jan Brueghel, was excluded from the Melbourne Cup following a failed pre-race veterinary inspection in Australia. The Galileo colt, who recently won the St Leger and was the favorite before the event, had extended his unbeaten record to four with last month's victory in the Betfred-sponsored Doncaster Classic.
O'Brien, who is currently in California preparing for the Breeders' Cup, criticized Racing Victoria's decision, saying, 'Everything was perfect with him... but the Australian vets were not happy with them.' Even after thorough checks by his own team, an additional scan found a shadow on Jan Brueghel's hind leg, which raised concerns about potential injury risks.
Racing Victoria issued a statement confirming the withdrawal based on specialist veterinary advice. It stated that an expert panel identified the horse as being at an increased risk of injury after mandatory CT scans at the University of Melbourne Equine Centre. O'Brien suggested plans to redirect Jan Brueghel to the Hong Kong Vase, expressing frustration that the situation was 'getting a little bit ridiculous.'
