Aidan O'Brien's aspirations for a Melbourne Cup triumph face a setback as Jan Brueghel, the three-year-old St Leger champion, is withdrawn following a routine veterinary inspection highlighting risks of injury.
Aidan O'Brien's horse, Jan Brueghel, has been withdrawn from the upcoming Melbourne Cup after not passing a pre-race veterinary examination. The three-year-old colt, who is the current St Leger champion, had traveled to Australia with the aim of securing O'Brien's first win in this prestigious race. However, those hopes have been dashed after the routine veterinary check that all participants must go through.
Racing Victoria issued a statement confirming the withdrawal and stated, 'Racing Victoria Stewards, based on specialist veterinary advice, have today removed Jan Brueghel from the entries for the 2024 Lexus Melbourne Cup scheduled at Flemington next Tuesday, November 5.'
As part of the required procedures, Jan Brueghel was brought to the University of Melbourne Equine Centre in Werribee on Saturday, 26 October, for mandatory CT scans of his distal limbs. The results were evaluated by a panel of internationally acclaimed equine surgeons and diagnostic imaging experts, who determined that the horse is currently at an increased risk of injury.
After discussions with RV Veterinary Services concerning the expert evaluations, Racing Victoria Stewards decided to withdraw Jan Brueghel from the Melbourne Cup, considering him unfit to race. This unforeseen development creates a notable absence among the top contenders in the competition.
