Cover image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
On Tuesday, Racing Victoria announced that G1 Melbourne Cup favourite and unbeaten 4-year-old colt Jan Brueghel (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) would be scratched after failing the CT scan portion of the Cup veterinary protocols.
According to trainer Aidan O’Brien, the scans detected “shadows” on the horse’s legs, however leading Australian vet Ben Mason explained on RSN that a more accurate term is “fissures”, which are indicative of potential precursors to stress fractures.
Racing Victoria’s decision, aimed at minimising catastrophic injuries, has understandably frustrated O’Brien, who believes the findings were minor and normal for a young, developing horse. However, Racing Victoria’s protocols were introduced to prevent tragedies like those involving O’Brien’s own horses, Anthony Van Dyck (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in 2020 and The Cliffsofmoher (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in 2018, both of whom suffered fatal limb injuries in the Cup.
O’Brien’s immediate frustration was evident as he defended Jan Brueghel’s health, describing the horse’s condition as exceptional leading up to the race. In an interview with commentator Matt Chapman, he commented, “He’s never trotted better, moved better, everything was perfect. They said there was a little thing on the front leg, a little shadow, a little shadow on the hind leg. But I would imagine any developing 3-year-old, this time of the year, you will get shadows… it’s just probably gone a little bit ridiculous, but that’s the way it is.”
“I would imagine any developing 3-year-old, this time of the year, you will get shadows… it’s just probably gone a little bit ridiculous, but that’s the way it is.” - Aidan O'Brien
Irish racing analyst Kevin Blake shared similar sentiments, asserting that the protocols unfairly target international horses. “The Jan Brueghel debacle might make more people wake up to the disgrace that Racing Victoria’s treatment of international competitors has been for over three years now... Don’t be so naive as to believe that this is all just about horse welfare.”
Blake’s words resonate with some European trainers, who argue that these protocols amount to protectionist measures masked as welfare concerns, however much of the Australian racing response was very supportive of the protocols, and it’s not just about ensuring Aussie horses get into the Cup.
Aidan O'Brien | Image courtesy of Emma Berry
Why is this level of scrutiny only applied to the Melbourne Cup?
With a fatality rate 48 times higher in the Melbourne Cup than the Australian national average, the abnormal risk profile presented a pressing need for enhanced safety standards for the Melbourne Cup. Racing Victoria’s response was a sweeping set of requirements, which were introduced in 2021.
“I don't think the reaction (to Jan Brueghel’s scratching) is necessarily surprising,” Racing Victoria’s EGM - Integrity Jamie Stier told racing.com on Wednesday. “When the protocols were implemented, it was understood that not everyone was in agreement and was made known that they were not in agreement. And that is as it is, but the protocols were put in place to mitigate any risks that we were able to identify with horses that were going to run in the Melbourne Cup.
“We go to great lengths to try and get these horses here to Victoria to take part in these races, but we won't sacrifice safety for the sake of having a runner.”
“We go to great lengths to try and get these horses here to Victoria to take part in these races, but we won't sacrifice safety for the sake of having a runner.” - Jamie Stier
The Melbourne Cup is unique for its 3200-metre length, larger field sizes, and the intense international interest it generates. In addition, male horses tend to have greater muscle mass and stride power, which increases the impact on weight-bearing structures like the fetlock, which is where most the fractures have occurred.
Racing Victoria’s protocols, which focus on fetlock scans, take these factors into account when assessing vulnerability in high-risk races.
Mason noted that while scanning all horses at every race would be cost-prohibitive, the risks and visibility associated with the Melbourne Cup warrant these specific protocols. He pointed out that as CT technology becomes more accessible, it may eventually be possible to implement such protocols more broadly.
Jamie Stier | Image courtesy of Racing Victoria
Are international horses subjected to more scrutiny than local horses?
The Melbourne Cup fatalities in recent years have occurred only among international runners, with the likely theory being that they are unaccustomed to Australia’s longer race distances, track surfaces, and racing pace. The protocols were therefore initially designed to address the higher risks associated with international horses, who often have different conditioning histories.
“The CT came in mainly for the international horses, and then we started to do the domestic horses as well, so it was an even playing field,” Mason noted to Michael Felgate on RSN.
Without A Fight, winner of the 2023 G1 Melbourne Cup | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
While the international horses must complete additional scans before being flown to Australia, every runner must pass a distal limb CT scan, an approach that aims to safeguard both local and international horses.
Thursday came with the news that trainers Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young-trained pair of Muramasa (Deep Impact {Jpn}) and Brayden Star (GB) (Twilight Son {GB}) both failed the compulsory tests and wouldn’t take part in the Cup. Notably, Muramasa is Australian-born while Brayden Star arrived in Australia from England in July 2022, which goes against some European commentary that the scans unfairly targeted horses trained by non-Australians.
“I am not a vet so you have to respect the process and decision made, as I have learned in the past, there is nothing you can do as it's black and white as far as Racing Victoria is concerned,” Muramasa’s part-owner Ozzie Kheir told racing.com.
“I am not a vet so you have to respect the (Melbourne Cup vetting) process and decision made (scratching of Muramasa), as I have learned in the past, there is nothing you can do as it's black and white as far as Racing Victoria is concerned.” - Ozzie Kheir
“What I can say though is we don't have a more sound horse who hasn't ever presented lame or been treated in his life. So that part is frustrating. I know the CT scans were brought in for internationals training out of Werribee due to the more recent events, but from what I am aware, I would think it's been over 30-40 years since any local horse broke down in the Melbourne Cup.”
How can Jan Brueghel be ruled out in Australia but still race in Hong Kong?
Technically, Jan Brueghel is entered to race in Hong Kong but has yet to be cleared by Hong Kong veterinarians. Further, Mason explained that racing standards vary by jurisdiction, and while Australia’s CT scan revealed potential issues, Hong Kong’s veterinary panel will make an independent assessment. The scan results will be shared, and additional tests may be required to ensure Jan Brueghel’s suitability.
“Hong Kong and Racing Victoria will likely work together… but the standards in each jurisdiction vary, as does the technology available,” Mason explained.
Dr Ben Mason | Image courtesy of Crown Equine Veterinary Services
How did Jan Brueghel pass his veterinary tests in Ireland but not in Australia?
Ireland does not have a standing CT scan, so instead used an MRI scan on Jan Brueghel before he departed. Mason explained that an MRI captures a general view of bone and tissue but doesn’t provide the detailed three-dimensional bone image that a CT scan offers.
“A standing CT is essentially a 3D X-ray,” Mason noted. “MRI scans provide less detail on bone structure. The shadows on Jan Brueghel’s scan were potential precursors to fractures, so Racing Victoria couldn’t take the risk.”
“A standing CT is essentially a 3D X-ray... The shadows on Jan Brueghel’s scan were potential precursors to fractures, so Racing Victoria couldn’t take the risk.” - Ben Mason
It is also possible that the bone began to remodel within the recent five weeks since Jan Brueghel has been in quarantine at Werribee. There is a large environmental difference between Jan Brueghel’s home training facility in Ireland and the facilities at Werribee, in that Werribee is more typical of Australian training and racing environments with a tighter track compared to the long straight open gallops common in England and Ireland.
Moving forward: Balancing safety with competition
For Racing Victoria, the goal is simple: zero fatalities.
As racing commentator Gilbert Gardner of racenet.com.au said on Thursday, “Anyone suggesting Cup vetting is 'ridiculous' need only type ‘Melbourne Cup deaths' into Google.”
Whether the protocols are perceived as fair or overly cautious, they underscore a vital industry-wide shift toward prioritising the wellbeing of the horse; a position that safeguards the future of the industry for everyone. With the world’s eyes on the Cup, Australian racing cannot afford the fall out from another fatality.
While on it's annual journey, the 2024 Melbourne Cup visited London and Chichester in the United Kingdom | Image courtesy of the Victorian Racing Club
As for the accusations of anti-competitiveness, it should be noted that many international runners do pass the stringent tests and are able to compete, and there have been no fatalities in the Cup since the tests were introduced.
Further, many internationally bred horses are competitive after spending time in Australia to adjust to the new conditions. If the decision was being made to protect the local breeding industry, the fact that only eight of the top 24 in the 2024 Cup (as at Thursday) were born in Australia or New Zealand.
If a horse dies on Tuesday in the Cup, what will the headlines around the world say about the dangers of all horse racing? Will anyone care who won?
Caution and good veterinary science are the only things keeping racing in the good news section of the media.
