- Racing Victoria veterans withdraw two participants from the Melbourne Cup
- The revocation of the Irish emerging Jan Brueghel continues
Busuttin Stables representatives are furious after Racing Victoria veterans controversially dropped two of their entrants ahead of the Melbourne Cup on Tuesday.
Muramasa and Brayden Star were withdrawn by RV, who felt that those who remained were at a “greater risk of injury” if they ran in the main 3200m race at Flemington.
The development comes after top European entrant Jan Brueghel was also revoked, much to the frustration of head coach Aidan O’Brien.
Additionally, Cox Plate winner Via Sistina was retired by trainer Chris Waller.
“(We) welcome the processes put in place by Racing Victoria… however there is nothing to sweeten it, our team is very disappointed as our horse has never been so happy, healthy and in great shape outwardly.” , reads a statement. from the Busuttin-Young stable read in relation to Brayden Star.
“To be told that we are out of the Cup race because ‘there may be a shadow that could develop into a stress fracture in the future’ is disconcerting.”
Decorated Irish coach O’Brien didn’t mince his words either.
His own vets saw the scans and declared them “fine”, but the Australian vets disagreed.
Busuttin Stables representatives are furious after Racing Victoria veterans dropped two of their entrants, including Brayden Star (pictured), ahead of the Melbourne Cup on Tuesday.
Decorated Irish coach Aidan O’Brien was also stumped after Racing Victoria recalled Irishman Jan Brueghel.
‘Most scans are a vision or an opinion. He (Jan Brueghel) did the most rigorous scans he could and reviewed them. “He’s had another scan in the last few days, he’s never trotted better, he’s moved better,” O’Brien fumed.
With the four-year-old unbeaten in four starts and winning the Group 1 Leger Stakes in England in September, O’Brien knows Racing Victoria veterans may have robbed him of the chance to win Australia’s biggest race.
“It’s absolutely devastating,” O’Brien added. He was going to have (elite jockey) Ryan Moore riding him, plus he was getting better with every race.
“They (Racing Victoria) made the decision and our vets didn’t agree with it.
‘They said there was a shadow in front and a shadow behind (on his leg bones), but every three-year-old at this time of year has shadows and cracks.
‘There comes a point where it becomes ridiculous: the riders and women have been eliminated from the scene. In this part of the world, the riders decide.
The Melbourne Cup has had six deaths in the last decade, including O’Brien’s 2019 Epsom Derby hero Anthony van Dyck.
On Saturday afternoon the top 24 horses will be confirmed in order of entry ahead of the race that will stop the nation.
