European superstar ruled out of Melbourne Cup by vets

Unbeaten European stayer Jan Brueghel has been withdrawn from next week’s Melbourne Cup after failing a Racing Victoria veterinary scan.

RV confirmed the decision on Tuesday morning, following the publication of results from the Galileo entire’s final compulsory CT prior to next Tuesday’s $8.4 million Group 1 Melbourne Cup, which took place last Saturday.

An RV statement did not specify a specific issue rather than to suggest Jan Brueghel is ‘at heightened risk of injury’.

“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,” the RV statement read.

“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.”

Jan Brueghel, who has won his only four starts in Europe, including a last-start win in the Group 1 English St Leger, was the $6 second favourite for the Melbourne Cup prior to his scratching.

A four-year-old by Australian time, Jan Brueghel satisfied RV’s veterinary requirements prior to leaving for Australia and his withdrawal left the Coolmore disappointed he won’t be given the chance to try and earn Aidan O’Brien his first Melbourne Cup.

“Obviously Jan Brueghel went through all the tests when he was in Ireland, everything was OK, and he’s down here and the lads have been very happy with him but at the end of the day Racing Victoria have the decision,” Coolmore Australia boss Tom Magnier told RSN927.

“At Coolmore, everything is about the horse, we just want the horses to be OK, but Racing Victoria have said that this horse has failed the pre-inspections so he won’t take part in the Melbourne Cup.

“This is the game that we’re in, it’s a game of highs and lows and you’ve got to be able to take the lows if you’re going to enjoy the highs.”

Prior to the news breaking Jan Brueghel was a $5.00 chance with online betting sites in Melbourne Cup odds.

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