Changes to Australian quarantine requirements are threatening the participation of Ballydoyle-trained horses in this year's Melbourne Cup. Trainer Aidan O’Brien told the Racing Post he has put his plans on hold until he’s satisfied that new quarantine regulations will not hinder the preparation of his horses.
"Before we think seriously about sending any horses to Australia for the Melbourne Cup or other races, we want to see if we can come to a mutually acceptable agreement on the quarantine situation,” O’Brien said. “The requirements are different to the last two years.
“The Australian authorities want horses to go into quarantine for two weeks before travelling and to spend another three weeks in quarantine when they arrive in Victoria.”
The news comes a major blow to the VRC and Racing Victoria after they announced last week that quarantine requirements has ruled out Japanese involvement at this year’s carnival. “We’re obviously very disappointed that an arrangement couldn’t be reached which would have seen 2006 Melbourne Cup winner Delta Blues and runner-up Pop Rock return to Melbourne for the Spring Racing Carnival,” Racing Victoria Chief Executive Officer Rob Hines said last week.
“Bio-security Australia confirmed that the only option currently available is for horses from Japan to be imported via an approved third country, such as Hong Kong or Singapore, but given the quarantine periods required in each location this is unacceptable to the connections of the Japanese horses. O'Brien has entered triple Ascot Gold Cup winner Yeats, Septimus, Macarthur and Honolulu for the Melbourne Cup. “They want us to lock any horses we are planning to send to Australia in an isolation area at Ballydoyle with no access to our main gallops,” O’Brien continued, adding. “So we're talking about three weeks with only access to a short gallop, which would make it difficult for training purposes. Last year we were able to use the main gallops when Mahler and Scorpion were in quarantine here, which made things a lot easier."
O'Brien explained that he was hopeful of the situation resolving itself. “There is someone coming from Australia to look at the situation in the next few days with a representative of our own Department Of Agriculture.” he said. “Hopefully, we will be able to come to some agreement." |
