AIDAN O’BRIEN’S stable star and St Leger king Scandinavia is OUT of the £5million Melbourne Cup, according to reports.
The Ballydoyle boss vowed never to go to Australia again after handicap ‘good thing’ Jan Brueghel failed vet tests last year.
PASt Leger monster and Group 1 king Scandinavia is out of the Melbourne Cup, according to reports[/caption]
But Scandinavia’s rocket up the ranks had forced a rethink among the Coolmore lads.
And O’Brien said the ‘race that stops a nation’ was under strong consideration for the Goodwood Cup winner.
But, according to The Verdict podcast with Michael Felgate, Scandinavia, who had been around 10-1 for the huge race, is now officially out.
And though he didn’t confirm one way or another, he suggested it could have been down to the three-year-old colt failing the infamous vet tests.
O’Brien has yet to comment on the horse’s future.
But Felgate said in the podcast: “There will be no Aidan O’Brien horses in the Melbourne Cup – no Scandinavia coming out.
“A lot of people thought (mentioning him for the race) was like them putting a for sale sign up for the horse.
“But there was a genuine intent to bring him out.
“The vet protocol had begun and was underway with Scandinavia.
“Was there another issue, like Jan Brueghel?
“Maybe all things were not right with the veterinary process.
“We don’t know that for a fact, it’s all speculation.
“But was there an issue with Scandinavia? Will we get to see him race more in Europe?
“There is no doubt he is a world-class galloper.
“It would have been great to have Aidan back, we love him.
“But I wonder if this puts more strain on Aidan, the vet protocols and racing in Australia.
“But Aidan O’Brien will not be coming to this year’s Melbourne Cup.”
More to follow.
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