Stringent checks on overseas Melbourne Cup runners remain despite changes to protocols

Racing Victoria has adjusted some of its veterinary protocols for international horses competing at this year's spring carnival, but no changes have been made to the stringent checks on those running in the Melbourne Cup.

As the alterations were announced on Monday, Racing Victoria reaffirmed the need for all international runners in the Melbourne Cup to pass a CT scan in order to compete in Australia's most prestigious race.

Last year, the Aidan O'Brien-trained ante-post favourite Jan Brueghel was dramatically prevented from running just days before the Flemington showpiece after a CT scan revealed the St Leger winner was "at heightened risk of injury", a decision O'Brien branded as "ridiculous".

O'Brien had previously decided against having runners at the Melbourne Cup Carnival in recent years due to what he felt were overly strict veterinary checks. 

Jan Brueghel: was dramatically ruled out of the Melbourne Cup last yearCredit: Edward Whitaker

International participation in the Melbourne Cup has significantly declined since the increased protocols were introduced in 2021 after a spate of fatal injuries suffered by overseas runners in the race, including the O'Brien-trained Derby hero Anthony Van Dyck in 2020.

O'Brien's son Joseph, a two-time Melbourne Cup-winning trainer, has previously hit out at the screening process for international horses and Charlie Appleby, successful with Cross Counter in 2018, has not targeted the race since stewards ordered the withdrawal of Godolphin stayer Ispolini in 2019.

Among the changes made for this year, a PET scan is now available to validate CT results, while international horses who do not hold an entry for the Caulfield or Melbourne Cups or Cox Plate are no longer required to undergo a further CT scan before each race in Australia.

Racing Victoria chief executive Aaron Morrison said: "The protocols have served to arrest an alarming trend and been a catalyst for the last four Spring Racing Carnivals and Melbourne Cups being conducted without serious injuries.

"After each carnival the protocols are evaluated to consider their application, ongoing suitability and any potential enhancements based on stakeholder feedback, our learnings, data and new technology.

"What remains unchanged is that every international horse will have to pass a CT scan to compete here, however, we’re taking a more pragmatic approach with the volume of scans for those horses not entered in the Cups or Cox Plate. Importantly, all other veterinary oversight of the international horses remains in place to monitor them during the Spring Racing Carnival.

“Beyond that, the advancement of technology means this year we can introduce PET scanning where appropriate and time permitting to provide further information if an area of concern is identified on a CT scan here in Australia.

"Our goal remains to deliver world class racing, whilst ensuring the safety of horses and riders. We look forward to working with international and local connections to maintain the recent positive trend." 

Changes to the 2025 veterinary protocols

Variation to scanning protocols for select horses – International horses that do not hold an entry for the Caulfield Cup, Cox Plate or Melbourne Cup will only be required to undertake one mandatory pre-travel Computed Tomography (CT) scan and won’t be required to have further CT scans before each race in Australia. Such horses will remain subjected to other protocols, including multiple pre- and post-travel physical veterinary inspections. Where a horse in this cohort undertakes pre-travel Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), it must undergo its mandatory CT scan in Australia prior to racing in Victoria. 

Pre-travel international scan to be a CT wherever practical – Where reasonably practicable, international horses must undergo a CT of all distal limbs in their home country prior to entering pre-export quarantine to travel to Australia. MRI of the distal limbs will only be permitted where a CT scan is not reasonably accessible. Standing CT technology is available in the UK, Hong Kong, France and Germany. Japan and Ireland remain without high-quality standing CT technology commensurate with that in Australia. 

PET scan now available to validate CT results if desired – For international horses competing in Victoria and local horses in the Melbourne Cup, where a mandatory CT scan has identified a potential issue, a follow-up Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scan will now be accessible, time permitting, to further assist in determining the horse’s suitability to race. To afford an opportunity for PET scanning, the window for horses entered in the Melbourne Cup to present for their compulsory pre-race CT scan has been extended, now opening prior to the Caulfield Cup.

Melbourne Cup Eve vet inspection must take place in Victoria – All Melbourne Cup acceptors must be in Victoria in sufficient time for their physical veterinary inspection on the day prior to the race. This inspection will no longer be permitted interstate.

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