Horse Racing
Jan Brueghel Will MISS The Melbourne Cup After Failing Vets Test Down Under
Andy is a horse racing journalist and betting expert who specializes in trends and stats. With his long association with TrainersQuotes and FromTheStables, Andy has also built up solid contacts with some of the best stables in the UK. Has written for GeeGeez and bookmakers Matchbook and BetBright in the past too, plus was the former sports betting editor of odds comparison site Easyodds and Juicestorm. Has also appeared on betting podcasts for MatchBook and has featured in the popular Weatherbys Cheltenham Festival Guide in the past. Andy's also ghost written for former top jockey Richard Dunwoody and continues to have a monthly column in the Racing Ahead horse racing magazine. Now a regular on Sportscasting giving his views, trends and tips mainly on horse racing - if there's a stat to be explored and it's a sport, Andy is sure to find a betting angle to use. You can also hear Andy's weekly horse racing views and best bets on the popular Final Furlong podcast.
Get to know Andy Newton betterPublished29 Oct 2024
Aidan O’Brien’s Jan Brueghel will NOT be a 2024 Melbourne Cup runner after this year’s St Leger winner failed a vets check Down Under – with just a week till the race.
Jan Brueghel No Longer a 2024 Melbourne Cup Runner, After Dramatic Vets Test Failure
The best horse racing betting site in the UK had made Jan Brueghel one of the market leaders for the 2024 Melbourne Cup on November 5th – but sadly there will be no fireworks from the Aidan O’Brien-trained 3 year-old on bonfire night, after he failed to pass the veterinary checks in Australia.
Jan Brueghel, who is yet to lose a race, was hoping to give O’Brien his first winning in the ‘Race The Stops a Nation’, but this season’s St Leger winner was ruled out of the race by the Racing Victoria horse racing stewards on Tuesday 29th October.
The reason behind the failed vets test for Jan Brueghel said in a statement that the horse was “at a heightened risk of injury”.
Ryan Moore, who won the Melbourne Cup in 2014, was due to partner Jan Brueghel, with the horse having been based at Werribee in Australia when the decision was announced.
It’s been reported the failed vets test also came after pre-race scans were performed on Saturday.
With Jan Brueghel no longer a 2024 Melbourne Cup runner, this has also shaken up the market – with recent Cox Plate winner Via Sistina and Geelong Cup hero Onesmoothoperator shortening.
While another top Irish trainer Willie Mullins also has a strong hand with the versatile Vauban another that’s popular in the betting, plus last season’s County Hurdle winner Absurde.
Vauban was 14th in the race last year, with Absurde 7th.
When Is The Melbourne Cup 2024?
📅Date: Tuesday 5th November 2024
⌚Time: 4:00am (GMT)
🏇Racecourse: Flemington (2m)
💰Winning Purse: £2,485,875
📺 TV: Sky Sports Racing
Coolmore’s Australia Boss Tom Magnier Said
“We’ve learned that Jan Brueghel won’t be taking his place in the Melbourne Cup this year.
“He went through all of the protocols in Ireland before departing. The lads were very happy with the horse and he was bouncing in quarantine, but the vets have come up with the decision that he doesn’t pass the inspection to run.”
“I’m extremely disappointed for the all of the team who have put so much effort in getting him here. They really were excited about this, but at the end of the day the horse comes first and the decision by Racing Victoria has been made. Aidan will talk to the lads about what’s next, but we’re just very disappointed.”