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<\/p>\nRacing Victoria decided earlier this year not to send Forbes to the UK to run its testing regime for international horses planning to run in next month\u2019s Melbourne Cup.<\/p>\n
That duty was assigned to UK-based vets David Sykes and Amanda Piggott, who had a history of engagement and communication with international stables.<\/p>\n
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Racing Victoria chief executive Aaron Morrison.Credit: Scott Barbour\/Racing Photos<\/p>\n
Morrison travelled to England before the Royal Ascot carnival in June to meet with international trainers in the training centre of Newmarket to discuss Melbourne Cup protocols.<\/p>\n
A dozen international runners, from five different countries, will compete in Melbourne this spring.<\/p>\n
Forbes, who was left in charge of the safety protocols from Melbourne, took personal leave in June this year. She declined to comment when contacted by The Age.<\/p>\n
In an application lodged with the Fair Work Commission in August, Forbes alleged that she was called into a meeting with Morrison and head of integrity Jamie Stier in April and asked to be more flexible when inspecting horses.<\/p>\n
She accused them of wanting international horses trained by the likes of O\u2019Brien and Charlie Appleby to be passed to run in the Cup regardless of whether they were fit to race.<\/p>\n
But Morrison said the suggestion that Racing Victoria was not \u201cprioritising the welfare of our horses is completely rejected\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur veterinary protocols set a global standard and will not be compromised,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou only need to take a look at events over recent days to know how serious we are on horse welfare.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur stewards made the decision to withdraw the favourite for the Cox Plate and the Melbourne Cup Sir Delius because of strong vets\u2019 advice that he\u2019s at heightened risk of injury.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s putting the welfare of the horse above all else.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sir Delius joined the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott stable last year and had won two group 1 races in Melbourne this spring before being stood down by Racing Victoria stewards<\/a> last week.<\/p>\n Loading<\/p>\n He failed a CT scan and a follow-up PET scan \u2013 new technology introduced by Racing Victoria this year.<\/p>\n The five-year-old stallion was required to undergo the compulsory testing because he was entered in the Melbourne Cup. He would not have needed to be scanned if he was only running in the Cox Plate.<\/p>\n Strict safety protocols were introduced by Forbes\u2019 team for all Melbourne Cup runners in 2021 after seven horses died across seven years, placing the future of the race under government pressure.<\/p>\n The new testing system introduced CT scans of horses\u2019 legs which were then reviewed by an independent panel of three vets. The technology was used to identify injury risks such as weakness or small fissures in a horse\u2019s bone structure.<\/p>\n The O\u2019Brien-trained Anthony Van Dyck was the last horse to die during the Melbourne Cup after sustaining serious injuries about 600m from the finish line. It had finished second in the Caulfield Cup the start before.<\/p>\n A subsequent stewards investigation into the fatality found that precautionary diagnostic imaging, such as an MRI or CT scan, may have identified the potential for a future serious racing injury.<\/p>\n While O\u2019Brien dismissed suggestions Anthony Van Dyck had been unfit to race, the findings led to the introduction of the current safety protocols.<\/p>\n O\u2019Brien doesn\u2019t have a runner entered for this year\u2019s Melbourne Cup, but his son Joseph has two – Australian-owned favourite Al Riffa and former hurdler Goodie Two Shoes who both passed tests before entering into Australian quarantine.<\/p>\n They will be scanned again at Werribee before being cleared to run in the Melbourne Cup.<\/p>\n The worry facing Via Sistina\u2019s trainer in her quest for back-to-back Cox Plates<\/p>\n Cox Plate champion Via Sistina avoided the drama of this day 12 months ago, but trainer Chris Waller has another set of worries heading into this year\u2019s race with the raging favourite.<\/p>\n The reigning horse of the year has eight rivals on Saturday as she aims to emulate the last great mare of the Australian turf, Winx, by winning back-to-back runnings of the country\u2019s championship race at Moonee Valley.<\/p>\n The veteran mare will start an overwhelming favourite in the $6 million weight-for-age classic, her chances done no harm after the ideal draw of gate five at Tuesday morning\u2019s barrier draw.<\/p>\n Via Sistina, pictured getting a wash at Moonee Valley on Tuesday morning.Credit: Getty Images<\/p>\n It was on this day last year when Via Sistina\u2019s position in the race was plunged into uncertainty after she sensationally dumped jockey James McDonald and took off, running four laps of the course.<\/a><\/p>\n Waller cut a more relaxed figure at Moonee Valley\u2019s Breakfast with the Best after his mare emerged unscathed from her track gallop \u2013 but there is one thing bugging him and jockey McDonald as they plot a path to victory.<\/p>\n![\"Via](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/255420cfcebc4e31ce9bdd30049a92e8d3531c03.jpeg\")
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