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O’Briens’ Australian Team Tested by RV

Australian runners trained by Aidan and his son Joseph O’Brien have undergone tests by Racing Victoria to see if they came back positive for the synthetic substance Zilpaterol, which had been found in contaminated GAIN feed. Both O’Briens and Aidan’s other son Donnacha were forced to scratch all of their runners on Arc Sunday after they tested positive for the substance. The O’Briens’ 10 horses arrived in Melbourne on Friday night and are under quarantine for two weeks at the International Horse Centre in Werribee.

A statement by Racing Victoria said in part, “Following discussions with the O’Brien stables, RV stewards have today conducted out of competition testing on their horses at Werribee to determine whether zilpaterol is currently in any of the horse’s systems. The results of these tests may take up to one week. Furthermore, both stables have confirmed to RV stewards today that they have ceased using feed from the provider in question.

“RV stewards will continue to work with the O’Brien stables regarding the situation and will make a further comment once the result of the out of competition tests are known and the stables have been notified.”

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COVID-19: Trainers Appleby, Bin Suroor To Skip Melbourne Cup

Due to concerns about COVID-19 and Melbourne's recent change to stage four restrictions, top trainers Charlie Appleby and Saeed bin Suroor have both decided to skip this year's Melbourne Cup in Australia, reports racingpost.com.

Both trainers for Godolphin, Appleby won the Melbourne Cup with Cross Counter in 2018. This year's edition of “the race that stops a nation” is scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 3.

“Charlie Appleby advised last night that because of the change to stage four restrictions, he wasn't comfortable sending his staff to Melbourne and Saeed has also advised he won't be coming,” Racing Victoria general manager of international operations Paul Bloodworth told racingpost.com. “It's a great shame. Saeed has been a regular in Australia for 30 years and Charlie certainly over the last five or six years so it's a shame they won't be able to compete.”

Leading owner Lloyd Williams is also considering missing out on the Melbourne Cup, he told racingpost.com on Wednesday. The six-time winner of the prestigious race has several hopefuls in training with Joseph O'Brien in Ireland, and concerns about staff safety while traveling are causing Williams to rethink his plans.

“It's too early to say, but travelling now is a greater consideration than it was 72 hours ago,” Williams told racingpost.com. “If there was any concern for staff travelling, I would not allow my group of horses to come – health is paramount.”

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Appleby, bin Suroor to Swerve Melbourne

Godolphin’s Newmarket-based trainers Charlie Appleby and Saeed bin Suroor have informed Racing Victoria that they will not send horses to this year’s Melbourne spring carnival amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Both trainers have enjoyed success at the carnival as of late; Charlie Appleby won the 2018 G1 Melbourne Cup with Cross Counter (GB) (Teofilo {Ire}), while bin Suroor has saddled three runners up in the great race while Benbatl (GB) won the G1 Ladbrokes S. in 2018 and was second to Winx (Aus) (Street Cry {Ire}) in the G1 Cox Plate.

The Australian state of Victoria has seen a surge in COVID-19 cases as of late.

“Both Saeed and Charlie have advised over the last few days that they won’t be coming to Melbourne this year,” Racing Victoria General Manager of International Operations Paul Bloodworth told Racing.com. “Charlie Appleby advised last night that because of the change to Stage 4 restrictions, he wasn’t comfortable sending his staff to Melbourne and Saeed has also advised he won’t be coming.

“It’s a great shame. Saaed has been a regular in Australia for 30 years and Charlie certainly over the last five or six years, so it’s a shame they won’t be able to compete.”

Plenty of other European-based trainers have engaged runners in the spring features-Aidan, Joseph and Donnacha O’Brien between them field 22 of the 182 entries for the Cox Plate on Oct. 24-but restrictions on staff travel into the country could yet scupper those plans.

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