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“Being ‘flexible’ could only mean one thing: that Mr Stier and Morrison wanted horses trained and presented by trainers like Mr Aidan O’Brien or Mr Charlie Appleby to pass the Veterinary Safety Protocols – regardless of whether they were fit to race.
“My application of the Veterinary Safety Protocols, consistent and evidence based, was clearly seen as an obstacle to their horses competing.
Racing Victoria chief executive Aaron Morrison.Credit: Scott Barbour/Racing Photos
“I felt that both Mr Stier and Mr Morrison, by questioning my decision-making and repeatedly citing my lack of flexibility in implementing Veterinary Safety Protocols, were pressuring and coercing me to permit horses that had been determined - by a panel of regulatory veterinarians and or a panel of imaging specialists - to be high risk of injury, to travel and race.”
Racing Victoria’s statement refuted Forbes’ allegations.
“Regarding the workplace dispute, we are disappointed to read the allegations and strongly refute their accuracy and the disparaging comments attributed by Dr Forbes about Racing Victoria and its staff,” the statement said.
Last week, Gai Waterhouse’s one-time Cox Plate and Melbourne Cup favourite Sir Delius was ruled out of the Melbourne Spring Carnival because it was at “heightened risk of injury”.
Racing Victoria stewards banned the French horse on independent vets’ advice last Friday.
A compulsory CT scan, and follow-up PET scan, was reviewed by an independent panel of three vets who revealed that the galloper was at risk of breaking down if he continued to race.
The statement did not disclose the exact nature of the potential injury other than it involved the horse’s legs. All Melbourne Cup horses – both international and locally trained – are subject to the same tests.
“Equine welfare is of the highest priority to Racing Victoria which is why we’ve spent $45 million on equine welfare programs, initiatives and resources since 2017,” Racing Victoria said.
“The veterinary protocols were introduced in 2021 following an unacceptable number of catastrophic incidents and since then the Melbourne Cup and other key events have been held without serious injury. The protocols continue to set a global standard and we will not compromise these.
“Our governance structure requires that any update to processes and protocols involves extensive consultation and multiple layers of approval.”
Strict safety protocols were introduced for all Melbourne Cup runners in 2021 after seven horses died across seven years, placing the future of the race under government pressure.
The horse race has been fatality free in the past four years.
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O’Brien trained Anthony Van Dyck, the last horse to die during the Melbourne Cup after sustaining serious injuries about 600m from the finish line.
A stewards’ investigation found that precautionary diagnostic imaging, such as an MRI or CT scan,
may have identified the potential for a future serious racing injury based on the findings of the post-mortem.
While O’Brien dismissed suggestions Anthony Van Dyck had been unfit to race, the findings led to the introduction of the current safety protocols.
O’Brien doesn’t have runner entered for this year’s 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. They will be scanned again before the Melbourne Cup.
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