Czech horse banned from running in the 2016 Melbourne Cup

The Melbourne Cup hopes of Czech horse Trip To Rhodos have been dashed by quarantine regulations.

Restrictions on overseas horse imports mean there is not enough time for Trip To Rhodos to undergo quarantine before the Cup on November 1.

Since Tuesday’s release of nominations Racing Victoria has been investigating the logistics of getting Trip To Rhodos to Australia to become the first horse from the Czech Republic to run in the Melbourne Cup.

But the Australian Government does not have an agreement with the Czech Republic for the importation of horses into Australia.

He would have to spend 60 days in an approved country.

RV’s international recruitment officer Leigh Jordon said connections of Trip To Rhodos were naturally disappointed.

“While the horse is permitted to travel freely throughout Europe, the fact that he is based in the Czech Republic has meant that he cannot satisfy Australian quarantine protocols in time to contest this year’s Cup,” Jordon said.

“We now hope to work with the Australian Government over the next 12 months on what opportunities exist to allow future entries from the Czech Republic to travel more freely to Australia.”

Trip To Rhodos was one of 31 international entries among the 124 nominations for the Melbourne Cup on November 1.

He recently finished third in the Prix Kergolay in France, a race won by Americain (2010) and Protectionist (2014) on their way to their Melbourne Cup wins.

A subsequent request for special exemption for the horse has been denied, thus ruling out the chance of him competing in this year’s Emirates Melbourne Cup.

 

Article from JustHorseRacing.com.au

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