Talented European stayer Scandinavia will not run in the 2025 Melbourne Cup and has been put away until next season.
Trainer Aidan O’Brien confirmed that the recent English St Leger winner will not be sent to Flemington Racecourse for ‘the race that stops the nation’.
The Gold Cup at Royal Ascot will be Scandinavia’s primary objectivenext year and his absence from the big race in Australia is a major blow to racing fans.
Several reputable Melbourne Cup betting online platforms rated the horse as one of the favourites to give O’Brien his first-ever victory in the showpiece event.
Al Riffa, who is trained by O’Brien’s son Joseph, is expected to take up his engagement, providing he passes Racing Victoria’s strict veterinary protocols.
The rules have frustrated O’Brien snr, following the controversy surrounding Jan Breughel’s withdrawal from the race last year. Scandinavia has now reportedly suffered the same fate.
While the trainer has not elaborated on the reasons behind Scandinavia’s absence from the race, Joseph O’Brien’s race planner has shared his thoughts on the matter.
Kevin Blakejoined SENTrack and RSN’s Giddy Up to discuss Al Riffa’s preparations and was questioned about Scandinavia’s withdrawal.
Blake admitted that he understands why the safety protocols are in place, but believes they are too stringent when compared to the rules elsewhere.
“We all get why Racing Victoria are taking such a cautionary approach to the Cup and their marquee races,” Blake said.
“But my view from the day they announced the veterinary protocols, I just felt they went too far.We’re still finding it very frustrating.
“The majority of horses that get put forward get knocked back at the very first stage and people don’t tend to hear about them.
“What that says to me is in Europe we either have a bunch of idiot trainers or the approach that has been taken by Racing Victoria is overly cautious.
“Racing Victoria is the only place in the world where these barriers are put up.It just doesn’t sit well.But these are all my personal thoughts – I’m not speaking for anyone but myself.”
A series of on-course incidents during the early part of the 21st century forced Racing Victoria to reassess their safety rules for the Melbourne Cup.
The move appears to have had the desired effect, with the race avoiding any other unfortunate occurrences since the new regulations were introduced.
While O’Brien and Blake have been vociferous in their opposition to the protocols, respected journalist Andrew Hawkins believes their criticisms are unwarranted.
He says the new rules have made the race a more attractive proposition for punters who wager on the sportsbooks featured on comparison platform AustralianBettingSites.
“Whether or not Scandinavia failed the vet, the “conspiracy theories” are ridiculous from some people who really should know better,” Hawkins said.
“There is no vendetta against Coolmore or Aidan O’Brien. There is no ‘protectionist racket’ designed to exclude international runners. Everyone is in the same boat.
“Maybe European three-year-olds are those who might have more hot spots or minor issues given most of them are at the end of their first full season of racing.
“You’d think the fact Jan Brueghel has had an injury-interrupted season would suggest that maybe there was actually something on the scans.
“No one likes the scans or wishes they were a reality. It’s heartbreaking to get the call that your horse, who you think is a major chance, hasn’t passed the vet – passing that onto the owners of Durston in 2022 was brutal.
“However, something had to be done – it had become an existential threat. And there is no doubt it has contributed to a safe race the last five years.”
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