Feed manufacturer issues apology over contaminated batch
Results of tests on O’Brien Carnival team expected this week
Gain Equine Nutrition, the feed manufacturer at the centre of the contamination incident which led to Aidan O’Brien being forced to take his four intended runners out of Sunday’s Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (Gr 1, 2400m), yesterday issued an unreserved apology to trainers impacted by the episode.
O’Brien and his sons, Joseph and Donnacha, were among a number of European trainers, including Classic winner Roger Varian, who were forced to withdraw their runners over the weekend after it emerged that they may have been exposed to a batch of feed contaminated with the prohibited substance Zilpaterol.
Zilpaterol is classified as a Beta-agonist, a medication which relaxes a horse’s airway muscles and makes it easier for them to breathe. It is unlicensed in Europe but is used in the US and elsewhere to promote weight gain, mainly in cattle.
Issuing a statement in the aftermath of a situation which forced the O’Brien stables to withdraw ten runners from Longchamp’s prestigious card on Sunday, Gain said: “We apologise sincerely to our valued customers for the inconvenience caused by this incident and we are committed to promptly keeping you fully informed.
“Intensive testing of our equine feed ranges, batches and individual ingredients has been underway around the clock since this issue first emerged in France.
“We are continuing to work closely with all appropriate agencies, including the Irish Department of Agriculture, to fully investigate the source, nature and extent of this contamination.”
Gain, who added that production of their feed has now re-commenced, added that they continue to advise their customers to refrain from using any stock of their goods they are still in possession of.
O’Brien senior has sent arguably his strongest ever team to Australia this spring with 2019 Epsom Derby (Gr 1, 1m 4f) hero Anthony Van Dyck (Galileo) spearheading a squad which includes leading Melbourne Cup (Gr 1, 3200m) fancy Tiger Moth (Galileo) as well as Magic Wand (Galileo), the winner of last year’s Mackinnon Stakes (Gr 1, 2000m).
The ten horses trained by Aidan and his Melbourne Cup-winning son Joseph are currently in quarantine at Werribee having arrived on an international flight on Friday.
Racing Victoria reacted immediately when they became aware of the issue in Europe and on Monday conducted out of competition testing on the horses. The results are expected to be known later this week.
RV said in a statement. “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.”
TJ Comerford, travelling head groom to Aidan O’Brien, told Racing.com yesterday: “The horses have travelled well and they have come here in good shape and they have fitted in well. They’re in good order and it has always been the plan for them. They have all travelled here well.
“We only found out when we got here the story with the feed. We have done a test here and we will do another test if it requires it and hopefully everything will go smooth and they can run. We are doing everything we can and that is all we can do.”
Anthony Van Dyck was among the 42 possibles left in the Caulfield Cup (Gr 1, 2400m) at yesterday’s second acceptance stage. Joseph O’Brien still has Buckhurst (Australia), Master Of Reality (Frankel), Pondus (Sea The Moon) and Twilight Payment (Teofilo) in the mix for the October 17 race.
Buckhurst’s name also featured among the 28 left in the 100th edition of the Cox Plate (Gr 1, 2040m), a race in which O’Brien senior could be represented by Armory (Galileo) and Magic Wand.