Breaking News: Contaminated Feed results in withdrawal of Adian O'Brien's horses Prix de l'Arc meeting

[Chief Stipe]

Aidan O'Brien's four runners ruled out of Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe

By Andy Stephens@StevoGG

 

Sat 3 Oct 2020

O'Brien's four runners are out of the Arc (Pat Healy)

Aidan O'Brien's intended four runners in the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp on Sunday were sensationally ruled out of the race on Saturday night.

It was revealed on Friday that various batches of Gain horse feeds, which O'Brien uses, had been found to be contaminated with a prohibited substance.

And urine samples taken from the quartet have come back positive.

Derby winner Serpentine was among O'Brien's quartet, along with three more Group One winners in Japan, Mogul and Sovereign. The first three-named had all been trading at about 14-1.

 

Their absence was announced via a Tweet on the official account of O’Brien’s Ballydoyle yard at 9.20pm. It read: "Unfortunately the results of the urine samples taken from the horses yesterday have come back positive from the French laboratory.

Derby winner Serpentine had been set to be among O'Brien's Arc runners (Focusonracing)

"There is a possibility that the contaminent may have left their racing by the time of racing tomorrow however we have no guarantee of this and in order to protect the integrity of racing we have decided to withdraw all our horses from racing tomorrow.

"Joseph and Donnacha O'Brien will do likewise."

O'Brien Sr had withdrawn his brilliant dual Classic winner, Love, from the Arc on Thursday because of the heavy ground. She had been favourite in many ante-post lists.

The absence of his star-studded quintet means Enable, seeking a record-breaking third win in the mile and a half feature, will start hot favourite for the fourth successive year.

She had been a top-priced 6-4 before news broke of the O'Brien runners being ruled out but is now no bigger than 11-10, with some firms quoting her at odds-on. Stradivarius, her stablemate, is a top-priced 11-2, but as low as 7-2 in places.

Fancy Blue will be another absentee on Sunday (Pic: Focusonracing)

Gain Equine Nutrition had issued a statement on Thursday advising trainers to refrain from feeding horses its equine products, including its widely used cubes and mix, after it emerged some of its products have been contaminated with Zilpaterol.

That substance is unlicensed in Europe but is used in America and elsewhere to promote weight gain, mainly in cattle. The advisory came about after France Galop announced five horses had tested positive for Zilpaterol in recent weeks.

O'Brien reacted swiftly, switching from Gain products to Connolly's Red Mills feed on Friday morning, but the damage had been done.

He was set to have four other runners in the supporting races, too, including St Mark's Basilica, who had been favourite for the Qatar Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere.

O'Brien's two sons also had leading Group One contenders due to race on Sunday.

Donnacha's French Oaks and Nassau Stakes winner Fancy Blue was second favourite for the Prix de l'Opera, while his older brother Joseph's Pretty Gorgeous had headed the betting in the Qatar Prix Marcel Boussac.

The Arc was first run 100 years ago but celebrations this weekend have already been muted. Only 1,000 people will be permitted in the racecourse on Sunday because of the coronavirus pandemic and heavy rain in Paris this week has left the racecourse saturated.

Leading jockey Christophe Soumillon, 39, has been riding at the track longer than most and said on Saturday he had never known the ground at the track to be riding deeper. More showers are forecast on Sunday.