Chief Stipe Posted October 4, 2021 Share Posted October 4, 2021 Anthony Van Dyck nerve block plan “we were led by Racing Victoria vets” Champion Irish trainer Aidan O’Brien has spoken about the lead-up to Anthony Van Dyck’s death in last year’s Melbourne Cup. Picture : Getty Images. By Brad Waters08:10pm • 04 October 2021 0 Comments Champion Irish trainer Aidan O’Brien says Racing Victoria vets led the decision to give Anthony Van Dyck a nerve block in the lead-up to last year’s Caulfield Cup. Anthony Van Dyck ran a close second to Verry Elleegant in the 2020 Caulfield Cup days after having the nerve block, a procedure vets use to determine whether a horse is feeling pain in a particular area. Anthony Van Dyck subsequently broke down badly in the Melbourne Cup. Vets were unable to save the 2019 English Derby winner’s life with a public outcry following the incident. O’Brien spoke about Anthony Van Dyck’s tragic death in last year’s Melbourne Cup in an interview with UK publication Racing Post. O’Brien said there was nothing wrong with Anthony Van Dyck while the horse was at the Werribee quarantine centre. But RV vets thought otherwise. “Anthony Van Dyck was never a big mover, but we were always happy with him,” O’Brien told the Post. “The Racing Victoria vets started looking at him and they suggested that we could do a nerve block on him. “We never do nerve blocks – never – but they suggested we do it because it was the only way they could let him run (in the Caulfield Cup). Anthony Van Dyck heading out for what was to be his last race in the 2020 Melbourne Cup at Flemington. Picture: Racing Photos via Getty Images. “They wanted to see if there was something there. “So they did the nerve block, found nothing and let him run. “I read afterwards that we had done the nerve block, but we never do – we were led by the Racing Victoria vets.” However, Racing Victoria issued a statement on Monday advising O’Brien’s private veterinarian had the final say on whether Anthony Van Dyck underwent the nerve block procedure. The statement also noted there was no RV vet present while the nerve block was conducted on Anthony Van Dyck. “As is done for any horse displaying abnormalities or concerns at the time of an inspection as to its suitability to race, Racing Victoria Veterinary Services consulted with the trainer and private veterinarian with regards to the diagnostic options available,” an RV spokesperson said. “The final decision on any diagnostic procedures (is) made by the private veterinarian. “As a result of the examination, the stable veterinarian determined that there was no lameness in any of the horse’s fetlocks. “Thus further diagnostic imaging, including MRI or CT, was not sought by Racing Victoria Veterinary Services or the stable’s veterinarian.” Anthony Van Dyck’s death produced a strong reaction from Racing Victoria and the Victoria Racing Club. The bodies commissioned a report into Anthony Van Dyck’s death alongside a review into Melbourne Cup fatalities. The Melbourne Cup review featured input from top racing minds such as champion trainer Chris Waller. RV introduced tough new pre-travel rules for international runners intending to compete at the Melbourne Spring Carnival. Those rules include requirements that horses must pass full body scans and scintigraphy scans before they are allowed to enter quarantine overseas. The new requirements are the reason O’Brien has not sent a team to Melbourne for this year’s carnival. “You have to inject this nuclear dye into them, and a person can’t go into them for four days – and they are meant to race after that?” he said. “Obviously, it’s unfortunate what happened to our horse, but they must be under huge pressure from the ‘antis’ (anti-racing campaigners) or whoever to demand that sort of thing.” 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted October 5, 2021 Author Share Posted October 5, 2021 I was thinking about this a bit more. How healthy is it for the horse to make it radioactive to the point where the trainer or strapper can't visit it for a few days? Would make @Freda hair purple! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Freda Posted October 5, 2021 Share Posted October 5, 2021 45 minutes ago, Chief Stipe said: I was thinking about this a bit more. How healthy is it for the horse to make it radioactive to the point where the trainer or strapper can't visit it for a few days? Would make @Freda hair purple! It's been blue before...... 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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