Trainer Charlie Fellowes slams ‘disaster’ and ‘impossible’ Melbourne Cup changes in light of Anthony Van Dyck incident

TRAINER Charlie Fellowes has blasted a host of changes made to the Melbourne Cup in a bid to make the world famous race safer.

The Newmarket trainer is a regular down under with stable star Prince Of Arran but no longer feels the trip will be viable.

The Aussie racing authorities have made sweeping changes after a review was carried out following the death of Anthony Van Dyck at last year’s Festival.

A total of 41 recommendations have been backed that largely affect international horses.

Fellowes believes an international challenge will be ‘impossible.’

He tweeted: “This report and subsequent conditions for getting a horse to run in the Melbourne Cup are a disaster for any European trainer dreaming of winning this great race.

“I get that changes had to be made but this is too far and basically makes it impossible for us to come down.”

He later added: “I completely understand that changes had to be made. I get that this wonderful race is under pressure from animal welfare groups, which I have seen at first hand on my trips.

“Yes it is a minority, but we see them when we do the parade and something had to be done. For that, I feel very sorry for the Racing Victoria and the organisers because they’ve been put between a rock and a hard place.

“However, I feel they have been brutally unlucky and I worry that the measures outlined in the report that European-trained horses are going to have to pass are basically impossible.

“There are a few parts in the report that actually don’t make sense, and I feel incredibly sad that it will now be nigh on impossible to take a horse down there – and I have loved every minute of my trips to Australia.

“I think it is potentially disastrous for European trainers, because any horse deemed good enough to run in the Melbourne Cup will now be realistically moved to Australia to race – where they will not have to go through the same veterinary checks that they will if the same horse is with a European trainer.

“So, it will result in us losing more horses. John Gosden’s comments recently of Britain turning into a nursery for other racing jurisdictions rings even truer this morning – and I think it is a very sad day.

“It really is the most wonderful race and it is incredibly sad what has happened. I believe there are other changes which could have been made that haven’t, that wouldn’t have restricted Europeans going there and would have helped prevent further injuries from happening.

“Look at Royal Ascot this year without the Australian sprinters. When they come they add so much to the meeting – and when they don’t it is to the detriment of Royal Ascot. That is why Ascot have a team who go around the world trying to get them to come and race in England, which is welcomed.

“It is very sad that it will not be happening to the Melbourne Cup.”

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