Cant beleive some of the sectionals those moron jockeys ran - 1000m in 58 seconds was one after they passed the post. What were they thinking? Horses do well if they run 1000m races in under 58 seconds, but 1000m in a 3200m race?! Complete joke.

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I still can't figure it out though, they ran these blistering sectionals yet the time was only 3:20, which isnt a very bad time under the track conditions etc. but they just had such strong pace makers, anybody know?

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Melbourne Cup runner-up Bauer allegedly had shockwave therapy
December 03, 2008

AN urgent probe into Melbourne Cup runner-up Bauer will focus on the horse allegedly being subjected to electro shockwave therapy in the lead-up to the race.

It is understood Bauer underwent the treatment on the Thursday before the 2008 Melbourne Cup.

Under the Australian Rules of Racing it is prohibited for a horse to undergo such treatment within seven days of a race.

Following a National Chairman of Steward’s conference in 2004, Rule 64H, which deals with shock wave therapy, was adopted.

The Rule states: “A horse that has been subjected to any form of shockwave therapy shall be ineligible to race or take part in any trial in the seven days following such treatment.”

It is the first inquiry of its sort in the Melbourne Cup's 147-year history. If connections are found guilty, Bauer would be disqualified, costing the English stallion's owners, which include former Australia cricketer Simon O'Donnell, $835,000 in prizemoney.

Shockwave treatment involves electro waves going through a horse, which deadens pain in troubles areas, accelerates healing and increases blood flow.

No licensed person in Victoria or New South Wales has been charged under Rule 64H since it was introduced.

RVL stewards were on Wednesday morning unavailable for comment. Acting upon information, RVL stewards opened a probe into the treatment.

O’Donnell said that no performance enhancing drug were involved.

“The swabs are clear it’s nothing to do with an illegal drug - I assume," he said.

“He’s been treated in a manner that the RVL stewards want to investigate."

Asked if he knew the reason for the inquiry, he responded: "I think I know."

But he said he would not reveal his suspicions because, “I don’t want to prejudice any ongoing investigation by the stewards".

He said the investigation has “sullied” the success of the Melbourne Cup.

“You wake up this morning to this. For people who enjoy racing their horses, that’s been well and truly stripped today.”

RVL chairman of stewards Terry Bailey confirmed the investigation.

"We do need to clarify some issues," he said.

Bauer came to Melbourne with trainer Luca Cumani's daughter, Francesca, who supervised the horse until her father arrived 12 days before the Cup.

Bauer's managing owner, Terry Henderson, and Luca Cumani, speaking from Cumani's stables in Newmarket, England, said they were aware of the inquiry "but have also been advised there is no issue with the swabs taken from the horse".

"Any treatment given leading up to the Cup was done by vets appointed to the international horses by RVL," they said. "We are most concerned by the investigation, but feel comfortable nothing wrong has been done at our end."

The inquiry will not affect betting on the race.

Punters who backed Bauer would not have to return winnings, nor would those who backed fourth placegetter Master O'Reilly be able to claim a dividend if he is promoted to third.

Bauer, a $21 chance, stormed home from well back to be beaten by just a nose by the Bart Cummings-trained Viewed ($41) in the Cup at Flemington on November 4.

Bailey confirmed connections were aware of the inquiry. "Mr Henderson is away in the UK until December 11 and the inquiry will continue when he returns to Melbourne," he said.

"The inquiry is into whether or not any rules regarding pre-race treatment of a horse have been breached. I want to stress all swabs from the Melbourne Cup, including Bauer's, have been cleared."

Thanks for posting this one Dougie, it is very interesting. $835,000 is enough reason for this to be a huge drama but just imagine if Bauer's nose had been a few inches further advanced on Melbourne Cup day, the potential drama would be enormous and of course, not just due to the financial consideration.

Cumani admits Bauer underwent treatment

Wednesday, 3 December 2008


Trainer Luca Cumani has conceded his Melbourne Cup runner-up Bauer underwent treatment on the Thursday before he contested Australia’s greatest race which is currently under investigation by Racing Victoria Stewards.

Racing Victoria issued a statement this morning saying, “Racing Victoria Limited stewards are currently carrying out an investigation into the veterinary treatment Bauer received in the lead up to the 2008 Emirates Melbourne Cup”.

“These investigations are continuing and at this time the stewards are unable to comment any further in the matter,” the statement said.

“A formal inquiry will be scheduled when managing part-owner Mr Terry Henderson is expected to return from the UK on 11 December.

“The winning performance of Bauer in the Geelong Cup is not affected by this investigation.”

On Greg Radley’s raceday program on 2KY this morning, Cumani said the treatment in question was administered to the horse by a vet appointed by Racing Victoria.

“We had a slight issue with Bauer and he recommended the treatment and I said is that ok and he said ‘yep that’s fine’ and I said ok lets go ahead and he did the horse there and then and the horse was fine after that,” Cumani told Radley.

“It was basically a physiotherapy treatment that we were told was ok because we had to rely on the vet advise.”

The specific nature of the treatment is believed to be some form of shock wave treatment which under Australian Racing rules is not to be conducted on horses within seven days of contesting a race.

“This treatment is widely available in every racing country and it is only banned in England on raceday and I wasn’t aware that it would be an issue and the vet didn’t alert me that it would be an issue,” said Cumani.

“I took it that if he recommended it then it would be ok.

“He’s a local vet, he should know the local rules.”

Yes I was thinking the same thing, imagine he'd won. Also how do we know Mad Rush wasnt given the same treatment? Because even though he didnt run a place he still finished in the prize money.

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Hussler2912, I am not sure how much credence you should place in this advice but I came in halfway through a relevant segment of a Sydney radio sports show this evening. I don't think I was hearing things when they made reference to the vet in question sending an invoice to Racing Victoria for payment and specifically in relation to the "electro wave shock treatmen" or whatever it is. It seemed to me that this is how it came to their intention. Maybe one of our fellow Racingforum members will either confirm or refute this advice. We can only assume the vet did not give similar treatment to Mad Rush or he did it for free. Isn't this a terrible mess. It doesn't matter what the stewards announce tomorrow, there is almost certain to be legal action of some sort. I think it is embarrassing for Australia but not as embarrassing as Nicole Kidman was on the David Letterman show last week when supposedly promoting the film, "Australia".

Bad news for the owners and racing in general, maybe we shouldnt use the name Melbourne Cup as a race title anymore as it always brings so much controversy just look at the Greyhound Melboune Cup.

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Morgan I know what you mean but I believe that you and I have both recently expressed a liking for a little bit of controversy. Nevertheless, the gallops Melbourne Cup controversy is internationally embarrassing and I think this makes a big difference. I don't want to understate the negative impact on all of the parties involved with either Surgeon or Hanify's Impact and of course greyhound racing in general but the "fall-out" does not compare to the gallops situation. At the time of writing I am wondering whether an announcement has yet been made about Bauer's eligibility. There is no solution available that is a good one and I fear for the connections of Bauer and also Australia's international reputation that the decision is going to be "sorry Cumanis, Henderson, O'Donnell, etc, the horse was not eligible, return the $835,000 as soon as possible". I hope there is a better solution for everybody. I can think of one but I don't think it is financially palatable to RVB.

Cumani has been very honest about all this, I think he should be let off under the circumstances.

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