Veterinary protocols have been enhanced for races such as the Melbourne Cup since 2021Credit: George Sal
Officials at Racing Victoria have been accused by a senior vet of attempting to pressure her into showing greater leniency on veterinary checks for international runners.
Grace Forbes, Racing Victoria's (RV) general manager of veterinary services, has started legal action against the organisation alleging it had told her she was not "flexible enough" in her approach to international horses aiming to compete in races such as the Melbourne Cup.
According to a report in the Herald Sun, Forbes has lodged an 'application for an order to stop bullying' with Australia's Fair Work Commission having taken leave from work for "psychological and emotional exhaustion".
Forbes claimed in her filing she had been involved in a meeting in April with Aaron Morrison, RV chief executive, and Jamie Stier, the former BHA head of regulation who now works as the head of RV integrity unit, in which she was told to be more "flexible" with international horses.
Forbes included accusations that she had "no doubt" Aidan O'Brien had "applied direct pressure to Racing Victoria leadership to soften the standards" on veterinary checks for international horses before Jan Brueghel was scratched from the Melbourne Cup by vets last autumn.
Forbes said: "Being 'flexible' could only mean one thing: that Mr Stier and Mr Morrison wanted horses trained and presented by trainers like Mr Aidan O'Brien or Mr Charlie Appleby to pass the veterinary safety protocols - regardless of whether they were fit to race.
"My application of the veterinary safety protocols, consistent and evidence based, was clearly seen as an obstacle to their horses competing. The criticism of Mr Aidan O'Brien by other UK and Irish trainers is well known - many have quietly expressed their frustration at the latitude he has historically been given."
Stricter veterinary protocols have been in place for horses wanting to run in the likes of the Melbourne Cup following seven fatalities on that raceday in eight years. The most recent death in the Melbourne Cup itself was the O'Brien-trained Anthony Van Dyck in 2020.
Last year, O'Brien branded the decision to scratch ante-post Melbourne Cup favourite Jan Brueghel as "ridiculous" after pre-race veterinary checks deemed the colt was at a heightened risk of injury.
Referring to the decision to take Jan Brueghel out of the race, Forbes said: "The decision was not made by me alone, but by an independent panel of imaging experts. Still, I believe I was punished by Mr Stier and Mr Morrison for enforcing that decision.
"I have no doubt that Mr Aidan O'Brien applied direct pressure to Racing Victoria leadership to soften the standards - to make the veterinary safety protocols 'flexible', even if that meant risking catastrophic injury to horses.
"I am also aware that Mr Nick Williams has had the ear of Racing Victoria and Mr Morrison on the same subject matter."
Aidan O'Brien did not wish to comment when approached by the Racing Post on Monday regarding the claims reported in the Herald Sun.
In a statement to the Australian publisher, a RV spokesperson said the organisation "strongly refute their accuracy and the disparaging comments attributed by Dr Forbes about Racing Victoria and its staff".
The spokesperson added: "Equine welfare is of the highest priority to Racing Victoria. The veterinary protocols were introduced in 2021 following an unacceptable number of catastrophic incidents and since then the Melbourne Cup and other key events have been held without serious injury. The protocols continue to set a global standard and we will not compromise these."
A Fair Work Commission hearing is expected to be held later this year.