No go: quarantine restrictions rule Aussies out of Hong Kong trip

The work between the Hong Kong Jockey Club and Australian Government’s Department of Agriculture and Water Resources to establish a one-off set of arrangements that would allow Australian horses to participate in next month's International raceday has been shelved.

The general feeling in Australia is the situation will be resolved and the Australians will return to enliven the Hong Kong Carnival – roughly 25 horses were vaccinated this year just in case it was worked out in time with several very keen to travel – but with the situation still unresolved the Hong Kong Jockey Club has announced attempts to make it possible for Australian-based runners to participate had been discontinued.

Andrew Harding, executive director of racing at the Hong Kong Jockey Club, said: "The work to establish a one-off set of arrangements to allow Australian-based runners to participate in this year’s Longines Hong Kong International Races have been approached with a great amount of goodwill and effort by all parties and I think it seems highly likely that a mutually satisfactory outcome could have been achieved.

"However, our assessment is that we are reaching the point where the trainers and owners need to know unequivocally whether their horses could return directly to Australia, and unfortunately that certainty is not yet able to be provided.

"In the circumstances we believe that it is in the best interests of the connections of the horses that we make the call now that we will not be proceeding any further with establishing special arrangements for Australian-based runners."

An Australian horse could still go, but given the 180-day wait before being able to return it is unlikely anyone will be tempted.

More sad news for Ballydoyle

The Aidan O'Brien team lost The Cliffsofmoher in Tuesday's Melbourne Cup and there was more woe for the camp after The Pentagon, who broke down during trackwork on Monday, also had to be put down.

TJ Comerford, Aidan O'Brien's travelling head lad, said: "It was a terrible accident, he was just doing a slow canter with Latrobe and his leg shattered. It's a great shame and we don't know why it happened."

The Pentagon's career details

The Pentagon: suffered a fatal injury during trackworkCredit: Patrick McCann

The Pentagon won two races as juvenile, including the Group 3 JRA Tyros Stakes at Leopardstown, with his best efforts at the top level when third in the Racing Post Trophy last year and fifth in the Irish Derby this campaign.

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