Aussies Confident Cup Will Go Ahead

Officials at Racing Victoria are confident the outbreak of Equine Influenza will not prevent European horses travelling to Australia for the 5 million Emirates Melbourne Cup.

Racing in New South Wales has come to a standstill due to many cases of EI, and despite hundreds of horses with high temperatures having already been tested in Victoria, the virus is yet to hit the state.

While doubts still remain over whether horses from New South Wales will be allowed to participate in the 2007 spring carnival, Stephen Allanson, Racing Victoria CEO, said that the European contingent are on track to head to Melbourne for the richest handicap race in the world.

'We haven't had any comment from any of our European trainers to say that they are worried about this,' Allanson said.

'A matter of fact the opposite has been the case where they can't work out what all the fuss is about.

'They have lived with it for many, many years and they are making plans on an ongoing basis to be here, so the Europeans are still on target to come.'

Every precaution is currently being taken in Victoria to stop EI spreading, and Allanson said that as each day passes, it is becoming more likely that the home of the Melbourne Cup will escape the threatening illness.

'As each day goes by we are getting more and more optimistic that we are past the danger period,' Allanson said.

'Each day is becoming more and more positive. In a couple of week's time I think we can walk around and say we have kept it out of Victoria.'

(C) PA Sport