NEWS
Dylan Thomas out of Japan Cup after EVA test
Posted: Tuesday, November 20, 2007 4:20 PM
DYLAN THOMAS
Racing Post photo
by Pete Denk
Dylan Thomas (Ire), the 2007 Cartier Horse of the Year and champion older male in Europe, was declared out of the $4.45-million Japan Cup (Jpn-G1) on Tuesday after testing positive for equine viral arteritis.
The test result was believed to have been caused by an EVA vaccination the four-year-old Danehill colt received at the Breeders’ Cup World Championships last month at Monmouth Park.
The vaccination is meant to protect a horse from contracting the disease by stimulating production of antibodies, but it could trigger a positive test.
“Dylan Thomas did not test negative for EVA, but he is showing no symptoms of the disease,” said Nobu Mochizuki, senior manager of the Japan Racing Association’s New York office.
After finishing fifth in the John Deere Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1), the Japan Cup was to be Dylan Thomas’s final career race before he retires to Coolmore Stud for the 2008 breeding season.
“Dylan Thomas was vaccinated for EVA at the Breeders' Cup,” Ballydoyle trainer Aidan O’Brien said in a statement. “This is a standard procedure for all stallions going to stud, as it is in the best interest of the stallion and mare owner. Many of our stallions in the past have entered Japan with the EVA vaccination before entering stud.”
O’Brien said he hoped the colt would be able to leave Japan’s Shiroi Quarantine Station in time to race in the Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Vase (HK-G1) at Sha Tin on December 9.
An agreement between Ireland and Japan dictates a horse testing positive for EVA must remain in quarantine for 60 days without irregular symptoms.
“The Hong Kong Jockey Club, aware of our problem, have extended an invitation to Dylan Thomas to run in the Vase at Sha Tin on Sunday, December 9,” O’Brien said. “We hope that the Japanese Racing Association will release him in time to run.”
Japan has never had a reported case of EVA. Hong Kong does not require testing for EVA, and Hong Kong officials were hopeful Dylan Thomas would be allowed to leave quarantine early.
“The negotiations to allow Dylan Thomas to travel to Hong Kong are complex and ongoing,” said Dr. Brian Stewart, the Hong Kong Jockey Club’s head of veterinary regulation and international liaison. “But we are hopeful that a way forward can be found to enable Dylan Thomas to compete in Hong Kong and to protect the health status of the local horse population.”
Dylan Thomas has won ten of 19 starts and earned $6,620,852. He is a six-time Group 1 winner, including the 2007 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (Fr-G1).
Pete Denk is a staff writer of Thoroughbred Times
