Racing: Dylan Thomas has been denied the chance of running in Sunday's Japan Cup after falling foul of veterinary red tape.
Recently voted Cartier Horse of the Year, the four-year-old was ruled a non-runner because officials were not satisfied with the results of a routine test for equine viral arteritis (EVA).
However, trainer Aidan O'Brien is hoping he could be allowed to contest the Hong Kong Vase on December 9th after receiving an invitation.
"Dylan Thomas was vaccinated for EVA at the Breeders' Cup," said O'Brien.
"This is a standard procedure for all stallions going to stud as it is in the best interest of the stallion and the mare owner. Many of our stallions in the past have entered Japan with the EVA vaccination before entering stud.
"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 9th. We hope that the Japanese Racing Authority will release him in time to run," he told the Racing Post.
EVA is a contagious disease caused by the equine arteritis virus (EAV) and can be spread by venereal infection of mares by stallions during mating and directly from coughing and snorting from the respiratory tract.