Melbourne Cup runner-up Bauer may lose placing

THE jockey who rode the horse at the centre of the Melbourne Cup scandal last night revealed he feared he was in trouble when contacted by Racing Victoria stewards yesterday.

Corey Brown, who rode Bauer to second place in the $5.5 million race, said he believed that maybe he had done something wrong when he received a call from chief steward Terry Bailey.

The call came after stewards launched an inquiry that will send shockwaves through the racing world.

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The European stayer could be stripped of its second placing and $835,000 in prizemoney if stewards decide its connections have broken race rules.

It is the first inquiry of its sort in the Cup's 147-year history.

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"I didn't know what was going on - I thought I was in some sort of trouble when I got the phone call," Brown said.

"Then I was told the inquiry is about some sort of treatment given to Bauer prior to the race. I was relieved on one hand but still worried on the other. We just have to wait for the stewards to complete their investigation."

Brown will be a key figure in what looms as the most sensational inquiry in Australian racing in decades.

Stewards are investigating whether treatment was given to the stayer at the Sandown quarantine centre in the week before the Cup.

It is believed the treatment is not drug related but if found to have occurred, would break the Australian rules of racing - therefore disqualifying Bauer from the race.

RVL chairman of stewards Terry Bailey said "we do need to clarify some issues".

The inquiry cannot affect betting on the race.

Those who backed Bauer for a place or within exotic wagers would not have to return their winnings any money.

Master O'Reilly, who finished fourth, would be promoted to third but there would not be any adjustments made to the final dividends.

Bauer's managing owner Terry Henderson and trainer Luca Cumani are aware of the inquiry.

"There is no issue with the swabs taken from the horse," Henderson said.

"Any treatment given leading up to the Cup was done by vets appointed to the international horses by RVL.

"We are most concerned by the investigation, but feel comfortable nothing wrong has been done at our end."

Bauer arrived in Melbourne with Luca's daughter Francesca Cumani, before her father arrived 12 days before the Cup.

The flashy grey won the Geelong Cup, on October 22, but the investigation has nothing to do with that run.

Bailey said he had made connections were aware of the inquiry.

Source: The Daily Telegraph