O’Brien Shifts Focus to Saudi Arabia for St Leger Winner Jan Brueghel

Aidan O’Brien has confirmed that St Leger winner Jan Brueghel will not compete in the Hong Kong Vase, with plans now shifting towards a potential race in Saudi Arabia early next year.  

The unbeaten colt was a strong contender for the Melbourne Cup, but his campaign in Australia was cut short after failing a mandatory pre-race veterinary check by Racing Victoria. The setback disrupted his training, and Jan Brueghel was limited to trotting during his time abroad, impacting his readiness for the Hong Kong Vase.  

O’Brien provided an update through Coolmore’s social media, explaining:  

 “He had a long journey back from Australia and was restricted to only trotting while over there. Unfortunately, we didn’t have enough time to prepare him properly for Hong Kong, so we will revisit his plans. We may aim for a race in Saudi early next year.”  

The colt’s revised schedule will likely target one of Saudi Arabia's lucrative racing events in 2024 as connections look to reignite his campaign.