Irish Mare's Infection Causes Profound Annoyance

An exotic tick-borne disease brought into Australia by Melbourne Cup runner Profound Beauty is causing headaches for the connections of fellow imports Bauer and Illustrious Blue as their horses face an extended stay in quarantine due to the infected Irish mare.



Both horses, along with their lead horses, Shadow Cabinet and Cats Fun, must remain in quarantine for 2½ weeks after Profound Beauty leaves the country on Wednesday, jeopardising a run in the Sandown Classic on Saturday week.

''It's certainly frustrating … it's a cost that we didn't expect, and on top of that it threatens a planned run at Sandown,'' said Illustrious Blue's managing owner Luke Murrell.

Racing Victoria and AQIS were aware that Profound Beauty was infected with Equine Piroplasmosis when she arrived in Melbourne, but were unable to separate the mare from other horses at the Werribee Quarantine Centre due to the large number residing at the facility.