Equine Flu Update : Australia

Makybe Diva (Herald Sun)While the Australian authorities continue to dither about whether or not to make vaccination compulsory, the disease continues to spread, (as it was bound to) like wildfire, and while amazingly, it has yet to penetrate the inner sanctums of Melbourne and its environs (where the Melbourne Cup is due to be staged on 6^th November,) it has impacted on just about every other jurisdiction in the country.  News from the Hunter Valley’s Coolmore Stud, where the fabled triple Melbourne Cup winner, Makybe Diva has a foal by top sire Galileo, at foot, is that they have become the latest victims of the curse, and they are warning their clients that the consequences could include a loss of foals.  It would be a great loss to international breeding to lose a foal by one of the best European racehorses (and indeed young sires) of the modern era, from one of the best race mares the world has known.