No racing for stranded stars

THE final door has been closed on Melbourne Cup hopeful Leica Falcon and star NSW sprinters Takeover Target and Natural Destiny entering Victoria for the spring carnival.

Victoria's Department Of Primary Industries' chief veterinary officer, Hugh Millar said yesterday the ban on Queensland and NSW horses entering the state would not be relaxed.

The ban was imposed following the equine influenza crisis, which has wreaked havoc in Queensland and NSW since late August.

"The fact is there isn't an agreed protocol to allow these horses in and it's the same for any other horse," Millar said. "It's not just Victoria they can't enter but also South and Western Australia, Tasmania and the Northern Territory. The reason is because the situation with EI is still fluid and things keep changing all the time."

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