KEY POINTS:
English trainer Luca Cumani has revealed Melbourne Cup runner-up Bauer received physiotherapy treatment on the Thursday before the race but he was unaware it was illegal in Australia.
Cumani said he put his faith in veterinary stewards appointed by Racing Victoria Limited and admitted he did not check the local rules himself.
RVL stewards have opened an inquiry into the treatment, which is not drug related, but could result in Bauer being stripped of his second placing to Viewed.
Speaking on Sydney radio yesterday, Cumani would not reveal the exact nature of the treatment but said it was permitted all around the world as long as it was not administered on race day.
Among the treatments used on horses is shockwave therapy which cannot be used within seven days of a race in Australia.
"We had a slight issue with Bauer and he [the vet] recommended the treatment," Cumani said.
"We were told it was okay and we have to rely on the vet's advice.
"This treatment is widely available in every racing country. It is only banned in England on race day so I wasn't aware there would be an issue.
"The vet was appointed by Racing Victoria to look after our horses. I thought everything was fine.
"I took it for granted that if he recommended it it would be okay."
Prominent Australian equine veterinary surgeon Dr Nick Kannegeiter said the benefits of shockwave treatment were inconclusive.
"High intensity soundwaves are used and the theory is it can improve recovery," he said. "The concern is that it decreases pain and therefore is a non-drug painkiller.
"But the evidence is not good as to what it actually does and it's no miracle cure.
"It is used in Melbourne more than anywhere else in Australia and the Europeans use it all the time."
Bauer lost the Cup by a nose to the Bart Cummings-trained Viewed after a dour battle over the final 100m.
The entire could be stripped of his second placing in the race and prizemoney of A$835,000.
Disqualification would be the "worse possible scenario", R V L chief steward Terry Bailey told ABC Radio.
But any disqualification would not affect punters who backed the horse.
The connections have said there was no issue with swabs taken from the horse.
"We are most concerned by the investigation, but feel comfortable nothing wrong has been done at our end," Bauer's managing owner, Terry Henderson told the Herald-Sun newspaper from England.
- AAP