Australian customs officials have impounded all racing tack belonging to the touring Irish national hunt jockeys due to fears of a possible foot-and-mouth scare.
A selection of Ireland’s most promising jockeys travelled to Australia for the annual jump racing competition against their Australian counterparts.
Shane McGovern, Philip Carberry, Neil Mulholland and Ross Geraghty arrived in Adelaide yesterday morning and had saddles, britches, riding boots, whips and back protectors confiscated by vigilant customs officials.
Officials placed the riding equipment in sealed bags and sent them to Melbourne for gamma radiation treatment. However, the jockeys have received replacement equipment from Adelaide saddlery Bonnetts.
The two week series starts in Murray Bridge on Wednesday.