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Racing Victoria chief executive, Bernard Saundry, has confirmed his support of RV’s Head of Equine Welfare and Veterinary Services, Dr Brian Stewart, following the decision to declare the Shogun Concrete Benchmark 120 Hurdle a ‘No Race’ at Casterton on May 25.

Saundry said he backed the decision by Racing Victoria steward James Hitchcock to abandon the race, following advice from Dr Stewart that Elms was not secure and therefore posed a risk to his own welfare and the safety of other participants.

Elms was pulled up on the track after suffering a severe fracture of the right fore cannon while racing on the flat during the early stages of Race 2 at Casterton.

After suffering the injury, Elms was taken to the outside of the track where he was inspected by Dr Stewart who deemed it was an unacceptable risk to continue the race with the possibility Elms would try to re-join the field.

“I have the utmost confidence in the decision made by Dr Stewart and our on-course stewards at Casterton,” Saundry said.

“Our number one goal is to protect the safety of all participants and the decision to abandon yesterday’s race was made in the best interests of horse and rider welfare.

“If Elms had become distressed and broken loose from the barrier attendants who were securing him there was a high possibility he would have injured himself further or caused harm to other participants and that’s a risk we simply cannot afford to take.

“Although the field was pulled up in close proximity to Elms, at this point the horses were under control and not travelling at race speed and therefore the danger was greatly reduced.