Flu forces Japan Derby winner out of Arc

TOKYO (Reuters) - The horse flu epidemic that has swept through Japan claimed its first major casualty on Sunday when Meisho Samson was officially ruled out of this year's Prix de l'Arc Triomphe in France.

Meisho Samson's trainer Shigetada Takahashi told reporters last year's Japan Derby winner had been ruled out of the October Paris classic after contracting equine influenza.

"We made the decision to withdraw him based on his current health and the horse's future," Takahashi said. "We will look to focus on this autumn's domestic races."

Meisho Samson was among almost 100 horses in Japan that tested positive for the highly contagious respiratory illness, prompting officials to impose a blanket ban on races for the first time in 36 years.

Racing resumed on Saturday but the repercussions of the epidemic are still being felt, with the connections of two of Japan's best-known horses reportedly cancelling their planned trips to Australia where another outbreak of the disease has occurred.

Delta Blues and his Japanese stablemate Pop Rock finished first and second in last year's Melbourne Cup but Australian media said they were unlikely to return this year for the November race because of the horse flu crisis.