The verdict: Queensland racing set to continue behind closed doors

For now, racing will continue in southeast Queensland, but like other sporting events around the country, the public will be excluded from Monday until further notice.

Racing Queesnaldn chief executive Brendan Parnell. Picture: Steve Holland

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For now, racing will continue in southeast Queensland, but like other sporting events around the country, the public will be excluded from tomorrow until further notice.

Racing Queensland is set to meet with the chairs and chief executives of southeast Queensland race clubs in Ipswich on Monday, where the coronavirus pandemic will be top of the agenda.

“Based on what the Queensland health advice is, we will have to cease having the public attend,” RQ chief executive Brendan Parnell said. “The challenge for us is to keep money flowing for the participants and work out how we can help clubs during this time.”

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Racing Queensland chief executive Brendan Parnell will meet race club bosses on Monday. Picture: Steve Holland

Ipswich relies on its Cup day to remain financial for the whole year, but other clubs also face logistical nightmares leading into the carnival.

Saturday’s Gold Coast crowd was about 2800, which was more than 1000 fewer than expectations before Black Friday announcements.

The Brisbane Racing Club is already making contingency plans for its five Group 1 days during the carnival.

“It’s just a case of estimating lower demand for corporate hospitality,” BRC chief executive Tony Partridge said. “We will have ticket refund guarantees when the carnival goes on sale.

“We appreciate people find it hard to plan with certainty at the moment, but we want them to buy their carnival tickets (knowing they are refundable).”

If racing does continue – and the way other pursuits are falling by the wayside, it’s no good thing – how to fund clubs will be a key issue for RQ.

Given clubs will have no way to make other income during the lockout, one option would be to siphon off a portion of prizemoney to mitigate some of the pain, although Parnell said this wasn’t RQ’s preferred option. “We’d rather find other ways to support clubs, but we will support clubs through this,” he said.

QRIC PERSONNEL ISOLATED

Michael Hellyer noted that if one jockey were to test positive to the virus, it would likely be enough to bring racing to a standstill in that particular region.

On the level of officialdom, QRIC has moved to self-isolate some of its key personnel.

“We are having stewards and vets and the integrity team all work from home as much as possible and come into the office only for essential tasks,” Integrity Commissioner Ross Barnett said.

“We’ve done that to try and ensure we are able to continue the racing calendar. If we keep them separated from the main workforce as much as possible, the chances of them going down will be reduced.

“We are working closely with Racing Queensland in all of our contingency planning.”

Parnell noted from a community level, many country meetings will be hurt by the lockdown.

“There are 62 towns in the state where the biggest event in that community is a race meeting,’’ he said. “That will be devastating for those smaller communities if they can’t be staged.’’

CANDY MAN CHECKED ON

Popular grey The Candy Man will be examined by a vet on Monday and have chiropractic treatment on Tuesday after disappointing trainer Barry Baldwin in a Gold Coast track gallop on Saturday.

The Candy Man galloped with Michael Costa’s three-year-old Supergiant, who outpointed him.

Baldwin had named next month’s Doncaster Mile as The Candy Man’s target this time in, but Saturday’s gallop didn’t instil him with a lot of confidence.

He is still planning a 1500m return at Eagle Farm on Saturday.

The Candy Man galloped over 1000m @GCTurfClub earlier today, and was surprisingly beaten by Supergiant... what do you make of it? pic.twitter.com/OmbcMn3glD

— Sky Racing (@SkyRacingAU) March 14, 2020

“Martin Lenz had a look at him after the gallop and couldn’t find anything wrong, but we’re going to inspect him again (Monday), then the chiropractor Michael Bryant is coming to see him Tuesday,” Baldwin said. “He was a bit disappointing.”

The trainer had some joy a short time later when his eight-year-old Motion Granted pocketed $55,000 for winning the Benchmark 72 Handicap.

Costa has Queensland Derby plans for Supergiant, who was bought off a trial in New Zealand for $70,000 and won his lone start easily in maiden grade at the Gold Coast. He is likely to resume at the end of this month.

HOW THE FAVOURITES FARED

GOLD COAST

RACE 1

PERFECT AIM, Adin Thompson, $2.80 (5th): “I hit him with the stick and he wanted to get in on the fence, so I just had to ride him out and it wasn’t the place to be.”

RACE 2

MAGIC FOX, James Orman, $2.50 (3rd): “I’ve had to go further back than I would have liked because (Umberto) drove up underneath me and his wheels were spinning a bit. He’s run super.”

RACE 3

MOONSHINE LADY, Adin Thompson, $2.10 (WON): “You can’t hold her back too much, you just have to let her run and she’s got good ability.”

RACE 4

MONGOLIAN WOLF, Robbie Fradd, $4.60 (7th): “I needed another lap. He wants 2400m now.”

Rothfire (left) was upstaged by Kisukano in the 2YO Jewel at the Gold Coast. Picture: Trackside Photography

RACE 5

ROTHFIRE, Robbie Fradd, $1.20 (2nd): “I’m not blaming the track. He didn’t feel himself today. I knew I was in trouble after entering the straight, when I gave him a little click, there wasn’t much there.”

RACE 6

REMOVAL, Sean Cormack, $4.40 (3rd): “He hasn’t got early speed and when he did travel into it, it was probably the wrong time, because I had to switch course. He finished off very well.”

RACE 7

GEM OF SCOTLAND, James Orman, $2.50 (last): “She hurt herself. She was only on three legs up the straight.”

RACE 8

GREY MISSILE, Toby Edmonds (co-trainer), $2.25 (2nd): He probably should be three from three for us. He just had to do too much work early.”

RACE 9

DEFENCE MISSILE, Les Ross (trainer), $3.40 (unplaced): “Just disappointed and didn’t think he ran the 1400m. He has run third, but the track was more sticky than wet.”