The verdict: Sunshine Coast Turf Club’s plan to reduce QCAT cases

Sunshine Coast Turf Club chairman Peter Boyce has described the current Internal Review model as “a complete failure” and has proposed changes to streamline the appeals system.

Avilius leads the local charge for the Cox Plate. Picture: Getty Images

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Among the 27 submissions made to government on reforms to the Racing Integrity Act was one from the Sunshine Coast Turf Club which outlines a plan to reduce cases going to QCAT by 90 per cent.

QCAT was in the frame last week after handing down a ruling in a careless riding suspension case two years after the original penalty was given.

It was the perfect example of how the system is broken and why changes are desperately needed as part of the Integrity Act reform.

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Sunshine Coast Turf Club chairman Peter Boyce. Picture: John McCutcheon

SCTC chairman Peter Boyce, who has had many dealings with the appeal system in his role as legal representative for many racing participants, described the current Internal Review model as “a complete failure” because in his opinion “there is no level of independence”.

Boyce proposed a first level appeal body for each code of no more than three persons, with expertise in the relevant code, with a charter to hand down penalties in a swift time frame.

“That way, the industry can have confidence that those who have a very good understanding of the respective industries will be able to understand and make reasonable decisions on the evidence,” he said.

After this first appeal has been determined, the only way a matter could proceed to QCAT would be on a point of law, or for offences that have incurred a penalty of six months or more.

“It is my view this would … create a great deal of confidence in the first level review, provide swift justice; reduce the QCAT applications by at least 80 to 90 per cent, (maybe) even more. This would result in large savings to QRIC and industry participants.”

More radically, Boyce included in the proposal a format of taking away stewards’ role as judge, jury and executioner.

He said there is “absolutely no independence” in the stewarding system of charging and then determining penalty – a policy that is adopted around Australia.

He said it would be preferable for stewards to issue charges at a race meeting, before a different panel determined the guilt or otherwise of those charged.

Jockey Matt McGillivray copped a nine-day ban last week for a careless riding offence in 2017. Picture: Grant Peters, Trackside Photography

Change ballots policy

Racing Queensland’s policy around two-year-old ballots needs to be fixed.

The policy claimed another couple of victims on Saturday when Hamilton Hill and Disco Lights, both of which contested official trials, were ousted in favour of horses that had been unsighted.

The policy as it stands is that all trial winners have precedence, but then all others – be it placed or unplaced in a trial – go in the same ballot as those that have not trialled.

Given all the talk around the importance of turnover, it’s nonsensical. Surely you want as many exposed runners as possible making up the field to encourage betting confidence?

Doesn't seem right @racing_qld that non-trialled horses secure a run ahead of trialled horses in the 2yos this Saturday. Emergencies include two horses that placed in the official EF trials.

— Nathan Exelby (@xlbnathan_cmail) October 2, 2019

And it’s an easy fix – if you haven’t trialled, you start at the back of the queue.

The Queensland branch of the Australian Trainers Association is keen to see changes.

“We asked for it two years ago and brought it up again this year, particularly when we knew we were going to Eagle Farm with 10 horse fields for the first few weeks,” spokesman Cameron Partington said.

The two-year-olds winners at Eagle Farm on Saturday had both won trials leading into their debuts.

Raiders firm for Plate

It’s shaping more and more like an international Cox Plate this year.

Avilius is now the top seed among the locals after Mystic Journey’s Turnbull Stakes run on Saturday.

The raiders are headed by Japanese mare Lys Gracieux, rated the equal $6 favourite with Ladbrokes. Danceteria is a $12 chance and Aidan O’Brien’s Magic Wand at $26. None of the trio would surprise.

With it being an open year, Te Akau Shark ($17) wouldn’t be out of place. He did a terrific job to get as close to Kolding as he did at the weights in the Epsom Handicap on Saturday.

From a Cups perspective, Finche is shaping as a genuine hope of providing a locally-trained victory this year. He was very good last when fourth last year and is humming along even better 12 months on, with Chris Waller seemingly having him spot on.

Avilius leads the local charge for the Cox Plate. Picture: Getty Images

Magic start for juveniles

Global Quest completed a clean sweep for Magic Millions graduates in the Brisbane and Sydney two-year-olds on Saturday.

Racing in the Aquis Farm colours, Global Quest is the latest good horse bred by Ron and Debbie Gilbert at their Highgrove Stud on the Darling Downs. Highgrove has a Capitalist half-sister to Global Quest heading to January’s Magic Millions sale.

It was a big day for the Gilberts, as they are also shareholders in Premiere winner Brutal.

Global Quest with @mcacajamez aboard wins the Breeders Plate for the two-year-old boys! The More Than Ready colt was also @LizzieJelfs’ Pick of the Yard... @cwallerracing pic.twitter.com/KV1FxxpNTh

— Sky Racing (@SkyRacingAU) October 5, 2019

With Global Quest expected to bypass the Gold Coast, easy Gimcrack winner Every Rose is the nominal favourite for January’s Magic Millions 2YO Classic.

The Mark Newnham trained filly was a $160,000 MM purchase and runner-up Stellar Pauline was also purchased out of the Gold Coast ring, for a considerably larger $875,000.

Eagle Farm winners Gotta Kiss ($150,000) and Kavak ($145,000) were also secured through MM and trainers Steve O’Dea and Chris Munce are now “full steam ahead to January.”