Spring carnival: international raiders could defy COVID-19 hit
The Coronavirus crisis will not keep international stars from hitting Australian shores – but it could come at a mighty cost for overseas owners.
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Odds are shortening there will be an international presence at this year’s spring carnival.
But numbers may be limited to Australian-owned imports and potentially runners from big stables like Godolphin and Coolmore as COVID-19 restrictions continue to bite.
With international borders likely to remain shut for some time to people, but not horses, there remain several limiting factors to a massive international presence.
Those include overseas owners paying a six-figure sum to send their horse to Australia and having it handled by someone other than its trainer or his staff.
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That could leave big operations like Godolphin, who have people based in Australia, as more likely to send a team of horses without needed to send staff.
VRC racing manager Leigh Jordan said he remained in touch with regular carnival visitors from overseas but that it was still too early to know what the landscape may look like close to the spring.
“They don’t ordinarily come until the end of September and the way things are changing you never know what could be happening by then,” he said.
A Racing Victoria board meeting on Thursday is expected to canvass a range of issues including options for international participation.
The RV-run quarantine facility at Werribee, which was at capacity last spring, could be opened for as few as two or three horses with three different barns, two for eight horses and one for 16, available for use.
Leading owner Terry Henderson said he has stayers and sprinters in the UK, including Geelong Cup runner-up True Self, which he fully intends to have here for the spring.
Henderson said it was unlikely True Self’s trainer, Willie Mullins, would come but he was happy to place his horses with others when they arrive.
He said if the Werribee quarantine facility wasn’t going to be opened horses could be brought out earlier than normal and given to local trainers to complete their entire preparations here.
“We have five horses that are earmarked to come over,” he said.
“Talking to the transport company which brings them over, we’re all geared up for that to happen.
“If RV approve the opening of Werribee we’ll have these horses out there. If we don’t, we’ll probably be putting them on a plane earlier to given them a chance to be prepared out here.
Horse transport company IRT has received several inquiries about getting horses to Australia for the spring.
IRT managing director Chris Burke said his company was navigating a tricky path of being able to move horses but staff involved have to then isolate on return to Australia.
Limited space on cargo planes full with loads which might normally be moved on currently grounded commercial flights is also an issue.
“Fortunately the principle we have had in place for horses for many years we are now applying to people, managing a biosecurity risk, because that’s what we have to do with horses,” Burke said.
“But there are bigger issues than if we can just get the horses here.
Originally published as Spring carnival: international raiders could defy COVID-19 hit