Spring Carnival: Victorian Government opens door for international raiders
Victorian racing officials won’t join a growing sporting push to get travel exemptions for potential international participants despite backing from the government.
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Victorian racing officials won’t join a growing sporting push to get travel exemptions for potential international participants and are prepared to wait until June before considering all Spring Carnival options.
Cricket officials are working with the federal government on opening Australia’s borders to international teams for the T20 World Cup in October and November.
The idea has support at the highest levels of government, which could prove a boon for racing officials hoping keen international trainers could bring their spring raiders out around the same time.
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Racing Victoria has been investigating a number of contingency plans that could allow limited numbers of visiting international stable staff to use facilities at Werribee racecourse.
Several options are under consideration as Australian racing continues under strict biosecurity protocols.
Racing officials are, however, remaining patient and have told international stables who have made inquiries that June looms as a more likely time for any movement in potential options.
In racing’s favour would be the small number of people required to travel with horses to Australia. While cricket teams coming for the World Cup would involve large numbers of players and staff, horses could travel with as little as one or two handlers.
Last month two Japanese horses travelled to Sydney for races with just two grooms.
But while the possibility of an international presence during the spring remains, it wouldn’t be anywhere near the numbers of previous years.
Last year more than 35 international horses were stationed at Werribee.
English trainer Charlie Fellowes expressed his desire last week to bring last year’s Melbourne Cup runner-up, Prince of Arran, back for a third tilt at the race. Racing has been suspended in Britain until May, and also shut down in Singapore until June 1 because of the coronavirus pandemic.
As a result, Australian jockeys Daniel Moor, Patrick Moloney and Melbourne Cup winner Michael Rodd have opted to return home.
They have all chosen to ride in Victoria and Moor, who finished his mandatory two-week quarantine period last Friday and has been at trackwork, could be back race riding as soon as this weekend.
The three riders will all automatically join the “Gold team” of Victorian jockeys, which allows them to ride trackwork and jump-outs as well as races.
Originally published as Spring Carnival: Victorian Government opens door for international raiders