Funding delay costing Gold Coast the arrival of big name trainers

One of Australia’s most successful training exports is among a host of racing identities forced to delay plans to launch Gold Coast stables as the Queensland Government holds funds for a $33 million infrastructure upgrade in its coffers.

HONG KONG’s most successful trainer is among a host of racing identities forced to delay plans to launch Gold Coast stables as the Queensland Government holds funds for a $33 million infrastructure upgrade in its coffers.

John Moore leads an all-star cast of trainers who have told Gold Coast Turf Club bosses they are keen to set up a base at the club once track upgrades are complete.

Moore, who turns 70 in March, will finish a stunning career in Hong Kong once the racing season finishes there in July due to rules stipulating that no one can train there from the age of 70 or over.

Gold Coast Turf Club CEO Steve Lines said the club was agitated by the delay in providing the promised funds from the State Government through the Racing Infrastructure Fund.

A portrait of Trainer, John Moore after a press conference ahead of the Dubai World Cup at the Meydan Racecourse on March 26, 2014 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Warren Little/Getty Images)

“The silence is deafening,” Lines said.

“I haven’t heard a thing from the State Government. It’s frustrating because we have lots of plans down here. I have trainers ringing me who want to move up from Sydney and move down from other parts but we have to get this track sorted before they can do that.

“There is no use bringing them here and then pulling the track apart.

“A lot of people don’t understand the impact and the massive opportunity we have on the Gold Coast with this. It’s enormous.”

Aquis Park, which is home to Queensland’s richest race day in the form of the $10 million Magic Millions carnival, has not had a track upgrade in 30 years.

What Gold Coast night racing could look like.

GCTC submitted their case for funding three years ago and Racing Queensland put in their business case at the end of last year.

If the funding is approved, the GCTC plans to start work immediately in an effort to potentially host the 2022 Magic Millions under lights on a new state-of-the-art racing surface.

Upgrades would assist the club in a two-pronged push to become Queensland’s second metropolitan racing club and also gain Group 1 status for the time-honoured A.D. Hollindale Stakes.

The upgrade will include the installation of a synthetic training track, upgrade of the course proper, lights and a tunnel.