Ross Barnett’s hardcore mandatory sentences bombshell has Queensland trainers feeling nervous

QUEENSLAND Racing Integrity Commissioner Ross Barnett has dropped what has been described as “a bombshell” as the commission considers new hardcore mandatory sentences.

Gilbert’s keeper: Evacuation winning at Rosehill on Saturday. He will now be aimed at the Caulfield Guineas. Picture: Simon Bullard

QUEENSLAND Racing Integrity Commissioner Ross Barnett dropped what has been described as “a bombshell” with a draft set of mandatory penalties that have the potential to set the state’s racing on a collision course with national body Racing Australia.

In an open email to a group of clubs, trainers, breeders and officials, Barnett outlined proposed minimum penalties that would have seen many of the country’s top trainers banned if implemented previously.

As an example, guilty verdicts that have previously attracted fines for trainers of a few thousand dollars, have now been slated in for a 12-month disqualification.

Chris Waller’s high-profile Junoob Metropolitan case would have seen him banned for the mandatory 12 months, instead of the $30,000 fine he copped.

Trainers fear a simple mistake, which previously cost them a race and a fine, could cost them their livelihoods if the commission presses ahead with the hardcore mandatory sentences.

But the bigger issue is that these new laws, if implemented, have the potential to ostracise Queensland from the rest of the country.

One high-placed interstate administrator described the proposal as “extremely discourteous” and said it “throws up in the air the rules of racing” and if implemented without national consent, could put in jeopardy Queensland’s place on the national racing body.

Junoob wins the 2014 Metropolitan before being disqualified after it tested positive to a banned race-day substance. Picture: Getty Images

UGLY SPRAY

SOME punters had a sense there was something very smelly about the first race at Doomben on Saturday, but it had nothing to do with the tactics of jockeys. As horses paraded before the race, one trod on an island sized “deposit” in the parade ring and then with the same leg, kicked out behind, sending the offending stench flying in all directions, including onto some unwitting punters, one of whom was sporting what started the day as a stylish light-coloured jacket.

POLICE PROBE

REPORTS out of Melbourne on Saturday suggest Victorian police are investigating an alleged abusive phone call from a jockey to chief steward Terry Bailey last week. G1X.com.au reported the call was alleged to have been made by the jockey in the company of three trainers. Bailey is a magnet for controversy, having last spring had bullets fired at his family home during the spring carnival.

TOO CUTE?

PUNTERS were quick to question Tommy Berry’s tactics on Star Turn. Certainly those who backed the favourite would have liked to have seen the trigger pulled earlier, making Astern work harder to get there. Either way, happy to nominate last week’s Up & Coming as a superior Golden Rose formguide. In particular, Prized Icon, who conceded a mountain of weight first-up in that race.

GOOD KEEP

THE lack of interest from buyers looks like producing a big result for Darling Downs breeder Ron Gilbert. The More Than Ready colt Evacuation was passed in for $110,000 at last year’s Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, so Gilbert retained him to race in his Highgrove Stud colours. The colt was originally earmarked for a Queensland winter campaign off his 1000m maiden win, but was instead put away for the spring. He is from the same family as Highgrove-bred Group 1 winner Wanted. Evacuation, a winner at Rosehill yesterday, now heads to Melbourne as he aims up for the Caulfield Guineas, for which he is now $10 second favourite with UBET.

ON-TRACK RINGS ARE UNDER HUGE THREAT

STANDBY for Queensland to follow the lead of Victoria, who this week overhauled its official fluctuation policy, with prices now generated off-course.

Previously, the on-track ring was the source of prices, but last week RV chief executive Bernard Saundry said the change to off-course was more representative of the market place, where 98 per cent of all wagering is done away from the host track.

Saundry said the change was “more reflective of the entire betting market”.

Queensland has previously adopted a hybrid of off and on-course prices to form the official fluctuations.

With the BRC set to introduce fielding fees, the local ring could diminish even further, after the departure of Lindsay Gallagher this month.

It was another wild week in Victoria, with freelance photographers shut out of business. All inquiries for snaps of races in the state must now be directed to the industry-owned Racing Photos.

The reasons given hardly seem conclusive enough to ruin the livelihoods of people.

“Protecting IP” and RV having to deal with “30 incidences in relation to accredited photographers” are a cop-out.

Saundry said “I don’t want to speculate on money” when asked what the move will be worth to the industry, but from a moral point of view, is it worth ruining many livelihoods?

Originally published as Ross Barnett’s hardcore mandatory sentences bombshell has Queensland trainers feeling nervous