Strike unlikely but trainers fume at Australian Turf Club fee rises

TALK of strike action is extreme but frustrated Sydney trainers are on a crusade to lower costs for owners.

Randwick Races

TALK of strike action is extreme but frustrated Sydney trainers are on a crusade to lower costs for owners.

The cash-strapped Australian Turf Club's announcement late last week that they will soon need to raise stable rents and track fees at Royal Randwick, Rosehill Gardens and Warwick Farm has galvanised trainers into action.

Trainers will soon have no option but to pass these fee increases on to their stable clients, making it even more costly to own racehorses.

Although it is ridiculous to suggest trainers will strike over the issue because this will directly deny their owners the opportunity to win prizemoney, trainers want Racing NSW and ATC officials to look into the issue as a matter of urgency.

Trainers have welcomed Racing NSW's latest series of prizemoney increases but want more money invested to reduce owners costs.

Racing NSW chief executive Peter V'landys has promised to assist all parties to negotiate a resolution.

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TRAINER Marc Quinn's ambition to win the Ramornie Handicap may sway him to start bush flyer Pentasia in Sydney rather than Brisbane on Saturday.

Pentasia will be nominated for two races nearly 1000km apart - the Listed $100,000 June Stakes (1200m) at Royal Randwick and the Listed $80,000 Lightning Handicap (1000m) at Eagle Farm.

"She will be entered for both races and I'll make my mind up after I see the fields and barrier draws on Wednesday," Quinn said.

"At Port Macquarie, we are five hours from Sydney and six to the Gold Coast so distance-wise, it is neither here nor there which way we go.

"But I am leaning to Randwick as the June Stakes winner is exempt from ballot for the Ramornie Handicap and that has been her aim this preparation."

Quinn has already placed jockeys Josh Parr on standby for the June Stakes and Christian Reith for the Lightning Handicap.

Reith rode Pentasia when the mare resumed with a career-best win in the Listed Chief De Beers Handicap at Doomben last month.

Her Port Macquarie trainer revealed he wasn't surprised the mare defeated a good sprint field easily.

"Pentasia had been flying in her work and was jumping out of her skin," Quinn said. "She trialled on the Monday before the race and went really well, running terrific sectionals.

"The mare has good tactical speed, can put herself into a position and then relax before sprinting hard at the finish. She has trained on really well since her Doomben win, too."

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STEWARDS have every right to open a new inquiry into the revelation More Joyous had a fitness issue before the Queen Of The Turf Stakes - but how far can they take the matter?

During an inquiry last week, stewards found evidence More Joyuous was showing signs of "lameness" on the Tuesday before the race but those issues were resolved 24 hours later.

More Joyous started $1.65 favourite for the Queen Of The Turf Stakes and was considered a certainty beaten after being blocked for a run before finishing fifth behind Appearance.

Under the rules of racing, trainer Gai Waterhouse has an obligation to inform stewards of any issue that may affect a horse's performance in a race.

The trainer will argue in this case that there was no need to report anything to stewards as More Joyous was fit to run and was obviously very unlucky not to have won the race.

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HALL of Famer John Hawkes, who co-trains in partnership with his sons Wayne and Michael, has taken over the preparation of Neeson, the talented sprinter who resumes after a 12-month layoff in the June Stakes.

Hawkes also confirmed last-start McKell Cup winner Fiumicino will be given his chance in the Brisbane Cup at Eagle Farm on Saturday.

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THE long-running The Astronomer case goes to the Racing Appeals Tribunal on Thursday.

Jockey Mathew Cahill is appealing against a 12-month disqualification after stewards charged him with not allowing the $3.10 favourite to run on its merits at Goulburn in June last year.

But stewards have launched their own appeal against the disqualifications being overturned for part-owner Guy Orbell and bookmaker Richard Knight in relation to The Astonomer affair.