WHILE hopeful racing administrators will today gauge the strength or otherwise of this year's Caulfield Cup and Cox Plate, with nominations for both races closing this morning, a meeting even more pivotal to the spring carnival will convene at the same time, reports The Age. It says: The entries for the two group 1 events will give an early insight into the overseas interest in the races, and Racing Victoria Limited and Australian Quarantine Inspection Services officials are hoping today's meeti
WHILE hopeful racing administrators will today gauge the strength or otherwise of this year's Caulfield Cup and Cox Plate, with nominations for both races closing this morning, a meeting even more pivotal to the spring carnival will convene at the same time, reports The Age.
It says: The entries for the two group 1 events will give an early insight into the overseas interest in the races, and Racing Victoria Limited and Australian Quarantine Inspection Services officials are hoping today's meeting could be another step towards overcoming an impasse between the groups.
The sticking point has been the withdrawal of permission last March for the Aidan O'Brien stable at Ballydoyle in Ireland to continue as a quarantine station. The station is vital for spring carnival horses intending to come to Australia. RVL was successful last week in obtaining approval for the Newmarket facility in England after concerns were raised when an AQIS official inspected the place in June. However, the government and RVL were able to work through the issues and supply solutions mainly centred around the access to the various gallops at Newmarket.
More meetings are planned between RVL and AQIS officials this week to discuss the approval of Ballydoyle as a quarantine facility to enable O'Brien's potential runners to compete during the spring carnival. Moonee Valley Racing Club will be eagerly awaiting a nomination for So You Think, who would be attempting to win the Cox Plate for the third straight time if he was to journey to Melbourne. But it appears highly unlikely he will be in Australia this spring.