Australia, Breeding and Racing

Messara To Stand For Revamped Racing NSW Board
Arrowfield Stud boss John Messara "has called for a national approach to a fractured racing industry & is willing to take a seat on a revamped & streamlined Racing NSW Board," reported The Sydney Morning Herald. Messara declared "reform is needed" in racing, as "the share of the gambling & leisure dollar is in free-fall". He believes racing administrators have "lost focus on objectives", noting that "the most successful sports are led by a national body". Messara's concerns include: "too many race clubs, too many races"; very few participants "receive reasonable return on investments"; racing has "outgrown its revenue streams"; a "return to fundamentals is required"; & the Australian Racing Board "must be given powers to run racing". The newspaper notes the NSW Government "is set to release a draft Bill within weeks about implementing change at Racing NSW" & reveals "the 8-man Board will be reduced to 5 & may be given all-encompassing power to ensure racing is steered in one direction. Messara summed up: "Providing the Bill allows Racing NSW to be truly functional, to have proper leadership powers, I'll certainly put myself up for the Board." Messara added those in charge of racing's destiny are "confused", with "club competing against club & state against state, when the real competitors are "the casinos, poker machines, the AFL, cricket, the football codes". And he emphasised Racing NSW "had to be involved in the Victorian racing industry's upcoming battle to gain control of its wagering licence". (Mar 3)

Magic Millions Chief Urges Qld EI-Free Declaration
Gold Coast-based Magic Millions managing director David Chester "says Queensland should follow the lead of NSW & declare the state free of equine influenza," reported ABC News. Chester noted: "I've been talking to veterinary surgeons both in Queensland & NSW & they said the disease has gone. It's just disappeared: there's been no reports of it at all. My understanding of the disease is that it's more prevalent in winter, in the cooler times, and once summer comes it goes away." (Mar 3)

New Track Tested At Pinjarra
In Western Australia, officials witnessed the 1st official test of the newly re-constructed Pinjarra Park racetrack. Racing is not scheduled for Pinjarra until the new season commences in mid-October. (Mar 3)

Niconero Confirmed For Dubai Trip
The Gr1 Futurity was also the 1st leg of the 2008 Asian Mile Challenge (4 races offering more than US$12.5 million in prize-money & bonuses); the other legs are the Dubai Duty Free (1777m) at Nad Al Sheba on March 29, the Champions Mile (1600m) at Sha Tin in Hong Kong on April 27 & the Yasuda Kinen (1600m) at Tokyo Racecourse in Japan on June 8. Following Niconero's victory in the Futurity, trainer David Hayes yesterday confirmed he will now run in the Gr1 Dubai Duty Free, declaring: "He's definitely going. He won the Futurity really well & he'll go to Dubai at his peak. He's in the form of his life right now. It's going to be tough, but we've got be hopeful." (Mar 3)