Asian Racing Federation poised to break silence on Australia’s Pattern crisis

Potentially significant ramifications for Australia’s racing and breeding sectors could soon be revealed as the Asian Racing Federation prepares to make its first public statement about the tense Pattern stand-off dividing the industry.

The ARF met in Hong Kong on Friday where the Australian industry’s seemingly futile attempts to rectify stalled implementation of new black-type protocols for more than a year were central to discussions.

The international body, made up of racing jurisdictions including Japan, South Africa, New Zealand, Hong Kong, had warned that it could demote the Australian industry to a Part II country of the International Cataloguing Standards Blue Book. 

The threat, which would place Australia alongside racing jurisdictions such as Malaysia, India, Zimbabwe and Scandinavia, could potentially devalue the country’s bloodstock by hundreds of millions of dollars and also possibly disincentivise international investment.

What was determined at the ARF meeting has not been revealed, with industry figures in Australia and abroad remaining tightlipped about any sanctions being taken over the critical issue as their focus switched to Sunday’s Hong Kong International race meeting at Sha Tin.

However, The Straight understands the ARF is preparing to make a public statement that could shed light on what action, if any, it intends to take against Australia or how it plans to move forward with the black-type situation concerning its largest jurisdiction in terms of horse numbers. 

A public statement by ARF on a matter such as this would be an unusual event. The organisation’s website displays infrequent media releases, mostly about upcoming events or previews member jurisdictions’ racing.

The possible intervention comes as Racing Australia has continually been unable to reach a consensus about its Pattern which would allow the industry to overhaul its stakes racing calendar within international guidelines. 

Racing Australia’s board met on December 5 where it is believed a revised proposal was tabled but did not get the approval to be taken to the ARF.

Under RA’s constitution, Racing NSW and Racing Victoria hold the power of veto over Racing Australia, meaning both principal racing authorities need to agree for any motion to be passed.

Racing Australia has debated predominantly ratings-based Black Type Guidelines, which were to be instituted in September last year until PRAs including Racing Victoria backed away from the protocols.

It’s understood that Thoroughbred Breeders Australia has been formulating its own proposal to rejuvenate the country’s stagnant stakes racing calendar while an independent group of participants have also tabled another plan.

The alternative proposals would see Pattern committees responsible for determining Australia’s upgrades and downgrades, broadly reflecting the approach used until around eight years ago, before divisions emerged within the PRAs.

The structure and size of the respective committees vary considerably across the different proposals.

It is possible that the ARF, with the support of the International Grading and Racing Planning Committee (IRPAC) and the Society of International Thoroughbred Auctioneers, could agree to sideline Racing Australia and enact a separate proposal.

That could be in the short-term or even in the longer term, or until Racing Australia comes to an agreement that is ratified by the international authorities.

Racing South Australia’s Rob Rorrison, who is Racing Australia’s delegate on the ARF and Asian Pattern Committee, was recently appointed as Racing Australia’s new chair.

Rorrison and HKJC’s Greg Carpenter are also the APC’s two nominees on IRPAC, possibly further complicating the situation.