Holding Pattern – Racing Australia’s black-type paralysis rolls on

Hopes for immediate action on The Pattern of black type-racing have been dashed as Racing Australia opted not to act on recommendations that have been almost four years in the making.

There has been no national approach on changes to the black-type calendar for over five years, leaving The Pattern in a stasis because of disagreement between the states over how it should evolve.

There was some optimism for movement when a report by a committee convened by Racing Australia in 2020 was set to be presented to the RA Board at its May meeting.

The report made several key recommendations that would revive the review process and enable progress towards granting innovation races such as The Everest, the Golden Eagle, and the All-Star Mile Group 1 status.

However, The Straight believes that the Racing Australia board did not take action on the review, with the issue described as ‘being kicked down the road’.

A key divide remains over how black-type races should be assessed and their status reviewed.

The working committee report recommended the set-up of an Australian Pattern and Development Committee to review the grading of races at least once a year.

It is believed Racing NSW, including CEO Peter V’landys, is opposed to this measure, and if The Pattern is to be revived, it should be dependent solely on ratings, removing the need for a review committee.

The committee report had suggested that a new APDC would include representatives of the state-based regulators, the PRAs as well as representatives of Thoroughbred Breeders Australia, and the two sales companies, Inglis and Magic Millions.

The mission to resuscitate The Pattern

A Racing Australia board meeting will consider the next steps for The Pattern, the system of black-type racing which has remained stagnant in Australia for the past five years.

The StraightBren O’Brien

V’landys has previously said he believes “there is no Pattern”.

“Unfortunately it was used as an excuse not to give Group 1 status to The Everest,” the Racing NSW CEO said in 2022.

“It was used as an excuse to not create competition.”

Key leaders of the breeding and bloodstock industries convened a meeting in April, and the lack of action on The Pattern was high on the agenda.

Those involved in breeding and the bloodstock industry are concerned that the lack of action on the black-type calendar is diminishing Australia’s international standing and the global value of bloodstock.

Australia’s high number of Group 1 races, 74, is used as an example of why reform is needed. If a strict three-year ratings guidelines suggested by the committee was applied, nearly half of all Australian Group 1 races would fail to make the grade.

Racing Australia CEO Paul Eriksson told The Straight that agenda issues on board meetings are not publicly discussed.