Billionaire racehorse owner Jonathan Munz says Racing Victoria has to shoulder some of the blame for a riding-fee dispute between the state’s trainers and jockeys.
Munz, chairman of the Thoroughbred Racehorse Owners Association (ROA), believes RV has mismanaged the scheduling of additional barrier trials designed to increase pay opportunities for jockeys as compensation for unpaid rides at jumpouts across the state.
Because of restricted access to grass surfaces at city racetracks and major training centres near Melbourne, the extra barrier trials have been programmed at various country Victoria venues.
Munz said this made it difficult for Melbourne-based jockeys to attend.
“The problem that the jockeys had - and it's quite a legitimate concern that they had - was that the trials that were put on were not properly executed by Racing Victoria,” Munz told Melbourne racing-industry owned radio station RSN.
“They put them out in the bush … and obviously, a jockey is not going to want to travel three or four hours to ride in trials.
“It just didn't make sense. So, but instead of coming to us, or instead of coming to RV, they've (the jockeys) basically spat the dummy and said, ‘no, no, we want to be paid for jumpouts’.
“What they should have said is, ‘hey, you're not keeping up your side of the bargain, Racing Victoria. We need more conveniently located trials.”
Munz said it was his pro-active work that encouraged the Melbourne Racing Club to stage barrier trials at Caulfield.
“So I think we've solved (the problem) for them and we're giving that opportunity to the jockeys,” he said.
“It also helps the rest of the industry because … jumpouts at training centres are only available to the trainers that train at those training centres.”
Members of the Victorian Jockeys Association (VJA) withdrew their services for jumpouts on December 1.
RV convened talks between the VJA and the Australian Trainers Association last week and hopes were high for a resolution last week, only for those to be shattered by a strongly worded release from the ATA on Tuesday.
In a statement, RV said the issue was complex as it tried to bring the parties to the negotiation table.
But RV conceded talks have broken down to a point where accusations from both sides over their reneging on a handshake deal late last week have scuppered the chances of a private resolution.
Bren O’Brien
Frustrated VJA boss Matt Hyland urged his members to return to riding in jumpouts while a stalemate remains amid a war of words between the organisation and the ATA.
In response to an inflammatory ATA media release, Hyland said it would now be impossible to thrash out “a reasonable” outcome and paves the way for action at an industrial relations level.
“On that basis, my board has now instructed me to change tack and we have advised our members they may return to unpaid jumpouts while we progress other avenues available and open to us,” Hyland said.
“We will now consult government workplace bodies and other organisations to determine our next move.
“We did not want to go outside of our own industry to resolve this, but the breakdown in negotiations with the ATA leaves us with no other option.”
About 70 riders decided not to compete in jumpouts when the boycott came into effect but the VJA confirmed up to five jockeys had since ridden before the ban was lifted on Tuesday.
Munz, a major investor through his ownership and breeding interests, claimed high-profile jockeys such as Melbourne Cup-winning riders Jye McNeil, Mark Zahra and Blake Shinn had lost important opportunities from his team of racehorses because of their unavailability to ride in jumpouts.
Warwick Barr
He has engaged champion Hong Kong-based jockey Zac Purton for the Black Caviar Lightning Stakes ride on Isthmus, a promising sprinting mare who won twice over the Flemington straight course during last year’s spring carnival.
“What the jockeys are trying to do is act like the CFMEU and get mandating of private arrangements. And it's just not right,” Munz said.
“And in this case, I'm pretty clear that the trainers and the owners have been very reasonable and the jockeys have been unreasonable.
“It's a voluntary matter as to whether a jockey rides in a jumpout or doesn't ride in a jumpout.”
After initially asking for a $110 riding fee for jumpouts, it is understood the VJA had been close to accepting a deal that would have seen them earn $50 per mount.
