The word ‘leadership’ may have only featured twice in John Messara’s landmark 2018 report into the New Zealand racing industry, but it shapes as the most crucial aspect of thoroughbred racing realising the potential of the landmark Entain deal signed only last year.
The sugar hit from Entain’s initial investment through the NZ TAB has been significant. Prize money leapt upwards, turnover increased and bloodstock investment surged, but after a litany of issues around tracks and management of race clubs, there is a concern about where the long-term strategy is at.
While the headlines said it was a 25-year-deal, Entain’s guaranteed funding is for five years and the clock is ticking after 18 months that all that has been promised to be delivered can be delivered. One of the criticisms of the current regime was a lack of progress on several key aspects, including clubs and track rationalisation.
Those issues were brought to a head when two key Hawke’s Bay Group 1 meetings had to be moved, while a recent feature public holiday meeting at Te Rapa was also shifted. You can imagine the impact such changes have on wagering and on the mood of the key wagering partner.
None of these problems are surprising to anyone who has read the Messara Report. The issues have been identified, the solutions put forward, and a key plank, a proper wagering partner, has been put in place.
But resistance to change remains and the challenge is now to find the leadership at New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing to achieve cut-through and make the necessary changes. The departure of Sharrock after two and half years gives NZTR a clean slate.
The Straight understands two key positions will be advertised this month, the CEO role and a key Head Of Racing role. We have taken a look at a selection of possible candidates for the chief executive position.
Tim Rowe
Paul Wilcox
Wilcox has been the CEO of New Zealand’s biggest race club, Auckland Thoroughbred Racing, for the past seven years and has played a crucial role in a $55 million renovation of the Ellerslie racetrack, which includes the installation of a StrathAyr track.
The transition from club administration into a role like that of NZTR is not always easy.
But Wilcox also boasts connections and experience in the bloodstock world having been a director of NZB for four years as well as being involved with Pencarrow. Prior to that, he was in senior sales and account roles with liquor giants Lion.
Nick Roberts
Roberts is the CEO of TAB NZ, having served in that role for just on 17 months. He had previously worked closely in getting the Entain deal done in a role titled Chief Transition Officer and before that General Counsel with the TAB.
He would possess an excellent understanding of Entain and the TAB’s perspectives on how to action and prioritise change at NZTR, having also overseen significant changes in his current role, including the TAB’s move to Wellington.
The fact he comes from outside the racing industry bubble may prove appealing to those looking to shake the status quo.
Jason Fleming
Originally coming from a finance background, Fleming has worked in a host of racing roles, including six years as Hawkes Bay CEO and seven years as a director at NZTR. He arrived at TAB in the role of General Manager Commercial and Finance in August last year and has worked closely with Nick Roberts.
Fleming has strong racing credentials as well as financial and business development skills which would be appealing for NZTR.
Brad Steele
Steele has only been in the role of CEO of Harness Racing New Zealand for six months but has made several key changes already which have driven double-digit wagering growth, something that would be the envy of any other harness jurisdiction. This position may come up a little too soon, but the former Queensland-based banker is making an impression.
Andrew Seabrook
Well-known as the managing director of New Zealand Bloodstock, Seabrook has a long history in racing and bloodstock.
Born into racing, Seabrook briefly considered a career in accounting before being lured to what was then Wrightson’s Bloodstock in 1992.
The company changed name, but Seabrook has never changed companies.
He is well-connected in the racing and breeding sphere and is well-liked and respected.
Nick Johnson
Johnson relocated from the United Kingdom to take the job as chief executive of Thoroughbred Breeders Association in October last year. Prior to that, the Kiwi-born executive worked in commercial sales and marketing for flooring companies. Johnson maintained his connection to racing and breeding through his bloodstock agent brother Dylan.
Andrew Birch
Birch has been CEO of New Zealand Thoroughbred Marketing for 13 years and is well-connected and well-liked within racing, breeding and bloodstock circles.
He also spent time working in the bloodstock industry as well as at race clubs and is a Darley Flying Start graduate.
Sam Moncur
Moncur has substantial wagering experience through five years at TAB NZ, where he worked in senior financial, operations and media roles, while he has spent the last 18 months at Entain as deputy chief financial officer.
Prior to that, he spent over six years with the New Zealand Racing Board, having worked as a financial analyst.
Cameron Rodger
Rodger is currently managing director of Entain in New Zealand, so it would be more of a sidestep than a step up, but he does have extensive racing and wagering experience. He was in senior corporate, legal and commercial roles at TAB NZ, while prior to that worked for the NZ Racing Board for seven years.
Across the ditch
The NZTR CEO role would also appeal to racing and wagering executives based in Australia. As an example, Thoroughbred Breeders Australia CEO Tom Reilly was a leading candidate for the role the last time it was advertised.
RWWA’s CEO Ian Edwards would be a good fit, having spent four years in his current role, while his chief racing officer David Hunter is also well-regarded. Both of those men have led a bold media and wagering strategy in WA.
Hunter could be a possible candidate for either the CEO or the Head Of Racing role. Similarly, Greg Rudolph, currently at Racing SA, or Charlotte Mills, who is at Moonee Valley Racing Club. Matt Welsh, formerly of Racing Victoria, is another possible candidate as Head of Racing.
Former Melbourne Racing Club CEO Josh Blanksby is between jobs, while it appears departed Brisbane Racing Club CEO Tony Partridge is out of the running as he has taken a role in Saudi Arabia.
Vicky Leonard, the New Zealand-born media and marketing executive, who has extensive connections in the breeding and racing industry, is another possible candidate for the CEO role.
Bren O’Brien
