Wings clipped – Asian committee votes against Group 1 upgrade for Golden Eagle

Racing NSW has failed in a bid to have four Sydney races recognised as Group 1s after members of the Asian Pattern Committee (APC) rejected its submission, The Straight can reveal.

It is understood that the APC took a dim view of the submission for the $10 million Golden Eagle and the $3 million Russell Balding to hold Group 1 status by voting against the motion at a meeting on Thursday evening (AEST).

The principal racing authority (PRA) had also made the case for the Premiere Stakes, the last Sydney lead-up to The Everest, and the autumn’s Apollo Stakes to be upgraded from Group 2 to Group 1 status.

Those races were also denied international approval as Group 1 status by APC delegates.

The slap down by the APC could also have consequences for connections of overseas-owned horses who are considering targeting the Golden Eagle or owners and trainers of Everest runners who may elect to target the Group 1 Champions Sprint in Melbourne rather than stay in Sydney after The Everest.

It is believed at least one international jockey may not be released to ride in the Golden Eagle if it is not staged at Group 1 level.

The Golden Eagle and the Russell Balding will be staged at Randwick on November 1.

Delegates from six jurisdictions – Australia, Hong Kong, Japan, New Zealand, Southern Africa and the Emirates Racing Authority – voted on the motion. It is unclear whether the decision was unanimous.

Racing Australia’s APC delegate, Racing SA chair Rob Rorrison, would not comment about the meeting nor confirm that the four NSW races were on the agenda when contacted on Friday. 

Multiple attempts this month to reach APC chair Takahiro Uno, the head of race planning at the Japan Racing Association, have also proven unsuccessful.

Ahead of the meeting, an intermediary of Uno said that he was not prepared to speak to “mass media” about the issues concerning Australia’s Pattern, which has not been reformed since 2018 when the committee responsible last met. 

V’landys would also not comment on Thursday, hours before the APC meeting was scheduled to begin.

Four more Sydney Group 1s put on Asian Pattern Committee agenda

Sydney could have three Group 1 spring sprint races in six weeks and an additional autumn Group 1 race if a submission put to the Asian Pattern Committee is ratified at a meeting this week.

The StraightTim Rowe

Racing Australia attempted to introduce ratings-based Black Type Guidelines about this time last year. After initially gaining director approval, all PRAs except for Racing NSW backed away from the proposed reforms amid a stakeholder backlash.

That did not stop Racing NSW from upgrading the black type of 18 races over the past 12 months, but the changes to features such as the Tapp-Craig are not recognised by sales companies or pedigree page providers because they have not adhered to international protocols. 

While The Everest and Victoria’s All-Star Mile received the international tick of approval as Group 1s by the APC last year on the condition that Australia would keep its end of the bargain by ensuring a working Pattern committee for upgrades and downgrades were put in place, the states remain at loggerheads.

Last week, the September board meeting of Racing Australia was abandoned after V’landys, the Racing NSW delegate, failed to attend.

Racing NSW and Racing Victoria hold the power of veto over Racing Australia, making it increasingly difficult to achieve a workable outcome.

The race for Australia’s own Triple Crown

The Triple Crown has been at the centrepiece of American racing for over a century but has been elevated even further in prominence thanks to the recent Netflix series. Could Australia follow suit with its own version, over sprint distances in the Sydney spring?

The StraightBren O’Brien