Littleproud Gives Support to Thoroughbred Welfare Initiative
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Saturday, February 15, 2020 | Dedicated to the Australasian bloodstock industry - subscribe for free: Click here ARE STAR ATTRACTIONS NATURE STRIP AND CATALYST BEATABLE ON AN ACTION-PACKED AFTERNOON? - PAGE 7 Littleproud gives Read Tomorrow's Issue For: support to thoroughbred Saturday’s Stakes Reviews & Results What's on Stakes races: Randwick (NSW) - Apollo welfare initiative Stakes (Gr 2, 1400m), Light Fingers Stakes Federal Agriculture Minister welcomes creation of Independent Working (Gr 2, 1200m), Southern Cross Stakes (Gr Group panel in statement ahead of Agriculture Ministers’ Forum 3, 1200m), Triscay Stakes Gr 3, 1200m), The Lonhro Plate (Listed, 1000m). Morphetville (SA) - Birthday Cup (Listed, 2000m). Flemington (VIC) - Lightning Stakes (Gr 1, 1000m), CS Hayes Stakes (Gr 3, 1400m), The Vanity (Gr 3, 1400m), Talindert Stakes (Listed, 1100m). Ascot (WA) - Challenge Stakes (Listed, 1500m), Cyril Flower Stakes (Listed, 1200m). Ellerslie (NZ) - Avondale Cup (Gr 2, 2400m), Avondale Guineas (Gr 2, 2100m). Ascot (NZ) - Southland Guineas (Listed, 1600m) Metropolitan meetings: Randwick (NSW), Sapphire Coast (NSW), Flemington (VIC), Eagle Farm (QLD), Ascot (WA), Morphetville (SA), Ellerslie (NZ) Race meetings: Coffs Harbour (NSW), David Littleproud AAP Gosford (NSW), Bendigo (VIC), Gold Coast Littleproud, who is also deputy leader of The (QLD), Rockhampton (QLD), Toowoomba BY TIM ROWE | @ANZ_NEWS Nationals, yesterday welcomed the establishment (QLD), Esperance (WA), Pioneer Park (NT) he Australian thoroughbred sector’s of the Independent Working Group (IWG) panel, Ascot (NZ) push for a national approach to equine whose terms of reference will be determined by International meetings: Kranji (SGP) welfare has earned the significant an industry steering committee. support of the Federal Government Having written to state counterparts about Tfollowing the formation of an industry-funded the issue ahead of next week’s Agriculture taskforce to make recommendations aimed at Ministers’ Forum calling for their support of the ensuring the long-term health and wellbeing of outcomes of IWG, Littleproud said “Australians retired horses. want the racing industry to uphold high welfare Federal Agriculture Minister David standards”. Continued on page 2>> YESTERDAY'S STAKES RESULT FROM | MOONEE VALLEY | PAGE 11 Follow us @anz_news: click here | 1 | Brought to you by Saturday, February 15, 2020 << Continued from page 1 “I applaud industry for taking the reins and leading from the front,” Littleproud said in a statement. “Animal welfare and the regulation of horse racing has always been a state responsibility and their lack of leadership has let the industry down. “When you have Gai Waterhouse, Chris Waller and David Hayes joining horse racing industry bodies to back the initiative, all BEST OF governments should sit up and take notice. “I’m also pleased to see both the RSPCA and Australian Veterinary Association will be on the taskforce and the industry is open to their input. LUCK “The initiative will improve industry transparency and ultimately To the Magic Millions graduates improve animal welfare. “I want this to succeed, so I’ve offered to the Independent Panel the running in today’s feature races expertise of the Department of Agriculture, Water and Environment.” FLEMINGTON (VRC) RANDWICK (ATC) Former Victorian Premier and qualified veterinarian Dr Denis Napthine will chair the group that also includes Dr Bidda Jones, chief LIGHTNING STKS GR1 LIGHT FINGER STKS GR2 science and strategy officer for RSPCA Australia, Dr Ken Jacobs, a Redzel ....................... Marquee Stud Missile Mantra ...........Arrowfield Stud director of the Australian Veterinary Association, and Jack Lake, a senior Despatch ....................Baramul Stud SOUTHERN CROSS STKS GR3 advisor on agriculture in the Hawke, Keating and Rudd governments. Special Reward.............Taunton Vale CS HAYES STKS GR3 The quartet, who had an initial phone hook-up this week, will focus Alligator Blood .............Baramul Stud ELLERSLIE (NZ) on horses exiting the thoroughbred industry through to end-of-life Soul Patch ................. Armidale Stud management. AVONDALE GUINEAS GR2 THE VANITY GR3 Sherwood Forest........Coolmore Stud The Thoroughbred Breeders Australia (TBA)-led plan to tackle horse Swing and Boom ...........Eureka Stud Den Bosch ..................Baramul Stud welfare in the racing industry has the backing of the major stakeholder groups - prominent breeders, leading trainers, jockeys and high-profile owners - who have committed to financially supporting the initiative. In a separate letter sent to TBA chief executive Tom Reilly yesterday, Littleproud said animal welfare and the regulation of racing was the responsibility of the industry and state and territory governments but reaffirmed the need for a national approach to the issue. “Gaps in the regulation of animal welfare and the treatment of horses at the end of their racing career are failures that potentially put this billion- dollar industry and those who work in it at risk,” Littleproud wrote. “I therefore congratulate the industry for stepping in and taking the lead on a national approach and consider it is incumbent on the states, territories and the Commonwealth to back it.” When announcing the IWG last week, Reilly said the industry needed to forget about state borders in an effort to ensure the issue of horse welfare was dealt with in an appropriate manner in the wake of community concern. “The challenges of the welfare, rehoming, retraining and end- of-life for thoroughbreds are national issues that are of concern to all participants in the industry,” Reilly said last week. “We have to acknowledge that if we can improve outcomes in these areas, it is our responsibility to do so. “Too often our industry is fragmented along state lines. This initiative will facilitate a national discussion with the aim of finding national solutions. Everybody who I have asked for support has been happy to give it and get behind this.” The IWG is expected to hand down its report and recommendations www.magicmillions.com.au by the end of the year. Follow us @anz_news: click here | 2 | Brought to you by Your Essential Read - Sponsored by Aquis | 3 | Saturday, February 15, 2020 Bivouac in the Golden Rose but reversed that Currie purring as AUSTRALIA form when landing the Coolmore Stud Stakes Caviar returns 172 for Redoute’s Choice (registered as Ascot Vale Stakes) (Gr 1, 1200m) Nature Strip might be the on-course star at Late Arrowfield Stud flagbearer Redoute’s in November, also completed a jump-out at Flemington today, but unbeaten champion Choice (Danehill) sired his 172nd individual Flemington yesterday. The three-year-old is Black Caviar (Bel Esprit) is grabbing plenty stakes winner yesterday when Dabiyr (5 g ex set to have another jump-out on Friday before of the headlines as the three-time Lightning Dabista by Highest Honor) took out the Torney plans are finalised regarding his return, but Stakes winner, who is honoured in the title of Night Cup (Listed, 2500m) at Moonee Valley. co-trainer Wayne Hawkes believes options for the $750,000 contest and the raceday overall, Completing a quinella for champion trainer his talented colt are limited in the autumn. prepares to parade before racing. "Outwardly Chris Waller, the Jye McNeil-ridden Dabiyr "It's a bit unfortunate and something we need I'm not a very emotional person but it's got the better of stable companion Vaucluse to address in the industry, because we have wonderful to see her again. And to see her in Bay (Al Maher) by half a length, with the same those great races in the spring for the three- such great shape too," said regular jockey Luke margin back to Sound (Lando) in third. Fourth year-olds, but there's not really one that comes Nolen during a media event yesterday. "She in a Rosehill Group 3 last September, Dabiyr is to mind at this time of the year," Hawkes told looks like she's only two weeks off a trial. She now a five-time winner from 13 starts, while Racing.com. “There's a big opportunity for might give the Lightning a shake tomorrow if Redoute’s Choice is set to be represented by Melbourne or Sydney, for one of them to put she was in it." Black Caviar won consecutive nine lots at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling up a big race and to make it a colts' grand final renewals of the Lightning between 2011 and Sale in April. in the autumn." 2013 during her unbeaten 25-start career and she will parade in the mounting yard before Oakleigh Plate Strip top of Ascot wish-list today’s contest, her first racecourse appearance first-up for Bivouac Nature Strip (Nicconi), red-hot favourite for since April 2013. Golden Rose Stakes (Gr 1, 1400m) winner today’s Black Caviar Lightning Stakes (Gr Bivouac (Exceed And Excel) will return in next 1, 1000m) at Flemington, is the horse Nick Spend to improve Saturday’s Oakleigh Plate (Gr 1, 1100m) having Smith, Ascot’s director of racing and public in CS Hayes pleased James Cummings in an 800-metre affairs, wants above all others at this year’s Jockey Dwayne Dunn is expecting an improved jump-out at Flemington yesterday. "I was royal meeting. "Nature Strip is definitely the performance from Spend (Snitzel) in today’s delighted with him," Cummings said. "He's top target this year," Smith said at Flemington CS Hayes Stakes (Gr 3, 1400m) after the Team going really well. The Oakleigh Plate is his first- yesterday. Expanding on his recent discussions Hawkes-trained three-year-old finished fourth up target and we'll be very interested to see with connections, Smith added: "I had a very in the Manfred Stakes (Gr 3, 1200m) first-up on what nominates and what weight he gets. He good lunch with a couple of them in Sydney February 1. “You’ll see a much different horse,” stormed through the line well this morning and earlier in the week and I've obviously kept Dunn told Racing.com in respect of Spend Craig felt he had plenty in hand.