Asian Pattern Committee Takes Control of Australia’s Black-Type Races

[Wandering Eyes]

Amid an ongoing lengthy hiatus of meetings of the Australian Pattern Committee, the Asian Pattern Committee has taken the unprecedented “temporary measure” of seizing control of the decision-making progress regarding black-type races in the country.

A statement released by the Asian Racing Federation on Wednesday read, “The Asian Racing Federation (ARF) advises that, given the exceptional circumstances that exist, the Asian Pattern Committee (APC) will, for the time being, make decisions regarding the status of all black type races in Australia.

“This means that the APC will now be responsible for making status change decisions (including upgrades and downgrades) for all Group 1, Group 2, Group 3 and Listed races in Australia. These decisions will be reported to the International Grading and Race Planning Advisory Committee (IRPAC) of the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities, which will subsequently report any significant decisions to the Society of International Thoroughbred Auctioneers (SITA), prior to publication in the International Cataloguing Standards Book. IRPAC and SITA have been informed of the ARF's decision.

“The APC will commence its decision-making for black type races in Australia so that any status changes are determined prior to the start of the 2026/27 Australian racing season.”

No formal meeting of the Australian Pattern Committee has taken place for seven years but despite this lack of oversight of Australia's black-type programme, and following the controversial adoption of Australian black-type guidelines by the Racing Australia board, 17 races in New South Wales were given upgrades in October 2024. These upgrades – which included the upgrading The Everest and the All Star Mile to Group 1 level – were not recognised by the Asian Pattern Committee, the coordinating panel for the region in the same way thatBritain's Flat Pattern Committee is governed by the ground rules of the European Pattern Committee. Arion, the southern hemisphere-based provider of pedigree information, also refused to recognise the changes in race status, meaning that they are not reflected on catalogue pages or in stallion pedigree records. 

The ARF statement continued, “This course of action has been adopted in circumstances where there has not been a properly functioning black-type quality control system in Australia since as far back as 2017/18. While the ARF has been extremely patient and provided significant assistance to try to resolve this matter, it determined that action now had to be taken.

“The action to be undertaken by the APC, under the ARF's authority, is intended only as a temporary measure. The ARF's strong preference is that, as a Part I country, Australia establishes a functioning black-type quality control system operating in accordance with the APC Ground Rules in the near future, and for the above arrangements to end. However, absent such resolution, the ARF will consider other actions that it may need to take.”

Australia has for now avoided the threat made during a meeting of the APC in Hong Kong last Friday of being downgraded to a Part II country within the Blue Book of the International Cataloguing Standards. Its fellow Part I countries include Britain, France, Hong Kong, Ireland, Japan, New Zealand and the USA. 

In August, Racing Australia proposed a vote on new black-type guidelines which would involve the status of races being determined merely on “benchmark ratings” but without the oversight of a formal Pattern Committee.

This suggestion was described at the time by Hamish Esplin, president of Thoroughbred Breeders NSW, as “nothing short of a complete bastardisation of the Pattern as it has worked in Australia for over 50 years”.

He added, “The Pattern is fundamental; it has existed as long as black type has. What the pattern requires is considered thought and subjective analysis, to ensure racing is structured in a way that each part relates to the other. Without that balance, black type risks becoming cannibalised, uneven, or distorted.”

 

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