Munz and Messara Back ARIA to Wrest Control of Australian Pattern

[Wandering Eyes]

In the wake of increasing disquiet at the impasse between Racing Australia and the Asian Racing Federation in the prolonged absence of proper oversight of Australia's black-type programme, the newly formed Australian Racing Industry Alliance (ARIA) released a statement on Thursday outlining plans for the restoration of an Australian Pattern Committee.

Chaired by major owner-breeder Jonathan Munz, and with the backing of one of the most respected figures in international breeding in Arrowfield Stud's John Messara, ARIA represents many of the country's major industry bodies, including Thoroughbred Breeders Australia, Thoroughbred Breeders NSW, Thoroughbred Breeders Victoria, the sales companies Magic Millions and Inglis, the Australian Trainers Association, and the Thoroughbred Racehorse Owners Association.

On Wednesday, the Asian Pattern Committee (APC), which oversees the individual committees of the member countries of the Asian Racing Federation, confirmed that it would take control of the decision-making process of grading Austalia's black-type races as a “temporary measure” while the Australian Pattern Committee remains inactive, as it has been since the 2017/18 racing season.

ARIA now seeks to implement a new structure similar to the independent committees which sit in other major racing jurisdictions. Its proposal suggests that an Australian Pattern Panel (APP) be established with 18 permanent voting members and a constitution that ensures proper governance and succession planning. This panel would select an Australian Pattern Committee annually, with members representing the broad spectrum of the racing and bloodstock world but acting independently of Racing Australia.

Jonathan Munz said, “Racing Australia has been heavily criticised and the current situation is an embarrassment. It cannot be in charge of putting together a set of experts on breeding and the Pattern to advise the APC. You don't empower the organisation that has been accused of botching a process to fix that process.”

Following the unprecedented action of the Asian Pattern Committee in stepping in to revive the Australian Pattern, the country has been given a stay of execution from the threat of being demoted to Part II of international racing's Blue Book, which would mean its Group races would be recognised as such only domestically. John Messara, a former chair of Racing Australia, is well placed to recognise the potential damage this would wreak on Australia's bloodstock industry and he echoed Munz's sentiments.

“We cannot have the current situation, where races are listed by Racing Australia as having been upgraded or as 'new' stakes races, when they do not qualify to appear as such in our sales catalogues,” he said. 

“It is also important to note that a 'ratings-based only' set of Pattern guidelines would be inconsistent with the Asian Patter Committee Ground Rules, which specifically require a pattern committee to take into account 'all factors that include more than race ratings or statical analysis, such as the effect of the shape of the Pattern, as well as circumstances that may impact the race rating of a specific race'.”

Messara added, “For the sake of the Australian racing industry and its international reputation, we need a settlement that restores confidence in the Pattern. Nothing short of proper governance will do.”

 

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