Hong Kong returnees

[Freda]

Does anyone know of the exact protocols regarding horses returned to NZ from Hk ?

We see quite a few now, some successful, which have been returned because they haven't adapted well, or perhaps don't show enough for the local scene.

But what are the 'rules'  wrt those which have been returned as a result of unsoundness, and a vet report indicating unsuitable for further racing?

There is a young local trainer who has purchased just such a horse, on the strength of further scans which [ apparently ] show no indication of possible further issues.

This is not intended to be a 'he said, she said', sort of critique, we all know that the soundest horses can have accidents, and vets are only human, not infallible.

But, now the young trainer wants to trial said horse and he has been told no by chief stipe. [ not 'our' chief stipe ! ].   He has had communications from NZTR, from some twat telling him that he must re-hab the horse, it must be rested, ice-packed , etc,etc.. and said stipe has ordered an x-ray.  Fine, says trainer, just tell me what part I'm supposed to x-ray and I'll get it done, after all he had a soft tissue problem in HK [ for which, of course, an x-ray will be of little use ].

With all the box-ticking lip service b/s about horse welfare, should there not have been some sort of 'flag' on horses returned for soundness reasons ?  and, if, subsequently, such horses are passed fit for another try, shouldn't NZTR involved in such approval?

I don't mean to imply that horse welfare is b/s, rather that the sanctimonous  and clearly ineffective attitude and practice of head office is.