|
66.
X-Ray Repository
Taking Shape Fast
|
21/08/2002 |
|
|
|
Purchasers
at the Inglis Australian 2YO Breeze-Up Sale set down for Sydney on September 27
will be the first to have access to an X-ray repository as Australasia readies
itself for the full-scale introduction of a repository largely modeled on
Keeneland for the 2003 yearling sale series.
And thoroughbred industry participants are increasingly identifying positive
aspects as they prepare for the ground-breaking change.
The Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation (RIRDC) convened a
Yearling Radiographic Seminar at the Sydney University Veterinary Conference
Centre on Sunday, with assistance from Aushorse, and sponsored by Magic
Millions.
Keynote speaker was Three Chimneys resident veterinarian Dr Jim Morehead, who
since 1990 has owned Equine Medical Associates PSC in Lexington.
He gave a practical and down-to-earth outline of how the repository system
evolved and currently works at Keeneland, where 95.8 per cent of 4,167 yearlings
offered for sale were presented with X-rays at the 2001 September Sale.
“We need to remember as veterinarians that buyers, consignors, sale companies
and veterinarians all have different roles that overlap, and ideally, we as vets
can do our job helping our clients,” he told an audience of 180 that was
largely comprised of Australia’s leading equine veterinarians.
“Our role is to help them sell or buy racehorses. Racehorses. Not
radiographically clean horses. Racehorses,” he emphasized.
“Every decision at the sale on certain days irritates somebody,” Dr Morehead
said.
“As a vet you just have to remember your role, and that’s all you need to
remember.
“Call it like you see it and don’t worry about the politics. It is not a
popularity contest.”
He explained how the repository began in 1996 at Keeneland and gradually
developed into its current form, with 32 views required from July 1998 and
safeguards to protect the integrity of data introduced.
”For a while, anything that could be operated on was. Now we have more
knowledge. A lot fewer are operated on now we are more seasoned and less
jumpy,” he said.
“If there is a question in your mind, always err on the horse’s side.”
He said reports on previous surgery were often available.
“The more evidence you have, the more confident buyers are to cut loose,” Dr
Morehead said.
Magic Millions managing director David Chester, whose company will spearhead the
large-scale use of the repository system in at its major yearling sale in
January, said: “I worried the repository could have a detrimental affect on
the sales and cause a lot of pain, but after listening to Jim I feel more
confident, and I think the repository could even help our sales.”
Thoroughbred Breeders’ NSW vice-president and prominent consignor Judy
Marheine, of Stratheden Stud, said: “I thought it was great that all parties
were involved in open dialogue on the presentation of yearlings for sale to
Asian and Australian markets.
“I think the whole repository process is a form of quality assurance. We
won’t know exactly how it will work until we see it happening, but having been
at the seminar, I feel a lot more confident about the process,” she said.
Inglis & Son managing director Reg Inglis said: “After everyone has
thought about this, I believe the repository system will work very, very well.
It will work to our advantage.”
Australasian sale companies Magic Millions and William Inglis & Son have
agreed to an Aushorse request for horses to be X-rayed within 42 days of sale
commencement, and the Australian Equine Veterinary Association supports the time
frame.
New Zealand Bloodstock is urging consignors to X-ray within 30 days of the sale
date.
Aushorse director John Kelly, who chairs the joint Aushorse — Thoroughbred
Breeders’ Australia sub-committee on yearling X-rays, said there was a
justifiable amount of fear among industry participants regarding X-rays.
“But we should be able to minimize the depths of the pot-holes we fall into by
using the US experience to our advantage,” he said.
NZB spokeswoman Julia Naismith returned from a recent fact-finding trip to
Kentucky saying she was overwhelmed by the level of industry support for the
repository system.
“The major vendors were emphatic that there is no way they would want to go
back to the pre-repository days of bone warranties and the endless disputes that
arose from each sale,” Naismith said.
“The repository system has brought considerable peace of mind and restored the
sanctity of the fall of hammer,” Naismith said.
She said NZB would likely have a voluntary pre-sale repository in operation for
its Ready to Run Sale of 2YOs on November 18, 19 and 20, 2002.
“Provided that both buyers and sellers keep the issue in perspective for what
it is, that it’s just one element in the assessment and purchase decision
process, not the ‘be all and end all’, then I believe we can integrate
X-raying into our sales in this part of the world relatively smoothly and
successfully,” Naismith said.
By
Bronwyn Farr
Aushorse
|
