As we edge closer to the completion of the yearling sales and start contemplating the 2019 breeding season, I would like to point you to Thoroughbred Breeders Australia (TBA) and Aushorse’s recently released report titled Strategy Review 2019.
This report outlines key initiatives undertaken in 2018 and looks at major issues we are trying to resolve in 2019.
Please do not hesitate to get in touch with me or a member of the TBA or Aushorse team if you would like to discuss any aspect of what we do on behalf of the industry.
Tom Reilly Chief Executive Officer
T +61 2 9663 8581 F +61 2 9663 8471 M +61 (0) 423 146 334
Thoroughbred Breeders Australia (TBA) celebrated its centenary year with the announcement of the Basil Nolan Jnr scholarship at an event on the Gold Coast.
More than 200 breeders and industry figures were present as TBA president Basil Nolan acknowledged the award that was created and funded by Aushorse, and named in honour of his late son.
The scholarship will be available to graduates of Thoroughbred Breeders Australia’s traineeship program, Fast Track, allowing one graduate every year to study overseas.
Aushorse chairman Antony Thompson said the scholarship continued the organisation’s commitment to the future of thoroughbred breeding in Australia.
“The Fast Track program is only in its second year and already it’s been a real success, attracting some great young people to the industry,” Thompson said at Monday night’s event.
“This prize will provide a graduate the opportunity to expand their knowledge base and broaden their experience, allowing them to go overseas and study on the Irish National Stud course or a similar program.
“The Aushorse board are delighted to name the scholarship after Basil who was a wonderful man and embodied so much that is great about the Australian breeding industry.”
Basil Nolan Jnr died in a farming accident on his family’s Raheen Stud last November.
Among the speakers at the Centenary celebration were two of this year’s Fast Track trainees, Lachie Pethica and Alyssa Pickles, who talked about their experiences and how the program gave them a start in the breeding industry.
Journalist Michael Hedge, who wrote the history of TBA for its 100th year, told the audience about the founding of the organisation and its first president, Hugh Denision, a successful breeder and businessman who was forced to change his name after reports of his huge betting wins embarrassed his family.
Click below to view a Flipbook of the TBA Centenary Booklet.
TBA Centenary Booklet – Celebrating 100 Years of Breeding (1919 – 2019)
TBA president Basil Nolan paid tribute to the breeders who began TBA.
“Back 100 years ago a group of breeders had the foresight to see that if they worked together, that if they united with one voice, they would be able to change breeding for the better.
“We owe those founders a debt of gratitude because TBA has been a powerful voice that has benefited breeders these past 100 years.”
Many of the responsibilities for TBA remain the same now as they did back in 1919, according to TBA chief executive Tom Reilly.
“The body has an important job as an advocate for the industry, dealing with government in particular. Back in its early days it had to get politicians to grant cheaper train travel for yearlings going to sales, while recently we have been dealing with issues such as visas for overseas workers, federal funding for research and development and export protocols,” he said.
“While the issues may have changed, the need for a strong and united industry voice has not and never will.”
TBA Centenary Celebration video
Amy Feng, Mr Zhang Yuesheng and TBA CEO Tom Reilly
Alistair Pulford, Vin Cox and Sam Hayes
Sam Hayes and TBA president Basil Nolan
Harry Perks, Adam Sangster and Sam Matthews
For more information contact Tom Reilly on 0423 146 334
Seventeen new Fast Track trainees began their journey into the world of thoroughbred breeding on Monday with the aim of building successful careers in the industry.
Launched last year by Thoroughbred Breeders Australia (TBA) in collaboration with TAFE NSW in response to staffing shortages in the breeding sector, the Fast Track training program offers passionate horse people a formal pathway into the industry.
Over the next 12-months, trainees will study for a Certificate III in Horse Breeding at TAFE NSW Scone while completing full-time traineeships with some of the country’s most respected stud farms.
More than 250 applications were received from around the country, leading to an increase in the number of places offered on the program.
“The response to this year’s intake has been outstanding, with double the number of applications from last year,” said TBA Chief Executive, Tom Reilly.
“It demonstrates to us that there are plenty of people out there who would love to build a career working with horses and who are just looking for a start. Fast Track offers exactly that; 12 months practical experience working on a reputable farm combined with a formal qualification. It is the perfect entry-level pathway.
“The program is really starting to build momentum and I am confident that we can continue to grow Fast Track into something that is of real benefit to breeders,” added Mr Reilly.
Widden Stud principal Antony Thompson, said the program plays an important role in addressing a major issue for breeders.
“Staffing has been identified as an area of concern for breeders and there is a real need for an initiative like this. We took a trainee on last year and were determined to support the program again in 2019.
“The course content does a great job providing the trainees with the foundational skills and knowledge needed to get started. They really seem to hit the ground running when they get to the farms. “TBA has shown great leadership in this area and I am confident that we’ll continue to see the benefits of their hard work.”
The 2019 cohort is made up of students from New South Wales, ACT, Victoria, South Australia and Queensland. Among the intake is a qualified accountant, a beauty therapist and a dive master. The majority of the group have had little to no exposure to thoroughbreds.
The group will spend the next four weeks at TAFE NSW Scone campus where they take part in an intensive learning experience designed to prepare them for life working on a stud farm.
Trainees return to Scone in late July for another two weeks of structured learning before re-joining their farms where they continue their on-the-job learning for the remainder of the 12 months.
“A first for the industry, the Fast Track program allows students to combine their TAFE NSW studies with paid employment as they gain the essential knowledge and practical skills employers require of successful participants in the thoroughbred breeding industry,” said TAFE NSW Scone Head Teacher, Animal Care & Management, Suzanne Walsh.
Along with the formal units of study, TBA has organised a host of additional lectures and field trips to ensure trainees get the best possible introduction to the industry.
There is also a strong focus on personal development with the group taking part in first aid, defensive driver training, a personal finance workshop and mental health first aid.
The first crop of Fast Track trainees are nearing the end of their 12-months in the program and have made positive impressions on the farms where they are undertaking their practical work placements.
Trainee Alyssa Pickels is based at Kitchwin Hills and like many others in the first group, will stay in the industry after graduation.
“The Fast Track program has introduced me to the wide range of opportunities in the thoroughbred industry. The many experiences provided through the program have shown me that I can have more than just a job, I can make it a career,” said Pickels.
“It’s really exciting to see our inaugural intake near completion. I have had the pleasure of getting to know this group over the last year and I am extremely proud of how far they have come in what is a relatively short period of time,” said Fast Track coordinator Cecelia O’Gorman.
“Watching them grow to become valued team members on their farms has been hugely rewarding and I can’t wait to see what they go on to achieve in our industry.”
ENDS For more information please contact: Tom Reilly 0423 146 334 Cecelia O’Gorman 0411 696 036
Godolphin Stud and Stable Staff Award nominations are now open (Godolphin)
The day after Winx won her final race, her long-time strappers Umut Odemislioglu and Candice Perisijn were back in the real world, mucking out the boxes of regular racehorses.
Like the thousands who do what they do, they awoke at an hour closer to midnight than midday and went to work in the twilight world that is essential to the survival of the thoroughbred racing and breeding industries.
Odemislioglu and Perisijn are lucky enough to have had a world champion to look after.
For the rest of the unknown and largely unheralded workers on whom racing depends for its existence, it can be a thankless occupation.
To recognise their value to the industry and to showcase their roles, there are the Stud and Stable Staff Awards, for which the 2019 entries are officially now open.
First staged in Australia in 2015, the GSSSA, an initiative of Thoroughbred Breeders Australia and Racing Australia and sponsored by Godolphin, offer recognition to everyone in every “backroom”, every stable, stud or office in the Australian thoroughbred world.
From stable workers to exercise riders, to float drivers, to secretaries, to stud grooms, to foaling supervisors, to the growing band of “re-homers” who provide care and a future to horses who can no longer race, the GSSSA’s are open to everyone.
In so many cases, the industry workers who the Awards seek to recognise, perform their jobs simply because they love horses.
As the 2018 Thoroughbred Excellence Award winner, the trackwork rider, Joe Agresta says: “You couldn’t do it if you didn’t love them.”
“None of us does it for money, because there isn’t any. We do it because we love horses, love being with them, love looking after them.”
Jenny Watson, whose 35 years on the night watch looking out for mares to deliver their foals, at Armidale Stud in Tasmania earned her the Thoroughbred Excellence Award in 2016.
“I still think this is the best job in the world,” Watson says.
“To see a mare and a foal survive just because you are there is the most wonderful thing.”
To find the most deserving recipients, the GSSSA relies on anyone being able to nominate anyone.
It isn’t necessary for a nomination to come from a boss or someone more senior than the nominee. You can propose someone on the same level as yourself, someone more senior, or more junior, someone from within your own organisation or from another.
Nominations will close on Monday, 1 July, 2019, and can be completed online via the Stud and Stable Staff Awards website www.studandstablestaffawards.com.au.
The GSSSA’s provide total prize money of $100,000 in seven categories plus an overall Thoroughbred Excellence Award made to the one of the five category winners.
The awards for the categories include $10,000 and a trophy, with $3,000 to their employer to be shared among fellow employees.
Tom Reilly, CEO of the Thoroughbred Breeders Association said: “These awards celebrate the most deserving people in the thoroughbred industry; the workers whose energy, endeavour, passion and resilience keep breeding and racing going all year around.”
“To trainers, breeders, business owners and administrators, I would encourage you to think of the people who are most deserving of recognition and nominate them. The finalists and award winners, not to mention their employers, get a huge thrill from being involved on the night that it is well worth making the effort of an entry.”
Greg Nichols, Chairman of Racing Australia said: “The Godolphin Stud and Stable Staff Awards, now in its 5th year, are a wonderful recognition and reward for the outstanding skills, commitment and contribution by the unsung heroes of our sport to the unparalleled success of Australian horseracing that is enjoyed today.”
“Racing Australia is greatly appreciative of the generous and unstinting commitment by Godolphin in establishing these awards and continuing its support culminating in the Stud and Stable Staff Awards being regarded as a pinnacle achievement within Australian thoroughbred horse racing.”
“We encourage our vast band of breeders, trainers, owners and racing management to participate by nominating those individuals who represent excellence in their chosen field of expertise.”
As you may know Thoroughbred
Breeders Australia successfully lobbied the Australian Government to introduce
a matched thoroughbred research and development levy.
This levy started in breeding season 2017 and in its
first full year raised about $400,000, which is then matched dollar for dollar
by the Australian Government. In addition, Thoroughbred Breeders Australia and
Racing Australia have made voluntary contributions to the pool of funding,
which have also been matched by government.
The levy allows us to commission research that
safeguards the long-term future of our industry. We are able to invest in
projects that make a significant difference in areas such as the prevention and
management of exotic and indigenous diseases; raising the conception rates of
mares and stallions; improving foal health; as well as research into welfare,
injury rates and industry modelling.
When the Levy began TBA ran an extensive consultation
process to ask breeders what areas should be prioritised for research. As a
result of that process a number of projects have been started, but we are now
looking for new areas of research.
We want to hear from you, so please read the section
below and send us your suggestions.
Questions and Answers:
How
the levy works? The levy is set
at a rate of $10 per mare covered per season, paid by the stallion owner and
$10 per mare returned per season, paid by the broodmare owner. These payments
are made through the Australian Stud Book.
How
much is raised? In its first full year the levy raised
in the region of $400,000 from breeders, though this will fluctuate with the
numbers of mares being covered.
Who
oversees the money? Racing Australia – owner of the
Australian Stud Book – collect the money from breeders before passing it on the
Agrifutures.
Who
are Agrifutures and what do they do? Agrifutures is
the new name for the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation
(RIRDC). Because the federal government is making a significant investment in
the Thoroughbred Levy scheme, they require Agrifutures to oversee how the money
is spent.
Their role is to work with the breeding
industry, develop a 5 year plan for R&D, and then commission projects and
ensure they are delivered on time and to the standards the breeding industry
expects and requires.
Rural
Industries Research & Development Corporation (RIRDC)
What
involvement do breeders have? No project will ever
be funded from breeders’ money without the approval of breeders. An expert
panel has been set up by Agrifutures, upon the recommendation of TBA, and their
role is to suggest projects, oversee the commission of studies, and assess
proposals that are put forward by researchers seeking funding. TBA also has a
regular monthly meeting with Agrifutures to be updated on all projects.
Who
is on the panel? The list of members is:
Professor Nigel Perkins (School of Veterinary Science at the University of Queensland) – Chairman
Jacqueline Stewart, (Keeper of the Australian Stud Book)
Dr Catherine Chicken (consultant to the Scone Equine Hospital on pathology and infectious disease)
Dr Judith Medd (Racing and Wagering Western Australia Industry Veterinarian)
Derek Field (Widden Stud General Manager)
Tas Rielley (owner/operator of Basinghall Broodmare Farm at Nagambie).
How can I suggest projects?
We encourage all breeders to send their proposals to TBA so that we can pass on this information to the panel that commission projects and oversee the levy. You can email your suggestions to james@tbaus.com
When
putting forward areas for research it may help to consider the following
questions:
what do think are the most important issues and concerns affecting the breeding industry either now, potentially or in years to come?
Thinking about the important issues you’ve just mentioned in question (1), what type of research projects “specifically” (e.g. improved vaccine strategies for management of equine herpes viruses) should we be funding to help address those issues?
What projects are currently underway? The following research has been funded by
breeders:
Non-invasive
ventilatory support for foals: Breathing difficulties and lung disease are common in foals and may be
transient immediately after birth, or may be related to prematurity, infectious
disease or other conditions. This project will continue work by the research
team on non-invasive support of respiration in neonatal foals using
commercially-available, positive airway pressure (PAP) devices used for at home
care of respiratory conditions in people. This approach promises to increase
our ability to support foals with breathing difficulties more effectively than
by administration of oxygen alone, but without invasive ventilation procedures
that are technically demanding and usually cost-prohibitive in equine patients.
Measure the economic impact of the thoroughbred
breeding industry: This project, which is almost completed, estimates
the contribution of the breeding industry to Australia’s Gross Domestic Product
and includes a breakdown of economic contributions across all key aspects of
the industry. Both the direct and indirect contributions from thoroughbred
breeding are captured. This information is important for explaining the
significance of our industry to a range of stakeholders and decision makers.
Improving the detection of parasitic infections and
control strategies in horses: Currently, there is an incomplete
understanding of the gastrointestinal parasites affecting the health,
performance and welfare of thoroughbred horses in Australia. Although
documented for some important parasitic nematode species, the true extent of
resistance in parasites of horses to the commonly used anthelmintics in this
country is unknown. This project aims to determine the epidemiology of
intestinal parasites, assess practices to control parasites, understand the
resistance to antiparasitic drugs and develop rapid diagnostic tool for
infections in horses.
Improved bacterial identification and antimicrobial
testing: This project
will generate epidemiological data on the bacterial species associated with
different infectious diseases in horses in south eastern Australia, and the
antimicrobial drugs to which these isolates are susceptible. This information
is of vital importance to equine veterinarians as treatment is often, of
necessity, initiated prior to receipt of laboratory results from individual patients.
In such cases, the best available information on which to base drug selection
is data from similar patients in the same location. This data is simply not
available in Australia. Collation of such data over time allows recognition of
changes in antimicrobial susceptibility, which is critical for recognition of
the emergence of antibiotic resistance in bacteria. A second outcome will be
comparison of more advanced laboratory techniques available for the
identification and testing of bacterial isolates.
The uterine microbiome – key to equine fertility?: This project aims an improved understanding of the role of the bacterial microflora of the equine reproductive tract on equine fertility. Following on from this, novel diagnostic and treatment methods for equine infertility will be developed. In addition, the research aims to formulate easy-to-use on-farm protocols for management and treatment that could significantly improve fertility outcomes. These might include alterations to how stallions are treated between breedings or how mares are prepared for breeding. The ultimate outcome of this research will be improved fertility rates for broodmares, as the causes of infertility in some older, chronically infertile mares are identified and effective treatment regimens are developed.
Wellbeing from pregnancy to racing: This project involves two complementary studies. The first will look at
the data from the Australian studbook for all breeding records between 2000 and
2015 examining the population statistics of the Australian Thoroughbred
industry. The temporo-spatial nature of
mare and stallion returns, the number of foals born and the number of foals
that are subsequently microchipped will be reported. The second aspect will examine a subset of
the national foal crop from 2012 and delve into the reasons that foals do not
enter racing. A phone survey of breeders and owners will be conducted to get
this insight. Understanding the reasons that prevent foals from undertaking a
racing career is essential for the development of strategies and actions that
will prevent these negative outcomes from occurring
Understanding heat stress and
stallion fertility: Systemic heat stress in mammals is detrimental to
sperm production and male fertility. This phenomenon has not been adequately
examined in the horse, or in a field setting relevant to the Australian
Thoroughbred industry. Specifically, we do not know how the climatic conditions
experienced by stallions in the major Thoroughbred breeding hubs of Australia
affect their fertility. Some 43 stallions will be examined as part of the
study, with the aim of developing measures to successfully alleviate the
effects of heat on fertility.
Understanding the epidemiology of
Chlamydia psittaci infections in mares: Equine
reproductive loss due to infectious agents impacts significantly on Australian
Thoroughbred breeders. While a range of bacterial agents are a recognized cause
of equine abortion, Chlamydia psittaci has emerged as a cause of reproductive
loss as well as zoonotic disease of veterinarians and stud workers. Recent work
has confirmed that prevalence rates of C. psittaci-infected equine pregnancy
losses were higher than were originally considered, suggesting that this
problem may be widespread and not just a recent phenomenon. While molecular
methods have pointed to contact with birds as a key part of this issue little
else is known about equine chlamydiosis, challenging any efforts to reduce the
risk to animal and human health.
This project aims
to reduce pregnancy losses in Australia’s thoroughbred industry by revealing
basic information on the epidemiology of this disease, focussing on two key
aspects of this disease, the C. psittaci-infected mare and the potential avian
reservoirs of C. psittaci infection.
Rapid diagnosis of infectious
agents of reproductive loss: Equine reproductive loss due to
infectious agents impacts significantly on Australian Thoroughbred breeders. A
range of bacterial agents are involved. Some of these also pose a significant
occupational health risk to workers in this industry. Accurate detection of the
infectious agents is important for the management of affected mares. While
nucleic acid testing is considered the ‘gold-standard’, testing is normally
only performed by well-equipped veterinary diagnostic laboratories with
molecular capabilities. This restriction means significant delays before
diagnostic results are available.
This project
aims to develop and evaluate rapid nucleic acid tests for two important causes
of equine reproductive loss in Australia, Equine Herpes Virus-1 (EHV-1), a
recognized cause of equine abortion, and Chlamydia psittaci, an emerging cause
of reproductive loss as well as zoonotic disease of stud workers and
veterinarians.
Back in 2017 the
federal government decided to scrap the 457 visas available to the thoroughbred
industry: namely, those visas for the occupations of Horse Breeder and Horse
Trainer.
After extensive
lobbying, the Horse Trainer visa was reinstated later that year, with Horse
Breeder made available in 2018. However, when the Horse Breeder category was
reinstated, it was done so with a caveat stating that applicants would have to
be paid $90,000 to be eligible.
Obviously this
made the visa out of reach of most studs wanting to employ an experienced staff
member from overseas. Thankfully, the government has now reduced the salary
restriction to $58,000, which should again make it possible for farms to bring
in the small numbers of people they need.
Thoroughbred Breeders
Australia’s traineeship program Fast Track is open for its second intake.
The training scheme
was launched last year as part of TBA’s commitment to find and educate
the next generation of industry talent.
The program works by finding young people who
have a passion for horses and placing them with a respected farm where they
will gain hands-on experience via a traineeship, while also completing a
Certificate III in Horse Breeding through TAFE NSW Scone.
The TAFE component of the program includes two
intensive learning blocks (6 weeks in total) and includes 16 formal study
modules.
Among the modules they learn are:
caring for broodmares
foaling
handling young horses
mating procedures
disease prevention
horse behaviour
Applications are now open for 2019 and will
close on March 31 ahead of the 12-month program that starts in late May. We
encourage people from across Australia to apply and there is scope for
placements on farms nationwide.
The program has received great support from
the breeding industry in the past 12 months; not only from farms willing to
take on trainees, but also people willing to share their time and experiences
with those on the course. As well as teaching provided by TAFE, the trainees
enjoyed a series of tutorials provided by experts from within industry.
“I would absolutely recommend to anybody to
get behind this,” says Royston Murphy of Sledmere Stud, who have taken on a
trainee.
“I think we really need to push these
initiatives and we’ll definitely be taking on some more people every year.”
Cecelia O’Gorman of TBA, who co-ordinates
Fast Track, is keen to hear from anybody who might be interested in applying
for the course.
“It’s very important that we have quality
people coming onto the program, so we really want to get applications from
people that love of horses and have a strong work ethic,” she says.
“Applicants don’t have to have any prior
experience with thoroughbreds, but it is important that they have the
determination to succeed and get through to the end of the course – then
hopefully they will go on to have a long career in breeding.”
Kitchwin Hills’ Mick Malone says the program would
go a long way to ensuring long-term employment opportunities in the industry.
“Fast Track is a great initiative that will
benefit farms all over the country as it provides a great introduction to
breeding,” he said. “We are very happy with our trainee and are keen to
continue our involvement with the second intake.”
Applicants can find out more about the program and apply here.
Farms who wish to be involved should
contact Cecelia on 0411 696 036.
Thoroughbred Breeders Australia (TBA) is deeply saddened by the tragic death of Basil Nolan Jr of Raheen Stud.
TBA chief executive Tom Reilly said everybody who knew Basil would be mourning his loss.
“On behalf of the directors and staff of TBA we extend our deepest sympathies to the Nolan family.
“Basil was one of the industry’s true gentleman. Not only was he a great horseman but, more importantly, he was a warm and generous man who always seemed to have a smile on his face.
“He was also a devoted father of four and it was always a highlight to have a chat to Basil and his children when Raheen had a draft to sell.
“I’m sure anyone who had dealings with Basil will be grieving his loss and that the whole breeding and racing community will be thinking of the Nolan family at this difficult time.”
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has backed the thoroughbred breeding industry, declaring horse racing a crucial part of Australian culture.
Mr Morrison was joined by MPs from all sides of politics at Parliament House in Canberra to rally behind the industry in an event organised by Thoroughbred Breeders Australia (TBA) and the Parliamentary Friends of Primary Producers.
“It is a fair dinkum, very serious business and industry,” Mr Morrison said.
“It is one that provides significant economic and employment opportunities especially for rural and regional Australia.”
He said racing was synonymous with the identity of Australians, pledging to help ensure it remained a crucial part of the country’s fabric with ongoing drought support.
“This is a very big deal when it comes to the livelihoods and lifestyle of Australians,” the prime minister said.
TBA chief executive Tom Reilly was delighted at a huge turnout for the organisation’s event.
“We come to parliament house to talk about breeding and share the industry’s story, and tonight we had all sides of politics line up to pledge their support for what we do,” said Mr Reilly.
“It is testament to the fact that breeding and racing are truly part of the fabric of Australian society that so many politicians are here tonight.
Opposition Leader Bill Shorten, who has both Flemington and Moonee Valley within his electorate, said his side of politics heard the industry “loud and clear” on issues like drought relief and labour shortages.
“I understand that in this industry for a small number of people we need to bring in people from overseas,” the Labor leader said.
“We don’t have the skills here, we don’t have the people here that we need to have a visa system that brings people in.”
He said racing was a great industry that couldn’t be taken for granted, noting the importance of farming and racehorse ownership.
The Australian breeding industry is the second largest in the world, with an interim economic report showing breeding alone sustained almost 9,500 jobs across the nation.
The broader racing industry contributes over $8.5 billion to the national economy, according to the same research, and is responsible for some 69,000 full time jobs in Australia.
Deputy Prime Minister and keen racing fan Michael McCormack attended, along with Deputy Nationals Leader Bridget McKenzie, Agriculture Minister David Littleproud and Special Drought Envoy Barnaby Joyce, Labor senator Anthony Chisholm and Liberal MPs Tony Pasin, Warren Entsch and Nicole Flint also were at the event.
Chief Government Whip Nola Marino and co-convenor of the Parliamentary Friends of Primary Producers said the bipartisan event united politicians.
“This industry is really, really, important, it employs 69,000 people. All of the stud breeders around this room, you know what you mean to rural and regional Australia,” Mrs Marino said.
Hunter MP, and Shadow Agriculture Minister and co-convenor of the Parliamentary Friends of Primary Producers, Joel Fitzgibbon said the event had continued its history of reminding us the racing industry begins on a farm.
“Next time you’re at Randwick, Flemington or Moonee Valley think about where it all begins,” Mr Fitzgibbon said.
“An industry worth itself much more than $1 billion to our economy and a thoroughbred breeding industry that sustains about 10,000 people across the country – that’s what we want you to be thinking about tonight.”
He was more than happy to claim the association with Winx, who was bred at Coolmore Stud in his Hunter Valley electorate and on Saturday will seek to take her unbeaten run to 29 races.
Winx’s co-owners Debbie Kepitis and Peter Tighe were the star attractions, alongside the champion mare’s three Cox Plates which were on display as she shoots for a record fourth on Saturday.
Mrs Kepitis’s famous Ingham family raced champion and leading sire Lonhro before the Australian-bred Winx took the world by storm.
“Lonhro was bred here. But nothing make me more proud than it’s an Australian product and also to think that I’ve got a better one than my dad and uncle – and my dad’s jealous,” she said.
Melbourne Cup winning jockey Michelle Payne, who is now forging a career as a trainer, reflected on her path to stardom aboard Prince of Penzance.
“The love of the animal and growing up with them, learning to work with them and building that association is what I absolutely love about the industry,” she said.
Mr Morrison set the tone of the event by lifting his limited edition Winx Carlton Draught can with a toast: “here’s cheers to the racing industry”.
Earlier in the day he had hosted the connections of Winx in his office to offer them a personal message of good luck as the mare seeks an unprecedented fourth Cox Plate.
ENDS
For more information contact Tom Reilly on 0423 146 334
1. From left: Thoroughbred Breeders Australia President Basil Nolan, Chief Government Whip Nola Marino, Prime Minister The Honourable Scott Morrison, Shadow Minister for Agriculture Joel Fitzgibbon, Thoroughbred Breeders Australia CEO Tom Reilly.
2. From left: Winx owners Debbie Kepitis, Peter Tighe and Leader of the Opposition Bill Shorten.
3. From left: Winx owners Debbie Kepitis, Peter Tighe and Leader of the Opposition Bill Shorten.
4. Winx’s Cox Plates and Shadow Minister for Agriculture Joel Fitzgibbon.
5. From left: Melbourne Cup winning jockey Michelle Payne and emcee Caroline Searcy.
6. From left: Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack and Prime Minister The Honourable Scott Morrison.
7. Prime Minister The Honourable Scott Morrison.
8. From left: Patty Tighe, Leader of the Opposition Bill Shorten, Debbie Kepitis and Peter Tighe.
As we edge closer to the completion of the yearling sales and start contemplating the 2018 breeding season, I would like to point you to Thoroughbred Breeders Australia (TBA) and Aushorse’s recently released report titled Strategy Review 2018.
This report outlines key initiatives undertaken in 2017 and looks at major issues we are trying to resolve in 2018.
We have made significant gains with the Federal Government in 2017. These have included the introduction of the new thoroughbred industry matched levy, making up to $1 million available for research in the thoroughbred industry each year; as well as a recent decision to enhance thoroughbred industry access to 457 and related visas.
In 2018, we have a strong focus on the issue of staff and skills shortages in our industry and finding ways to resolve these shortages particularly through the national TAFE sector.
Please do not hesitate to get in touch with me or a member of the TBA or Aushorse team if you would like to discuss any aspect of what we do on behalf of the industry.
Tom Reilly Chief Executive Officer
T +61 2 9663 8581 F +61 2 9663 8471 M +61 (0) 423 146 334
