Brisbane trainers allowed to attend Magic Millions sales complex
Important Wave Race Day at the Gold Coast also set to go ahead despite Brisbane lockdown
Racing industry participants, particularly Brisbane trainers who are a key segment of the Magic Millions market, appear to have been spared from the sudden city lockdown imposed by the Queensland government yesterday in the wake of a community case of Covid-19 emanating from hotel quarantine.
There were initial fears that today’s The Wave (1800m) meeting at the Gold Coast, featuring two important juvenile races with capacity fields of ten attempting to win their way into next week’s $2 million Magic Millions 2YO Classic (RL, 1200m), could be postponed due to the swift government action.
Late yesterday, however, Racing Queensland confirmed that not only would the Gold Coast meeting proceed, but that the meeting scheduled for nearby Ipswich, which falls in the Greater Brisbane lockdown area, would also go ahead.
Magic Millions managing director Barry Bowditch last night reiterated that the auction house would continue to employ stringent government-approved Covid-19 measures to ensure patron safety.
“We will be abiding by the guidelines but the Brisbane participants who are deemed essential will be allowed to conduct their business as usual,” he said.
“We have a great CovidSafe plan in place and we’ve worked closely with the Queensland government to get that and we continue to take their advice on amendments to it and what needs to be done to adhere to the restrictions they have in place.
“At this stage, everything suggests business as usual.”
The initial lockdown, imposed by Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk on the recommendation of Queensland chief health officer Dr Jeannette Young from 6pm yesterday, is in place until 6pm Australian Eastern Standard Time on Monday.
While trainers and stable staff based in the Greater Brisbane area will be allowed on the Gold Coast, they are required to wear face masks.
That condition of entry may also be enforced on trainers and buyers who choose to inspect yearlings at the sales complex during the lockdown period.
In a statement released late yesterday, Racing Queensland said: “All essential racing personnel are entitled to attend race meetings throughout South East Queensland for the purposes of work during this period, but must comply with all other Queensland Health directions.
“This includes wearing face masks at all times (excluding jockeys and drivers whilst racing). Jockeys and drivers are required to wear face masks at all other times in the racing areas.”
She’s All Class (I Am Invincible) ($4) is the pre-post favourite for next week’s Magic Millions 2YO Classic, ahead of Alpine Edge (Better Than Ready) ($6), but the pair will not race today.
In the Aquis Gold Pearl (1100m) for fillies today, the unbeaten Kelly Schweida-trained Miss Hipstar (Star Turn) is the $3.60 favourite to win her division, while last-start Maribyrnong Plate (Gr 3, 1000m) winner Finance Tycoon (Written Tycoon) is the $2.30 favourite to take out the Aquis Gold Nugget (1100m) for colts and geldings.
“It is a good formline for next week and there’s some horses still aspiring to get into the field,” Bowditch said.
“This race day has worked perfectly and it’s exactly what we were looking for when we initiated it and we’re looking forward to seeing what transpires out there (today).”
Meanwhile, the wet weather on the Gold Coast yesterday did not stop inspections by agents and trainers, particularly those from interstate, who used the time to get through the extensive catalogue ahead of the day one session on Tuesday.
Bowditch said: “People are loving the horses they are seeing in what is a massive catalogue. Obviously, there’s a few less people here than normal but, all in all, we’re endeavouring to get people’s eyes across horses and making it as easy as possible to buy wherever they may be.”