QTIS Yearling Sale to go ahead in face of coronavirus protocols
Next week’s Magic Millions QTIS March Yearling Sale on the Gold Coast will proceed with appropriate health and safety measures in place in the wake of a dramatic federal government directive banning large public gatherings in a bid to try and combat the spread of coronavirus.
Magic Millions managing director Barry Bowditch late yesterday confirmed the two-day auction would continue as planned after consulting authorities to ensure the company complies with the ban on non-essential events attracting 500 people or more.
The ban, issued yesterday by the government on the advice of the Chief Medical Officer, comes into effect on Monday, the first day of the two-day 412-lot QTIS sale.
“The sale is going ahead at this stage. Magic Millions is getting the right advice from key authorities and putting measures in place to hold the sale to the best of our ability,” Bowditch said.
“Vendors have done a hell of a lot of work on their horses to get them here for this sale – it is their grand final. They are here and ready to go to give their horses an opportunity to sell.”
Inspections started at the Gold Coast complex on Thursday and continued yesterday with a number of agents, owners and trainers viewing yearlings.
While predominantly marketed towards Queensland owners and trainers, Bowditch admitted some international investors had been forced to cancel plans to attend the sale due to the coronavirus outbreak.
“We have got online bidding, our agents are in place and hopefully over the next few days all these horses will have photos and videos to give potential buyers who can’t be here all the information they need,” he said.
“There are going to be plenty of opportunities in the market at this sale.”
On Thursday, Inglis said it was closely monitoring the coronavirus situation and how the travel bans and pandemic could impact its Australian Easter Yearling Sale, to be held on April 8 and 9. Contingency plans were being formulated by management ahead of the key sale.
Meanwhile, the Melbourne Racing Club has elected to bring forward the ban and will not have the gates open to the public for today’s All-Star Mile (1600m) race meeting at Caulfield while last night’s Alister Clark Stakes meeting at Moonee Valley was also closed to punters.
The MRC said it was taking “considered action” in closing the gates to protect the health and safety of its members, patrons and participants in consultation with Racing Victoria.
“In the interest of patron safety, in consultation with Racing Victoria, the MRC has taken the decision to take extra precaution and proceed with The All-Star Mile Race Day without spectators,” the racing club said.
Other race meetings across Australia, however, including today’s Group 1 card at Rosehill in Sydney and the lucrative Jewel meeting on the Gold Coast, will remain open, with the ban not to come into force until Monday.
The Geelong TAB and Dederang picnic meetings in Victoria scheduled for today, as well as Sale, Benalla and Woolamai tomorrow, will go ahead as planned with crowds allowed to attend.
Racing NSW acknowledged the federal and state government advice, allowing the state’s racecourses to remain open today and tomorrow.
Thoroughbred Racing South Australia (TRSA) said the state’s race clubs would abide by the directive, with attendances to be capped at 500 for upcoming race meetings, including participants.
Non-cup and regional race meetings programmed will continue as normal as a crowd of fewer than 500 people is expected.
“Racing in South Australia has previous experience in dealing with a major interruption with the Equine Influenza outbreak in 2007,” TRSA chief executive Nick Redin said yesterday.
“We know what it’s like to have an industry-wide issue and the learnings from that experience are still relevant today. We are working closely with the Racing Minister and his office and we’re constantly monitoring, discussing and updating our response.”
Racing Wagering Western Australia (RWWA) will implement similar measures for its race meetings from Monday.
The Moonee Valley Racing Club (MVRC) yesterday said in a statement: “Whilst this restriction does not take effect until Monday, the decision to proceed without members, owners and racegoers attending (last night’s) race meeting has been taken in light of the increased concern over the transmission of COVID-19.
“The health and wellbeing of the broader community needs to be our priority at this point in time.”
The MVRC also indicated that Friday’s Group 1 William Reid Stakes meeting would also likely be closed to the public, if it is run at all.