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Daily News Items from Australia

19 September 2007 50,000 Vaccinations To Be Imported Racing NSW chief executive Peter V'Landy's announced government officials are about to sanction the importing of 50,000 equine influenza vaccinations to enable a major vaccination process. V'Landys told Radio Sport 927: "There are 26,000 thoroughbreds in NSW, but we will not have to worry about the horses at Randwick as they have had the virus." (Sep 19) Large Fines For Not Reporting Sick Horses NSW Department Of Primary Industries deputy...

Summary of Equine Influenza outbreak in JRA facilities

Re: Equine Influenza outbreak in JRA facilities (Interim Report) Preface: This document contains information on the Equine Influenza outbreak in Japan but limited to those in the JRA facilities. It is intended to provide up to date information on the development and measures taken by JRA since the initial EI case was found on 15 August. Epidemiological research is still ongoing and technical information and analysis will be made available to the International Movement of Horses Committee at ...

Update: Stallions may be released to purple zone - Purple zone approval expected within 48 hours

Update: 10.30am Wednesday September 19th - There are reports that stallions may be allowed to leave Eastern Creek quarantine facility in west Syndey to serve in the Hunter Valley 'purple zone' by the end of the week. Further informaiton will be published as soon as it become available from authorities. The announcement on the establishment of the purple zone is expected on Wednesday afternoon. Earlier report: The establishment of the 'purple zone' in the breeding area of the Hunter Valley, N...

2007 Equine Influenza Response Remains on Track

National Management Group: Equine Influenza COMMUNIQUE NMGEI07/02 13 September 2007 Equine Influenza Response Remains on Track The National Management Group (NMG) addressing the Equine Influenza outbreak has re-affirmed its view that equine influenza can be contained with a view to eradication, with current control measures remaining effective. The group has asked its scientific and technical advisory body, the Consultative Committee on Emergency Animal Disease (CCEAD), to develop scena...

Onawe Miller flys the Southland flag

Onawe Miller is convinced that Southland is as good as anywhere in New Zealand to breed a horse. Outstanding horsemen such as Bill Hazlett and the Dennis Brothers have proven the worth of the Southland breed over the years, and Miller added to her own commendable record on Saturday when Orange County earned his first black type win in the Sofitel Stakes (Listed-1400m) at Flemington. Southland has an image for many New Zealanders of being cold and with inhospitable winters, but Miller says th...

PROTECTING US FROM EQUINE INFLUENZA

Equine Influenza is a highly contagious viral disease of all equidae ( ie horses, donkeys, mules and zebra) and with the outbreak in Australia it is right on our doorstep. What can we do to reduce the risk of it coming to New Zealand other than via infected horses? Current knowledge indicates the virus can survive away from infected horses for varying lengths of time depending on the degree of contamination and environmental factors such as the surface (porous or non-porous), humidity, tempera...

Horse standstill in NSW is working

The ongoing horse standstill in NSW is working and has dramatically slowed the spread of equine influenza (EI) according to the NSW chief veterinary officer, Bruce Christie. "EI is confirmed on 401 properties but most are contained within a band that runs from Sydney and its surrounds to the Central Coast, the Hunter Valley and the north west of the State," Mr Christie said. "There has been only one outlying spot outbreak in the last four days – which is excellent news." Vast areas of NSW r...

AUSTRALIAN EI OUTBREAK: Event Timeline

The NZTBA is tracking key events in Australia and New Zealand as the Australian outbreak of equine influenza unfolds: Thursday 6 September 2007 There are currently 186 infected properties, 353 dangerous contact properties, and 160 suspect properties. Wednesday 5 September 2007 There are currently still 146 declared infected properties however that number is expected to rise again tomorrow with more properties currently to be confirmed. There are 356 properties with 2685 horses identified a...

AUSTRALIAN EI OUTBREAK: Latest ICC Report

As a member of the International Breeders' Meeting, the NZTBA receives regular reports from the International Collating Centre (ICC), which monitors equine disease outbreaks around the world. These reports are distributed by the UK Animal Health Trust's Information Exchange on Infectious Equine Disease. The following is the August report received by the ICC from Australia: 1. Key Points Equine Influenza (EI) was first detected at Eastern Creek Quarantine Station (ECQS), Sydney, New South Wales ...

EQUINE INFLUENZA: Latest Update from NZEHA

Bruce Graham, chairman of the New Zealand Equine Health Association, has compiled these key points from the Association's meeting today with MAF Biosecurity New Zealand: New Zealand's suspension on horse imports from Australia remains in place. There is currently no evidence of equine influenza in New Zealand. MAF Biosecurity New Zealand has identified and traced 97 horses imported from Australia since the beginning of August. These horses are located on 53 properties. All horses that h...

EQUINE INFLUENZA: No evidence of EI in New Zealand

There is currently no evidence of equine influenza in New Zealand. MAF Biosecurity New Zealand (MAFBNZ) is growing more confident that the virus has not arrived in the country as investigations into the 97 horses imported from Australia progress and time passes. MAFBNZ yesterday completed blood sampling of all horses classified as high priority. Sampling of remaining properties will be completed by the end of the week. No clinical signs of equine influenza have been found in eith...

Another great year for Sir Patrick and Lady Hogan

It's been another good season for Sir Patrick and Lady Hogan, enough to earn them another breeder of the year nomination – though it's hard to remember a season that wasn't a good one for the four-time award winners. The Cambridge Stud owners bred six black type winners in 2006-07 – four by themselves, one in partnership with Graham de Gruchy and one in partnership with Arthur Kelly. "It's been a year where our horses have been very competitive, from Able One winning a group one in Hong ...

EQUINE INFLUENZA (EI): Frequently Asked Questions

WHAT IS EQUINE INFLUENZA? Equine Influenza (EI) is an exotic viral disease of horses. All Equidae (ie horses, donkeys, mules and zebras) are susceptible and the features of the disease in these animals are similar. WHERE DOES EI OCCUR? The disease occurs widely throughout the world. Australia and New Zealand have been the only two countries with significant horse populations free of the disease. The recent EI outbreak in Australia is of great concern to both our industries. HOW IS EI SPREAD?...

Dick Karreman on the Breeder of the Year shortlist

For the first time in the award's history, the New Zealand Breeder of the Year award could go to an Australian. Queenslander Dick Karreman has made the shortlist of four finalists for the award, and if he wins he will take the award outside New Zealand for the first time in its 17-year history. To do it, however, he will need to defeat a four-time winner of the award (Sir Patrick and Justine Hogan), a three-time winner (Garry Chittick) and a small breeder who from a broodmare band of 10 last...

Garry Chittick back in contention for the Breeders' award again

Two consecutive New Zealand breeder of the year titles clearly weren't enough to make Garry Chittick rest on his laurels. The head of Waikato Stud is back in contention for the award again this year, nominated along with Sir Patrick and Lady Hogan, Dick Karreman and Tom Jamison. And having had a part in breeding 12 stakeswinners in 2006-07, more than any of the other nominees, Chittick has every chance of joining the Hogans as winners of the title three years in a row. "It's been another great...

Tom Jamison proud to be nominated for Breeder of the Year

Tom Jamison doesn't often get mentioned in the same breath for his horse breeding as Garry Chittick, Dick Karreman and Sir Patrick and Justine Hogan. But the retired business consultant from Otaki is squaring off against them at the racing awards next month after making the shortlist for the 2006-2007 breeder of the year award. Jamison clearly doesn't breed on the scale that Chittick, Karreman and the Hogans do – he had about 10 broodmares earlier this decade – but the progeny of those mar...

Letter from Scholarship Student

I have completed my second placement at Cheveley Park and I'm currently in my second week at Taylormade Farm, Kentucky. Cheveley Park is situated in Newmarket, England and is the largest british owned Stud Farm. I arrived at Cheveley Park in the middle of May just as the breeding season was beginning to slow down which allowed me to spend more time with the stud manager. I was able to shadow the manager during daily vet work, foal conformation evaluations and general everyday duties. This gave...

Lord Monty an unexpected bonus for breeder

Warren Robinson never expected Montine Rose would be in his possession as a broodmare when she arrived at his farm. The time she was there, however, would lead to him earning credit as the breeder of Montine Rose's son Lord Monty, an astonishing 10-1/2 length winner of the Winter Cup (Gr 3-1600m) at Riccarton last Saturday. Robinson, then based in Horowhenua, in the early 1990s owned the multiple black type-winning mare Waihora's Lass. He leased a racing share to two others, one of whom was th...

Nightlign & Jokers Wild head 2006-07 NZ Free Handicaps

The 2006-07 New Zealand Free Handicaps for two-year-olds and three-year-olds are now online here. The Free Handicaps are compiled by chief handicapper Dean Nowell for the NZTBA. Nightlign heads the two-year-old Free Handicap with 58 kg, followed by Alamosa on 57 kg, El Cuento on 56 kg and Crossyourheart on 55.5 kg. Jokers Wild (60 kg, in the 1200-1600m category) is the top-weighted three-year-old, ahead of Redoute's Dancer (59.5 kg) and Princess Coup (58 kg) in the 1601 metres-plus category....

ARB - The Future of Staying Races in Australia. What are the Issues?

he Australian Racing Board has published a paper addressing the future of staying races across the Tasman. Here's the paper in pdf format: The Future of Staying Races in Australia - ARB...

2007 International Management Scholarship recipient on final leg

The fifth season of the NZTBA International Management Scholarship is nearing completion as the 2007 recipient, Mark Lindsay, heads to Taylor Made Sales Agency in the USA for the third and final placement of his six-month scholarship. "It has just been amazing so far," says Mark. "I've worked at Coolmore in Ireland with some of the best mares and stallions in the world and the experience was awesome." I'm just finishing my last few days at Cheveley Park in Newmarket England and while it's be...

New Zealand Bloodhorse magazine now on line

The Internet was a long way in the future when the magazine New Zealand Bloodhorse was launched 30 years ago. Now, New Zealand's oldest surviving thoroughbred publication, which has itself progressed steadily from a relatively skimpy magazine with black and white pictures to a glossy, full-colour production of more than 100 perfect-bound pages, has "embraced the Net" and is available on line. Managing director Saskia Struyck concedes that making the latest, and previous recent issues, of New...

Kenadaad rewards his breeder

Opunake Cup winner Kenadaad is more than repaying Ken Mold's decision to save his dam Manorvails from an early death. Mold, whose main job is milking cows near Te Aroha in north Waikato, bought Manorvails, by Justice Prevails, from friends Vaughan Handley and Jim Shallue as a five-year-old mare after she was set to be culled, and a little more than a year later she foaled the dual listed stakes winner. "They said they were not going to keep the mare and she was going to be put down," Mold s...

The Pollard's family mares still working just fine!

At various times Liz Pollard of Rosehill Farm in Te Awamutu has been advised to forget about the Rose female thoroughbred line which has served her family so well. Each time she has ignored them, and on Sunday she got a great vindication for doing so when Lim's Prestige won the Singapore Derby (2000m Sing GR 1) at Kranji. Lim's Prestige, out of Stirling Jo, comes from the Wee Rose line which the Pollard family bought into in the 1920s. Her father Joe continued on with the family, selling ...

Cold Type warms up in Queensland

If it wasn't for watching a maiden race at Te Rapa this year Matamata breeder Peter Setchell wouldn't still have the dam of Queensland Oaks winner Eskimo Queen. Cold Type was catalogued to be sold at the broodmare sale this year but was withdrawn after Setchell watched the Shinko King filly he bred and sold as a weanling in 2004 for $2500 to Belane Stables of Waiuku (she was sold at the Festival Sale a year later for $10,000) racing at Te Rapa on March 13. "I had been looking to sell a lot o...