Media Releases and Articles

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.”

For further information please go to studandstablestaffawards.com.au

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:

1. what do think are the most important issues and concerns affecting the breeding industry either now, potentially or in years to come?
2. 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.

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.

Click below to read Strategy Review 2018

http://tbaus.smedia.com.au/digital-magazine

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

The Federal Government’s announcement regarding enhanced access to ‘Horse Breeder’ visas today is warmly welcomed by Thoroughbred Breeders Australia (TBA).

The decision follows a lobbying campaign led by TBA to put the ‘Horse Breeder’ occupation category on the medium and long term strategic skills list (MTSSL) for the purposes of 457 visas.

By putting ‘Horse Breeder’ on the medium and long-term list, visa holders can work in Australia for up to four years and also have a path to permanent residency – rather than being required to leave the country after just two years under existing arrangements.

“Access to skilled staff is one of the biggest issues in the Australian Thoroughbred breeding industry and that is why TBA has been closely engaged with the government and Members of Parliament to bring about this key decision,” TBA CEO Tom Reilly said.

“The number of staff recruited from overseas to fill these visa positions has been relatively small, but the value of these skilled and experienced staff is enormous.

“They fill key roles such as stallion managers, yearling managers and foal managers and are responsible for horses worth many millions of dollars. In addition, these internationally experienced visa holders undertake important mentoring roles of local staff.”

Emphasising the importance of access to skilled staff, in a survey of Australian breeders undertaken by TBA last year, 95% of breeders stated that the supply of competent staff is a critical issue in the Australian breeding industry. Some 85% of breeders also indicated that, compared to 10 years ago, it is much harder to find competent staff.

“TBA would like to thank Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton, Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce, Agriculture Minister David Littleproud, their advisers and other Members of Parliament who greatly assisted our industry on this issue.”

Mr Reilly said TBA undertook significant work, including with other industry stakeholders, to see this decision come to fruition.

“Our strong case was made in a detailed submission to the Federal Government late last year explaining how our industry could be negatively affected without access to long-term visa arrangements.” Mr Reilly said.

TBA is also mindful of opening up opportunities for local staff. At the end of last year Skills Impact Australia signed off on a new Certificate III in horse breeding, following input from TBA.

This new course will enable TAFEs to offer apprenticeship level programs in breeding which have not been available in some years.

“It is vital industry and training institutions now work closely together to ensure the new Certificiate III course is a success with strong enrolments,” said Mr Reilly.

Thoroughbred breeding plays a vital role in the rural economy and Australian society: that was the message echoed by Federal Government ministers and senior politicians at an event in Canberra last night.

Defence Minister Marise Payne and Leader of the Opposition Bill Shorten traded stories of their interest in breeding and racing, while training identities James Cummings and Peter Moody spoke of how the broad Thoroughbred industry had shaped their life.

“We held our first Thoroughbred Breeders Australia event in Canberra last year and got a great turnout, but tonight surpassed our expectations,” said Thoroughbred Breeders Australia (TBA) chief executive, Tom Reilly.

“We had our pitch prepared to sell our industry: jobs in the regions, investment from overseas, export opportunities, but, by the time we got up to speak, leading politicians from all sides had made the point for us. It was very gratifying that so many politicians were so well informed that they advocated so strongly on our behalf.”

Defence Minister Payne, who herself has an avid interest in racing and breeding, said the TBA forum was “a really important event on the parliamentary calendar” and politicians thanked breeders for their event.

“Thank you for what you contribute to the economy in Australia. Thank you for what you contribute, because your industry is a vital one to Australia,” Minister Payne said.

Breeders representing every state in Australia were in attendance including Tom Magnier of Coolmore Stud, Antony Thompson of Widden Stud, Ron Gilbert of Highgrove Stud, Chris Watson of Mill Park, as well as Mark Webster of Inglis and Vin Cox and Barry Bowditch of Magic Millions.

Significant foreign investors Zhang Yuesheng of YuLong Park, China, and the head of Aquis Farm, Justin Fung, were also part of the breeding delegation.

Bill Shorten told how he had worked on behalf of jockeys as a union rep, and that he now lived within walking distance of both Moonee Valley and Flemington racecourses.

“Racing has events that create great interest and put us on the map, especially in Melbourne during spring. But without breeding, without the hard work that goes on at farms across Australia we don’t have those races which are such a part of Australian society,” said Mr Shorten.

“Rest assured, we (Labor) are very interested in the industry. We are very interested in what we can do for you,” he added.

Politicians who attended the event included Trade Minister Steve Ciobo, Veterans Affairs Minister Dan Tehan, Shadow Minister for Transport and Infrastucture Anthony Albanese and Small Business Minister Michael McCormack among others.

Government Chief Whip Nola Marino, a co-convener of the Parliamentary Friends of Primary Producers, which hosted the event with TBA, also breeds and races horses in her electorate of Forrest, south of Perth.

“What an extraordinary job the breeding industry does in rural and regional Australia. It underpins, like so many agricultural industries do, so much of our regional economies,” Mrs Marino said.

Hunter MP Joel Fitzgibbon, Shadow Agriculture Minister and also a co-convener of the Parliamentary Friends of Primary Producers, emphasised the importance of the industry to local towns and regions.

“This event is a great opportunity to give parliamentarians a fuller appreciation of the breeding industry. The sector is a very, very important part of the agricultural industry,” Mr Fitzgibbon said.TBA representatives have spent several days in Canberra this week meeting one-on-one with Ministers, Opposition representatives, key advisers and senior bureaucrats briefing them on key issues in the industry.

Guest speakers Peter Moody and James Cummings spoke passionately about breeding.

“Whenever you’re in at the ground level of something it’s satisfying and that’s what breeding involves,” said former trainer and leading breeder Peter Moody.

“Being a breeder is a bit like being a parent, it involves a lot and your not always pleased with how it turns out!”

Cummings, who is head trainer for Godolphin in Australia, added: “My grandfather Bart said that all breeders thought they had a champion until a trainer got involved! Luckily he was able to breed a horse called Saintly, which he also trained, to win a Cox Plate and Melbourne Cup.

“I always admire the commitment breeders make to this industry and all the work that goes into making the champions of the future. Nobody knows whether a horse is a future champion as a foal, but breeders commit to giving all horses the best start in life from an early age.”

Thoroughbred Breeders Australia (TBA) is the national peak body established for the benefit of the Australian thoroughbred breeding industry, which is the second largest in the world.

TBA has a membership base of 4,200 individual breeders and other industry participants, and is also the parent company of the six state breeders’ associations.

These members make up more than 60 per cent of individual breeders, who are responsible for about 90 per cent of thoroughbred production in Australia.