Media Releases and Articles

The Australian breeding industry celebrated its best and brightest today (Sunday August 27) with five prestigious awards handed out at a ceremony held in conjunction with Coolmore Australia’s annual stallion parade.

The event, hosted by Thoroughbred Breeders Australia (TBA), recognised the outstanding achievements of horses and breeders during the 2016-17 season.

Securing the coveted Champion Australian Sire award was Arrowfield’s Snitzel (AUS), who established a new Australian record for progeny earnings, amassing over $16 million dollars in prize money.

Snitzel recorded 26 individual stakes winners for the season, highlighted by Group One winners Russian Revolution (AUS), Redzel (AUS), Summer Passage (AUS) and Invader (AUS). The award was presented by TBA President Basil Nolan to leading broadcaster and breeder Alan Jones AO on behalf of Arrowfield Stud.

Snitzel (AUS) was also crowned Champion Sire of 2YOs, with eight individual two-year-old stakes winners for the season and two-year-old progeny earnings of $4.9 million.

“It’s been a wonderful year for Arrowfield and I’d like to thank the whole team there who have done a wonderful job, as they do in all studs. We couldn’t survive without the work of the staff and they do a fantastic job.

“It’s been a remarkable year for Snitzel, he equalled Danehill’s record for the most stakes-winners in a season which is quite extraordinary, so we are very honoured, very priviledged and very thankful.”

Champion First Season Sire was awarded to Coolmore’s Pierro (AUS), with Basil Nolan presenting the award to Coolmore’s Tom Magnier who was delighted with the result.

“On behalf of the shareholders in Pierro, I just want to say thank you to the people here who supported him. He’s got some great mares booked in again this year so the future is very bright for him.”

The highest rated juvenile of his era, Pierro was represented by seven two-year old winners for the season with Group Three winning filly Tulip (AUS) his best performer.

Presented by Jacqueline Stewart, the Manager of Owner and Breeder Services (Keeper of the Australian Stud Book), the Australian Broodmare of the Year went to Vegas Showgirl (NZ) for the second year running.

Vegas Showgirl is the dam of champion mare Winx (AUS) who remains unbeaten in her last 18 starts and is currently rated the world’s best horse on turf, world’s best mare and world’s best middle-distance racehorse.

Segenhoe Stud’s Peter O’Brien accepted the award on behalf of Vegas Showgirl’s owners John and Deborah Camilleri of Fairway Thoroughbreds.

The final TBA award of the morning, the Aushorse Breeder of the Australian-Bred Exported Racehorse, went to Mr Enrique (Henry) Cojuangco, breeder of the ill-fated Hong Kong champion Rapper Dragon (AUS).

Australian-bred Rapper Dragon made history during the season by becoming the first horse to sweep the Hong Kong four-year-old series, winning the Classic Mile, Classic Cup and Hong Kong Derby and earning the title of Hong Kong Horse Of The Year.

Gooree Park Stud’s manager, Andrew Baddock, accepted the award on behalf of the late Mr Cojuangco who passed away in 2015.

Speaking at the awards, which were compered by Caroline Searcy, TBA President Basil Nolan congratulated recipients on their success and wished the breeding industry the best of luck for the upcoming season.

“Our industry continues to go from strength to strength and I am delighted that we can gather today to celebrate the success of these outstanding individuals and the contribution they’ve made to the breeding and racing landscape of Australia and the world.

“I’d also like to take this opportunity to wish all breeders the best of luck for the upcoming season and I look forward to our industry enjoying another successful year.”

Following the TBA National Awards, Thoroughbred Breeders New South Wales (TBNSW) recognised two other outstanding achievers.

NSW Champion Broodmare Of The Year was awarded to National Colour (SAF), dam of South African Group One winners Mustaaqeem (AUS) and Rafeef (AUS).

The President’s Award for Outstanding Achievement was presented by TBNSW’s Les Young to Mr Rob Manwaring, breeder of Capital Gain (AUS) and Grande Rosso (AUS).

TBA Award Winners:
Champion Australian Sire: Snitzel (AUS)
Champion Australian Sire of 2YOs: Snitzel (AUS)
Champion Australian First Season: Pierro (AUS)
Australian Broodmare of the Year: Vegas Showgirl (NZ)
Breeder of the Australian-bred Exported Racehorse of the Year: Mr Enrique Cojuangco

TBNSW Award Winners:
NSW Champion Broodmare: National Colour (SAF)
President’s Award for Outstanding Achievement: Mr Rob Manwaring

Thoroughbred Breeders Australia (TBA) welcomes changes to the skilled migration occupation list that benefit the breeding industry, announced by the federal government today.

A significant alteration to the visa scheme is the reinstatement of the occupation ‘horse trainer’ to the list of occupations under which employers can hire skilled workers from overseas. This occupation category is the one currently used to bring in the majority of foreign breeding staff.

Basil Nolan, president of TBA, said: “On behalf of the TBA I’d like to thank the government for listening to us breeders, as well as the broader racing industry, on what our needs are. We don’t employ big numbers of foreign workers, but those that are here are a vital part of the workforce and in a global business such as breeding we need to continue to have access to these highly skilled people.”

Mr Nolan added: “We also owe thanks to Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce, who met with us to discuss this issue face to face and gave us a commitment he would assist on our behalf.

“I should also point out that it is testament to the continued efforts of TBA under our chief executive Tom Reilly to improve our industry’s standing in Canberra that we were able to have such a meeting a receive such a commitment.

“Finally, I would like to thank Barry O’Farrell at Racing Australia for his ongoing efforts on this issue as well as the Australian Trainers’ Association and NSW Trainers’ Association.”

TBA will continue to work with the relevant government departments to ensure all future changes to skilled visa programs meet the needs of the breeding industry.

ENDS

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT TOM REILLY ON 0423 146 334

The newly-formed Thoroughbred Advisory Panel will meet for the first time on 28 June 2017 and host a forum with industry and researchers to discuss research and development (R&D) opportunities for the Australian Thoroughbred industry.

The establishment of the advisory panel follows the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources, Barnaby Joyce’s announcement of a new levy to provide the thoroughbred breeding industry with greater certainty about future R&D funding.

The levy, to be managed and invested by Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation (RIRDC), is expected to collect $400,000 from the industry each year. The Coalition Government will match expenditure by RIRDC on eligible thoroughbred R&D dollar-for-dollar.

The levy will be 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. Additional voluntary contributions will compliment levies collected and be available for research investment.

“This forum is an opportunity for industry representatives to present to the Thoroughbred Advisory Panel on the capacity each of their organisation holds in equine research,” said RIRDC Program Manager, Research and Innovation, Michael Beer.

Stud farms across Australia will benefit from the new industry-backed R&D levy, aimed at improving thoroughbred breeding while combatting diseases and parasites in horses.

The thoroughbred racing industry is worth around $5 billion per annum to the Australian economy, and employs more than 65,000 people, particularly in rural and regional areas.

The advisory panel is chaired by Professor Nigel Perkins from the School of Veterinary Science at the University of Queensland. He is recognised nationally and internationally as a leader in the field of veterinary epidemiology.

Other panel members are Jacqueline Stewart, (Keeper of the Australian Stud Book), Dr Catherine Chicken (consultant to the Scone Equine Hospital on pathology and infectious disease), Judith Medd (Racing and Wagering Western Australia Industry Veterinarian), Derek Field (Widden Stud General Manager) and Tas Rielley (owner/operator of Basinghall Broodmare Farm).

The Thoroughbred Advisory Panel will meet on Wednesday 28 June and host a forum for industry and researchers on Thursday 29 June from 9am to 3pm.

Media contact: Samantha Munro, RIRDC Manager, Communications (Impact)
samantha.munro@rirdc.gov.au  | ph: 02 6923 6916 | m: 0409 966 182

Federal Agriculture Minister Barnaby Joyce has said the government is committed to supporting the thoroughbred breeding industry.

Mr Joyce, who is also Deputy Prime Minister, was speaking at an announcement to confirm the approval of government funds for an industry led research and development levy.

“The breeding and racing industry is something that is very important to regional Australia and to me personally,” he said at Tamworth racecourse today (Wed May 17).

“The breeders made it very clear to me that this levy was something they needed and I went in to bat for it in Cabinet. There was some opposition but I’m glad I was able to deliver on it.”

Under the levy, which was included in last week’s budget and will be in place in the new financial year, breeders will pay $10 per mare and $10 per stallion return. This will be put in a fund for R&D with the federal government then matching every industry dollar.

It is expected this could lead to some $1 million being spent each year on research that benefits the thoroughbred breeding industry.

Thoroughbred Breeders Australia chief executive Tom Reilly said having the government commit funds in the budget was the culmination of years of lobbying efforts.

“Getting the government to commit to this important levy was something the TBA board made clear was a priority when I joined the organisation,” said Mr Reilly.

“We are in the process of selecting the board which will oversee the spending of the funds and there will be a strong presence of breeders to ensure the money goes towards projects that return real benefits to the breeding industry.”

Such schemes are common in agriculture with many areas of primary production, such as cotton, beef and grains, all receiving dollar for dollar funding from the government in this way.

Among the areas likely to be the focus of research are the prevention and management of exotic and indigenous diseases, improving the conception rates of mares and stallions and efforts to reduce foetal loss caused by contagious diseases.

Mr Joyce added: “This levy will provide the industry with greater certainty about available funding in future years and enable forward-year planning to deliver priority R&D for the benefit of the whole industry.”

ENDS

For more information contact Tom Reilly on 0423 146 334
Media contact for Barnaby Joyce: Megan Dempsey 0491 222 306

They have helped to transform a stable foreman into a G1 trainer; they’ve helped old racehorses find new homes; and they’ve given strength and encouragement to the thousands who perform everyday work in stables and on studs across Australia.

In 2017, the Godolphin Stud and Stable Staff Awards will again recognise those whose efforts go largely unnoticed and whose work is as vital as any other to the success and survival of the racing and breeding industries.

The Awards conducted by Racing Australia and Thoroughbred Breeders Australia will again honour workers in the stud and stable categories of Leadership, Dedication to Racing, Dedication to Breeding, Horsemanship and Thoroughbred Care and Welfare, plus a further category of Administration and Ancillary Services.

An overall Thoroughbred Excellence winner is chosen from the five stud and stable section winners.

Since their inception in Australia in 2015, the Awards have acknowledged outstanding talent, contribution and dedication, not only among the winners, but all who entered.

For one-time stable foreman, Mark Newnham, the inaugural Excellence Award winner in 2015, the GSSSA helped provide both the confidence and the means to set up a racing stable that produced a G1 Golden Slipper runner in its first full year of operation.

“When you’re starting out you need plenty of help, financial and otherwise, and that’s what the Awards gave me,” Newnham said.

“But most of all it’s the recognition. So many of the entrants are people who start work before dawn and do some of the toughest jobs in the business.

“And they do it more for the love of racing and of the horses than for anything else.”

The 2016 Thoroughbred Excellence Award winner Jenny Watson, the foaling supervisor at Armidale Stud in Tasmania, echoed those sentiments.

“There are so many good people out there who deserve recognition, I’m just thrilled to be one of them,” she said.

“I find it amazing to be recognised for doing something I love and I can’t thank TBA, Racing Australia and Godolphin enough for acknowledging all the people who keep the industry going.”

Each GSSSA winner receives $10,000 with $1000 going to the runners-up and $3000 to be shared among each winner’s work colleagues.

The Thoroughbred Excellence Award carries an additional $5000 prize.

Nominations are now open and close on Sunday April 16, 2017.

Thoroughbred Breeders Australia (TBA) has formally lodged an application for a federal government funded thoroughbred research and development levy.

The levy, which will generate close to $2.4 million over the next three years for research and development projects, is set to be implemented in the new financial year.

It will be funded by mandatory breeder contributions collected by the Australian Stud Book. Stallion owners will pay a $10 levy per mare covered and broodmare owners will pay a $10 levy per mare returned. This money will then be matched by the Commonwealth Government.

TBA will soon begin consultation with breeders on drawing up a list of priorities for research, but areas likely to receive funding include disease control, reproduction and welfare.

As part of the application process TBA advises any levy payer who objects to the Research and Development Levy to contact the department of Agriculture. The formal period for any objections will close at 5pm AEDT on 13 February 2017.

Objections must list reasons why the levy is opposed and provide suitable supporting arguments and evidence, together with your contact details.

TBA president Basil Nolan said breeders would see the matched levy as a vital resource.

“Having almost $1million to spend on research year after year on breeding will be very valuable. It gives our industry certainty and means we can develop research projects that will bring real benefits to all breeders,” he said.

“Up till now spending on research has been sporadic and we’ve not been able to plan as a nationwide industry.”

Organisations and individuals can also make contributions to the levy, with these monies also eligible for matching by the federal government. Racing Australia, the owner of the Australian Stud Book, has already committed to putting $150,000 into the levy.

The TBA initially lodged a levy application in 2013 but this was rejected. After extensive lobbying by the breeders’ peak body, Deputy Prime Minister, Barnaby Joyce, committed to support the levy in the lead up to the 2016 federal election. The fund also has the backing of shadow Agriculture Minister Joel Fitzgibbon.

ENDS

Note: Objections may be made in writing to the government, through the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources – Levies, by email to:

levies.management@agriculture.gov.au or by post to:

Attn: Levies Management
Department of Agriculture and Water Resources
Locked Bag 4488
KINGSTON ACT 2604

If you would like more information about the R&D levy, please either email TBA CEO Tom Reilly tom@tbaus.com or call 02 9663 8581.

The Australian Government’s Levy Principles and Guidelines provide for a six-week period for lodgement of objections to a levy proposal. The formal period for any objections will be held over seven weeks – commencing at 9am AEDT on 3 January and expiring at 5pm AEDT on 13 February 2017.

All prospective levy payers wishing to object should clearly outline the aspect of the levy proposal to which they object. They should also list reasons why they oppose the levy and provide suitable supporting arguments and evidence, together with their contact details. Further information about making an objection can be found on page 6 of the Levy Principles and Guidelines. Objectors may require access to TBA’s submission and copies and/or details of the submission are available on request.

Objections may be made in writing to the government, through the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources – Levies, by email to: levies.management@agriculture.gov.au, or by post to:

Attn: Levies Management
Department of Agriculture and Water Resources Locked Bag 4488
KINGSTON ACT 2604

Objections may also be made in writing through the Hon. Barnaby Joyce MP, Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources, by email to: minister@maff.gov.au, or by post at:

The Hon. Barnaby Joyce MP
Deputy Prime Minister
Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources PO Box 6022
Parliament House
CANBERRA ACT 2600

Following the completion of the objection period, the department will provide TBA with anonymised information about any objections received and an opportunity for TBA to provide a response.