by Josh Spasaro
Greg Nichols and Vin Cox have called for a more thorough classification process to Group and Listed races after reports on Friday revealed the Golden Eagle and The Shorts were soon set for Group 1 status.
News began circulating on Friday that the Golden Eagle and G2 The Shorts would be lifted to Group 1 status after being reported on News Corp publication Racenet.
Other Sydney races mentioned to be boosted to Group 1 billing include The Everest and Victoria's The All-Star Mile, however it is understood the International Pattern Committee are yet to ratify any of these changes.
Yulong general manager Vin Cox, a member of the Australian Pattern Committee, has implored racing authorities not to make these calls “willy nilly”, saying the tradition and integrity of the Pattern should be followed for these high-stakes features.
Over many years, the Pattern has been a valuable tool and key performance indicator in the programming of progressive horses, with options of upper and lower paths to Group 1 glory.
And Cox has called for an immediate return to this process.
“I don't know much about the history on what's gone on in this particular (Group 1 adjudgments) case,” he told The Thoroughbred Report.
“But I think it's kind of sad that – from what I understand speaking to a couple of people – they're just going to apply Group 1 status to any race that rates 115.
“And having been on the former Pattern committee for 20 years, that's a very shortsighted, myopic approach.”
There have been concerns – particularly among breeders – that the Australian Pattern has been frozen in recent years, and there is no Pattern committee applying guidelines to the programming of major races. The Australian Pattern Advisory Group (APAG), tasked with advising the Australian Pattern Committee, has met infrequently since its inception, resulting in stagnation in pattern development since May 2018.
As a result, Cox believes some horses are being left behind when elite races are run.
“So, a certain band of horses will prosper, whereas other bands of horses will suffer. Group and Listed racing have to be aspirational, and by definition you want to be aspiring to the elite races,” he said.
“All of those races carrying Group 1, I think is a narrow approach.”
The lack of evolution in the Pattern, along with perceived disregard for its principals in creating and placing new races, has been a concern for many in the racing industry.
Cox called for a revival of the Pattern processes when adjudging the status of feature races, for the benefit of the sport's integrity nationwide and overseas.
“The integrity of Pattern in Black Type racing is absolutely paramount, and Black Type racing is the international indicator. It creates an international language that can be acknowledged and recognised in any jurisdiction,” he said.
“And therefore, it creates worth and equity in bloodstock. So, it's not something that you just want to apply willy-nilly. There has to be substance behind it, processes and protocols and discipline.”
Cox did, however, find optimism after reports of ongoing tensions between Victoria and New South Wales racing jurisdictions eased at a recent Racing Australia meeting.
“If racing can move forward in the interest of racing nationally, instead of self-serving interests, I would applaud and support that wholeheartedly,” he said.
A Pattern Revival Would Enhance Australia's International Reputation
Former Racing Victoria director and current Chairman of the Australian Racing Pattern, Greg Nichols also cautioned about issuing Group 1 status without going through a closely examined Pattern process.
That is particularly the case because he believes there is only a limited amount of elite talent in the middle-distance and staying ranks.
“I come from a position where there are far too many Group 1s in Australia, considering the quality of our horses,” he told The Thoroughbred Report.
“We're universally acclaimed for our sprinters, so you can't knock anything up to 1400 metres. But beyond that it's threadbare.”
Nichols said Australia's worldwide reputation would increase if it followed Pattern processes more closely.
“To me, we should be more dominant or a prominent player internationally. And part of that is a commitment to conform to standards that not only have integrity, but have excellence as a core value,” he said.
“And I just don't think we do that at the moment.”
Cohesion a Positive Step Forward
Former member of the Australian Pattern Committee and past independent chairman of Racing Australia, John Messara, did not want to comment in-depth when asked about a decline in the use of the Pattern processes in recent years.
Messara was, however, optimistic about reports of increased cooperation between Racing Australia and state jurisdictions.
“That's a positive. I think racing needs to have an Australia-wide position because, like any other sport, you don't know where the next champion will come from, or the next best trainer or jockey,” he said.
“So having an Australia-wide coverage is very important. I think all the states getting together makes for a stronger industry, with consistent rules across the whole country.
“Those things are important.”
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