Breeders’ ‘double standard’

Press, 19 October 1976, Page 28

Breeders’ ‘double standard’

NZPA Sydney. Australians, mostly' breeders, have settled for a "double standard” when it conies to deckoning what is and what is not a New Zealand horse, according to the Sydney “Daily Mirror’s” turf columnist. Pat Farrell. He said in yesterday’s Issue that How Now’s Caulfield Cup victory was hailed as a breakthrough against the repetitive New Zealand plundering of Australia’s major staying races. “The fact that How Now was bred in New Zealand didn’t concern anyone,” he writes, “She Is owned by Australians and leased bv Australians, and that makes her an Australian horse which repelled the New Zealand visitors. "Which is a whole lot of bull. “If there is any sense In being parochial in a cut-throat business like racing, surely it must stipulate the credit for a good horse’s existence belongs nowhere except to the thoroughbred industry of the region which bred him or her. “So How Now is a New Zealand horse, as were the first six horses home In Saturday’s Cup. seven of the first eight in last year’s and 11 of the first 12 in 1974.” Farrell said he suspected the day is not far on when a Caulfield or Melbourne Cup will be run without any Australian-bred horse engaged.