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Letter of the Week

Whither the stayer?

In recent weeks there has been discussion as to whether there should be quotas on the numbers of imported horses allowed to run in the Melbourne Cup especially and the Caulfield Cup to protect and give maximum opportunity to local horses.
I am opposed to the suggested introduction of quotas and argue that our own breeding industry must accept full responsibility for its action in deciding to pursue the breeding of speed horses.
It is timely, therefore, to reflect upon John Wathen-Berry’s international report, “Stars shunned in rush to breed for speed,” (22/11), where he reminds us of the shifting sands in Europe.
“The excellent results in recent years in the Melbourne Cup and other top Australian staying races by European-bred gallopers have shone the spotlight on the breeding of stayers in the two hemispheres.
“There is little doubt that high-class stayers are being produced in significantly higher numbers in Europe than they are down under, but even so Europe is not the stayers’ paradise that this might imply.
“Despite what one might deduce from observing the European breeding scene from afar, it remains the case, particularly in the British Isles, that the vast majority of breeders — especially those who see themselves as “commercial” breeders — flock to short-distance sires and totally ignore stallions who were stayers in their day.”
The article is far more wide-ranging.
If this phenomenon continues, what will be the future of distance racing as we know it today?
It would also certainly have a major impact upon jumps racing, which is under great pressure for its survival anyway.

Peter J. McNamara
Canterbury (Vic)
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Friday 29 March
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