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Letter of the Week

Blame game

My compliments to Peter McNamara for his letter of November 22. I am firmly of the opinion that Peter’s remarks, and indeed analysis of the problems that have created a crisis in the  quality of Australian-bred stayers, are succinct and to the point.
Some weeks ago, Your Say published my letter in which I proposed the Melbourne Cup perhaps should become an invitation-only event as far as internationals are concerned, with a primary view to obtaining the best possible international representation, and at the same time exercising some control over the number of invitees.
Playing devil’s advocate on my own letter, I can see now there could be a problem. If the number of invitees is controlled by Racing Victoria and the VRC, it may lead to the majority of the field being made up by local but inferior stayers —- simply because we have switched in the main from breeding quality stayers to more “speedy squibs”.
Why is this happening? Easy answer of course. The promotion in this country of high-priced races for baby horses whose muscles and bones have not (in many cases) reached the full strength and maturity required of the traditional Australasian stayer.
Whilst Peter McNamara appears to be imploring breeders to change their habits, I ask Peter how can they when the market of potential owners is demanding the quick return on investment, rather than the slow, patient wait for a stayer to develop, with no guarantees?
This concept of seeking speedy short-course sprinters was originally the very smart brainchild of Gerry Harvey and John Singleton when they created the Magic Millions. And good luck to them as smart businessmen.
For John Singleton, with his undoubted promotional skill and ability, selling the concept would have been child’s play.  
The exciting Gold Coast, the beautiful weather, the beach, surf, bikini girls, casino and glamorous night life all set against a laid-back lifestyle of beach shirts, straw hats, shorts and sandals — a no-brainer.
To top it off a million-dollar race for two-year-olds, but only those who had come through the previous year’s Magic Million sales.
In other words, a potential quick 12-month return on a heavy investment.  Irresistible to local and international high rollers.
If your purchase turns out to be very good, a quick return rather than waiting years for maturity and bone strength. Brilliant concept, which is only as  you would expect from these doyens of promotion and business.   
With Melbourne’s Blue Diamond and of course Sydney’s Golden Slipper, the richest race in the world for two-year-olds (a somewhat dubious title  in view of the rest of the world’s attitude towards two-year-old racing), the die was cast.
While Peter McNamara acknowledges Gerry Harvey’s role in the creation of this situation, he seems to blame the breeders for failing to commit financial suicide by refusing to meet the market’s demands.
I think the basic fault was Gerry Harvey’s in carrying out his masterstroke of a business concept.
This is why I find it galling to see and hear Harvey on national television whingeing and moaning about the internationals plundering our most prestigious staying races, and placing the blame at the feet of the breeding industry.
Harvey and his cohorts have made another fortune from their brainchild, but at the expense of the traditional, tough Australasian stayer.
To blame the breeders for responding to his creation creating the demand for short-course speed is hypocrisy of the highest order.
Shame, Mr Harvey — not for making a fortune, but for shifting the blame to innocent industry participants who are left with no alternative if they are to survive.

Paul Connors
Brighton (Qld)
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Thursday 28 March
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