Sydney racegoers will be denied the chance to see Group I performers All Silent and Fist Of Fury during the spring carnival.
Their expected absence comes after Racing NSW refused a request from the Australian Jockey Club to change the distance of the Group II The Shorts in October.
Randwick trainers John O’Shea and Grahame Begg had hoped to kick-off their classy gallopers campaigns in The Shorts after the AJC/STC Sydney racing carnival booklet advertised the race would be run over 1200 metres on Epsom Handicap day, October 3.
“The problem came about with the carnival booklet being the only publication out with October race dates when I set out his program,” Begg said of All Silent.
“I only got my Racing NSW calander on about the 8th of August.
“We set All Silent’s program back at the start of July so Racing NSW giving us eight weeks notice isn’t good enough.”
The AJC said the distance listed in the carnival booklet was a mistake and after being approached by some Sydney trainers they requested Racing NSW to consider changing the distance to 1200 metres.
“The Shorts has been over 1100 metres for as long as I can remember and we only received an application late last week to change it to 1200 metres,” Racing NSW chief executive Peter V’landys said.
“Unfortunately six weeks out from the race after the official Racing NSW magazine had gone out meant it would have been unfair on participants to change the race.
“The carnival booklet isn’t put out by us so it’s not our fault.”
While Racing NSW has distanced itself from the AJC/STC booklet, it is still being promoted on its website as “the booklet contains heaps of info and all you need to know about the approaching Sydney Spring Racing Carnival”.
“It’s very disappointing,” O’Shea said.
“We are trying to keep our horses in Sydney.
“These are two of Sydney’s premium sprinters and now they will both resume in the Gilgai at Flemington on the same day.”
The Shorts was first run in 1867 and was conducted over 6 furlongs until 1972 when it was changed to 1100 metres.
