TBA will hold a series of seminars across Australia in May and June 2013, at which a proposed new statutory levy will be presented for discussion.
The Rural Industries Research & Development Corporation (RIRDC) has announced that from 1 July 2013 it can no longer spend its core funding to match voluntary industry contributions, leaving the Thoroughbred industry with very limited research on mare health, exotic diseases, preventing conformation deformities in foals and various other practical research projects.
TBA is proposing a charge of $10 per mare returned per season payable by broodmare owners, and $10 per mare covered per season payable by stallion owners.
If passed, an estimated $1 million would be dedicated to Thoroughbred specific research through matching funds. A formal ballot will be undertaken by the Australian Electoral Commission in July 2013, polling all registered Australian Thoroughbred breeders.
Plenty of information about the Levy will be distributed over the coming months and you can find out more on this website www.tbaus.com
Lyndhurst Stud sire Hidden Dragon has done it again with his top Toowoomba mare Miss Imagica.
The cushion track specialist added the finishing touches to her Weetwood Handicap legend status after capping her career with a remarkable victory in the $150,000 Clifford Park feature on Saturday night.
“What a horse,” jockey Skye Bogenhuber declared after Miss Imagica ($3.80 fav) carried her into the history books as the first female rider to win the time-honoured event.
“Unstoppable” would be another apt description of the Michael Nolan trained Miss Imagica who became only the fourth horse to win successive Weetwoods in the race’s 118-year history. Story here…
BRING BLACK CAVIAR TO BRISBANE
Thoroughbred Breeders Queensland Association President Basil Nolan has joined the pleas of almost every Queenslander – to bring Black Caviar to Brisbane.
The Brisbane Turf Club is preparing for a possible May 11 showdown, and has relocated the program from Doomben to Eagle Farm to accomodate the record crowd that would attend if the Queen of the Turf comes to town.
“It would be magnificent for racing in our State to be able to host Black Caviar,” said Mr Nolan.
“Unlike our New South Wales counterparts, we would show her the respect she deserves and would be honoured to have the chance to cheer her on for her 26th victory.”
Mr Nolan was taking a swipe at the arrogrant, or ignorant, comments made by New South Wales Premier, Barry O’Farrell in the lead-up to Saturday’s TJ Smith Stakes.
The Capricorn Yearling Sale has been rated a huge success after recording an average price of $8,910 and an 86% clearance rate.
Laurel Glen Equine Centre presented the sale topper (Lot 67 – pictured) a brown colt by Muzdaher out of Satellite Girl.
He was knocked down to Magic Millions (as agent) for $40,000.
116 lots were catalogued with only 12 withdrawn and 15 passed in, resulting in a sale gross of $793,000.
The $8,910 average price is up significantly from last year’s average of $7,400 and organisers are thrilled with the resulting and the strong direction the sale and entire Capricornia Carnival weekend is heading.
FEEDING THE MARE & FOAL
The major growth of the foetal foal takes place during the last trimester of pregnancy lasting 3 to 4 months. Up until the eighth month of pregnancy the energy requirement only increases by around 10% and protein by 20%, over the maintenance level of a dry mare.
Between month eight and birth, energy requirement rises a further 16% and protein 18% and these increases are paralleled by similar increases in demand for other nutrients such as calcium, phosphorous and trace elements.
Providing adequate supplies all the essential nutrients during the phase of rapid foetal growth is critical in avoiding problems such as low birth weight, poorly developed immunity and Developmental Orthopaedic Disease ( D.O.D.) which has been shown to be present even before birth.
The mare will sacrifice her own nutritional status to provide for the foal, both before and after birth, so her health is also at risk if her nutritional needs are not fully met.
