No Concerns For Spring Carnival

The Melbourne Cup Carnival should go ahead as planned with Victoria to resume racing on Saturday ? despite the possible spread of the equine influenza virus elsewhere in Australia.

Three thoroughbreds stabled at Randwick racecourse in Sydney are being tested for the highly-contagious virus, which has already spread through the equestrian population in New South Wales and Queensland.

That has prompted an extension of the ban on movement of horses in New South Wales, with the likelihood that racing will not resume in Sydney until September 6 at the earliest.

Racing NSW chief executive Peter V'Landys said authorities acted quickly when the three horses began to show signs of the virus overnight.

'We're being cautious with Randwick, we had three horses which showed an elevated temperature,' he said.

'Under the current circumstances we didn't want to take any risk.'

Despite growing concerns among prominent industry figures, leading trainer Gai Waterhouse called for a measure of calm around the outbreak.

'Horses having high temperatures in winter time is as common as children having colds,' she said.

'I think everyone has to keep a measure of sanity. The horses aren't going to die. They've been isolated, so they can rest and get over it.'

Victorian racing authorities have not been deterred by the Sydney situation, declaring the state free of the virus after an exhaustive testing operation since Saturday.

'All horses that have been brought into Victoria over the last 14 days have all been tested and there is no evidence of any of this virus being present in any of the horses in Victoria,' said Racing Victoria Limited chairman Graeme Duff.

'Victoria still has no incidence of the equine influenza epidemic which is evident in New South Wales.'

Racing will resume at Caulfield on Saturday for the Memsie Stakes meeting, but horses from New South Wales will be prevented from entering Victoria for the meeting.

RVL is now confident the remainder of the Melbourne spring carnival, which culminates with the Melbourne Cup in November, will go ahead.

The Victoria Racing Club, which stages the Cup, also said all plans for Flemington's re-opening on September 8 remain in place.

While concerns had arisen suggesting the Cup might need to be postponed until December, Luca Cumani said totesport Ebor winner Purple Moon would still be prepared for the race in such an instance.

He told the Racing Post: 'It would be a logistical nightmare for me, as that's December sales time in Newmarket, and you can't be in two places at once.

'But for the horse it wouldn't be a problem. If they race, we will try to get there.'

(C) PA Sport