Jumpout no good for metro race start

A NEW rule will be brought in from next month making it compulsory for unraced horses to have officially trialled before being permitted to start in a Queensland metropolitan race.

Previously, a horse could earn a barrier pass at a jumpout.

The intention is to bring the new rule in from October 3, when Eagle Farm is scheduled to host its first two-year-old race of the season.

Punters are sure to welcome the initiative, which has been the case in New South Wales for some time. Victoria runs very few official trials by comparison, with jumpouts the norm, as evidenced by not one runner in yesterday’s Flemington two-year-old race having an official trial.

Racing Queensland chief executive Brendan Parnell (pictured) said the new rule was designed to be more transparent and to build punter confidence.

“This is an important step forward for the Queensland racing industry,” he said.

Queensland branch of the Australian Trainers Association representative Cameron Partington said he understood why the new rule was being introduced, but that the trial schedule needed to be better to accommodate it.

“There are not enough trials and I will continue to address this with Racing Queensland,” he said.

“One suggestion we would make is that some trials get added after race meetings, particularly for horses outside the major racing centres.”

The ATA also wants RQ to address its balloting system for two-year-old races, whereby trial winners get precedence but all others, placed or unplaced, are on level footing.