It follows an extraordinary week where bans have been imposed on large gatherings in Australia, while travel bans have been implemented to stem the spread of the COVID-19 strain of coronavirus, which has thrown the world economy into a great state of uncertainty and chaos.

Horse racing will continue in Australia, but with no public access to meetings, including the upcoming G1 Golden Slipper S. and The Championships.

Te Akau implements Trans-Tasman plan

The effective halting of travel between Australia and New Zealand will have a significant impact on The Championships with several New Zealand contenders set to be grounded because of the impracticality of travelling.

The highly successful Te Akau Racing operation, headed up by trainer Jamie Richards, will have a presence in Sydney with Te Akau Shark (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle {Ire}) and Probabeel (NZ) (Savabeel) already in Sydney and Melody Belle (NZ) (Commands) headed that way from Melbourne, where she finished third in the All-Star Mile.

Richards has decided to remain in New Zealand to oversee his operation there with his father Paul Richards and team member Ashley Handley to handle the preparation of the star trio.

"Ashley will stay in Sydney with Dad and they will do the horses together. As well as that, our jockey Opie Bosson is going over tonight to get there before the deadline starts for isolation. So two of our most senior staff and our stable rider will be in Sydney, with our three top rated Group 1 horses," he said.

"I will stay in New Zealand and communicate with Dad and Ashley, and concentrate on the horses here in New Zealand. We have a large team here and we need to make sure we are doing the right thing by the horses and the owners."

While being in a different country while his three best horses tackle Sydney's autumn riches is far from ideal, Richards said it was important he stayed at the heart of the operation back in New Zealand.

"I've a lot of faith in my staff and obviously, I trust my dad implicitly," he said. "Ashley has a very good hold on the horses and works tirelessly to get the best out of them. It’s important we continue to kick goals in New Zealand. We still have a couple of Group 1s here, with the favourites in both races, so still have goals to achieve in New Zealand."

Richards said that will be the plan for the short term to get through the next month.

"It will be interesting to see how the Australian and New Zealand government reacts in the next two weeks and if there is any further spread. I don’t think anybody can predict what will happen. It will be an interesting couple of weeks for the world economy and our sport."

Easter Sale likely to be invite only

In line with the recommendations against public events of more than 500 people, Inglis is set to make the upcoming Australian Easter Yearling Sale an invitation only event.

Inglis Managing Director Mark Webster tweeted that the sale will proceed on an invitation only basis with technology to play a critical role to maintain the global market.

More details are expected in the coming days.

The sale is due to take place from April 7-8.

Slipper lockout insured against

Next Saturday's G1 Golden Slipper S. day, which will feature five Group 1 races, will be held behind closed doors.

The ATC confirmed that it was insured against losses incurred by the lockout for both the Rosehill meeting and the two-day The Championships at Randwick, held on April 4 and April 11.

“We will lose some money but it will be mitigated by the insurance policy," Australian Turf Club official Brett de Vine told Racenet.

"But it’s only for major race days, as far as the autumn carnival it covers the Golden Slipper and the two days of The Championships."

It has also been confirmed that Tuesday's G1 Golden Slipper S. barrier draw will be held behind closed doors at Racing NSW, with the usual owners' function to be held at Rosehill's Grand Pavilion, cancelled.

Japanese raiders in doubt

The 14-day self-isolation period imposed by the Federal Government is also likely to impact a trio of Japanese horses who are leading contenders for key races in the upcoming The Championships.

Mozu Ascot (USA) (Frankel {GB}) is currently favourite for the G1 Doncaster Mile, while Danon Premium (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) is top pick for the Queen Elizabeth S. and My Style (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}) is set for the same race.

The trio were set to arrive this week, and it is the required isolation of any staff that travel with them that is the concern.

While the horses will have to serve their usual 14-day quarantine, the Australian Government also requires their handlers to effectively do the same thing.

The ATC is concerned it may act as a deterrent and it is likely they won't travel.

The William Haggas-trained Addeybb (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}), the second favourite for Saturday’s Ranvet S, and stablemate Young Rascal (Fr) (Intello {Fr}) are already in Australia and their handlers won’t be impacted by self-isolation.

Jockeys grounded

Australian jockeys intending to travel to Hong Kong and ride have also been impacted by the self-isolation requirement.

Tommy Berry, Hugh Bowman and Brett Prebble were all set to travel for the G1 Hong Kong Derby but the new regulations mean they would then not be able to ride for a minimum of 14 days of their arrival back in Australia. That seems unlikely with The Championships so close.

It also means that any Hong Kong-based jockey heading to Australia to ride in The Championships would not be able to do so without serving a 14-day self-isolation.

Racing Australia CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) response plan

Statement from Racing Australia

Racing Australia offices are currently continuing to operate as normal to support the Principal Racing Authorities, Race Clubs and participants as the industry moves to the continuation of racing from Monday, 16 March based on the advice of the Chief Medical Officer to Commonwealth and State Governments in relation to public gatherings of over 500 people.

Racing Australia continues to invest in the ongoing development, enhancement and testing of a robust Business Continuity Plan. As an extension of the existing Business Continuity Plan, a Health Emergency Continuity Plan has been developed and more recently a specific Coronavirus (COVID-19) Response Plan has also been developed to ensure the continuity of services provided by Racing Australia.

Given the constantly evolving situation, Racing Australia continues to monitor, review and update planning and preparation as necessary in order to respond and recover in the event of a health emergency due to Coronavirus (COVID-19) which impacts on the ability of staff to work from Racing Australia’s offices.

Continuity of Services Remotely

In the event of an office close-down period, Racing Australia is ready to minimise disruption to service and ensure continuity of operations based on employees working remotely.

This includes but is not limited:

a) Racing Australia Service Centre used by trainers to lodge nominations, acceptances, withdrawals, scratchings and stable returns. Will continue to operate with no changes to the phone number or where to go online. Results, Racebook production and related customer service and help desk will also continue.

b) Australian Stud Book & Registrar of Racehorses used by Breeders and Owners. Will continue to operate with no changes to the phone number or where to go online.

c) Other functions of Racing Australia such as Finance, Network and Application Support will also continue.

Participants are encouraged to use online or phone services rather than paper-based forms due to the potential of paper forms being delayed by the post or not accessible for a period of time. Where a paper form is still used participants are encouraged to scan and email the form to Racing Australia rather than sending it via mail.

Equine Genetics Research Centre

In the event the Equine Genetics Research Centre (EGRC) closes, Thoroughbred parentage testing and other breed services would be suspended for up to 14 days and, if closure of the EGRC is to last longer than 14 days, parentage testing and other breed tests would be relocated to the EGRC’s backup Lab conditional on it continuing to operate.

Racing Australia will continue to provide updates as the situation evolves, as well as retesting our continuity and preparedness in order to best manage any impact.

The 6-year-old's authoritative success at Rosehill on Saturday in the Newgate colours added the Group 1 cherry on top of a racing resume that already had her winning stakes races in the United Kingdom, the United States and Australia.

"There wouldn't be too many more valuable mares on the planet right now with her profile," Field said.

"She is the sort of mare that I think could have a sales-topping yearling in a Northern Hemisphere yearling sale, like a Keeneland or Tattersalls. We saw Bounding's yearling sell for US$4.1 million (AU$5.9 million) last year and we will probably look to send her back to the Northern hemisphere to breed her."

Field said that Con Te Partiro would continue to campaign for Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott with the likelihood she would head back to North America towards the end of 2020.

Saturday's success came after the mare was retired to the broodmare barn last spring but failed to get in foal to Zoustar. Field said that having been in work as racehorse until late September, it was hardly the ideal preparation for a possible pregnancy.

"We didn't really give her any time to let down as a broodmare. We gave her one late cover and the fact she didn’t get in foal was not her fault whatsoever," he said.

"I'm sure if we had have retired her after the winter, she would have let down and she'd be in foal now. The time frame we gave her never works out well, especially with imported mares. We had one cover on a wing and a prayer really.

"When she wasn't in foal, we were happy given the confidence Adrian (Bott) had in the mare, to put her back in training."

Co-trainer Bott played a major role in the success of Saturday having worked with the quirky imported mare to get the best out of her. Gai Waterhouse also utilised her close relationship with Con Te Partiro's previous trainer Wesley Ward, to get an insight into how to get the best out of the mare in Australia.

After an excellent trial win ahead of her resumption this campaign, Con Te Partiro over-raced when sixth, beaten 3l in the G2 Guy Walter S., but Field said the confidence in the stable was very high ahead of her Group 1 test on Saturday on what was a deteriorating track.

"Her best form has been on top of the ground and she's very effective on fast turf, but in saying that, she's certainly got through it well. She's a very tough filly, she's got great grit and so she probably excelled in the tough conditions," he said.

"It was a great result. She's a really, really good mare. I know her form can taper in and out, but she has been a super mare her whole career and it was well-deserved for her to win a Group 1 race."

Scat Daddy strategy pays off early

It was a success which can be traced back to the insistence of SF Bloodstock's Gavin Murphy and Tom Ryan on buying the mare out of the 2018 Fasig-Tipton November Sale, where she cost US$575,000 (AU$930,000).

"We’ve gone out in the last few years and bought as many Scat Daddy mares as we could in North America to bring to Australia and she was probably the jewel in the crown," Field said.

"Out of a Street Cry mare that ran second in a Humana Distaff, she has one of the deepest pedigrees in the North American studbook. For all those reasons, Gavin and Tom were really bullish to buy her at the sale and they didn’t want to go home without her. Their judgment has been proven right."

Paradoxically, her success on Saturday now means that she will likely not get the chance to breed in Australia.

"A mare like Con Te Partiro has built a record that is very unique. With her pedigree and her very unique race record, she is the sort of mare that they are very keen to get back to North America," he said.

"That makes sense. If you look at the top end of the yearling market in North America and the UK, it is probably much stronger than we have here. That's ok.

"We'll go back to Fasig-Tipton and Keeneland in November and hopefully buy another group of these mares, because they have been so successful for our breeding portfolio."

That global approach is an example of the great advantage Newgate has in having such a strong connection to SF Bloodstock.

Those successes are shared globally and as much as the win of Con Te Partiro was celebrated in the United States, victories like those of impressive Santa Anita winner Charlatan (USA) (Speightstown {USA}) on behalf of the SF Bloodstock colts syndicate on Saturday, are also marked in Australia.

Making his second career start, Charlatan broke swiftly and went straight to the front in the 1600 metre race. Running alone on the front end with Drayden Van Dyke aboard, the colt looked more like he was gearing up for a breeze as he galloped along easily around the track. Van Dyke let his mount run a bit in the straight as Charlatan motored away from the overmatched field to win by 10 ¼ lengths.

The colt is a US$700,000 Keeneland September purchase by SF Bloodstock and Starlight West who were joined in ownership by Madaket Stables, breeder Stonestreet Stables, Frederick Hertrich, John Fielding, and Golconda Stables. He is following a similar path to Baffert’s Triple Crown winner Justify (USA) (Scat Daddy {USA}) who ran his first two races on the same weeks as Charlatan and has some of the same ownership group as that colt.

The Bob Baffert colt is now considered a leading chance for the G1 Kentucky Derby.

SF Racing are also involved in the ownership of another leading Kentucky Derby contender in Authentic (USA) (Into Mischief {USA}), and also produced Group 1-winning juvenile Eight Rings (USA) (Empire Maker {USA}) from that group of yearling purchases.

Coolmore subsequently purchased the breeding rights to Eight Rings in late 2019.

In the wake of federal government advice around public gatherings, Magic Millions has implemented modified business conditions for the two-day March Sale, which will be closed to the public and open only to registered bidders.

It has also put a raft of assistive measures in place to facilitate those who can’t make it to the Gold Coast and wish to bid online or over the phone.

They are strict measures in extraordinary times and not the ideal environment for any yearling sale, but while there is understandably some apprehension about how the two days of the March Yearling Sale will pan out, vendors are maintaining a positive approach.

"It's still unknown territory but we are still fairly busy here today and yesterday, which I was pleased about and encouraged by," Eureka Stud Manager Scott McAlpine said.

"There are no excess of people, but at least you've got the ones that are in the business and are trying to stay in business. They are here and they are looking."

Cambooya-based Eureka Stud has the largest draft of any vendors, with 49 of the 412 lots catalogued, and this sale is crucial to its bottom line, having sold over $1.1 million worth of bloodstock here 12 months' ago.

"We've got a big draft of course so I suppose we'd be expected to be busy. Every horse we have is getting a run and there are plenty of lookers. At the moment I am encouraged. We probably aren't going to get any speculators because they are not going to turn up, only buyers that know what they want," McAlpine said.

"Talking to a few of the little fellas, everybody is quite happy with the way inspections are going with the circumstances we are in. Looking at the people here today, you have only got the people who are genuinely involved in this business and I think that is the thing that will probably get us across the line."

Buyers need to buy

The measures put in place to temper the spread of the COVID-19 strain of coronavirus are expected to have substantial short-to-medium-term impacts on the global economy, but McAlpine said it was clear trainers and other buyers were very aware they needed to still be involved in purchasing if they were to shore up the longer-term prospects for their businesses.

"Everybody knows that what you buy today keeps you in business for the next two years. I think the people that would normally trade will be here and still trade," he said.

"Some people might not be here because they are frightened of the circumstances we are in, but Magic Millions offers the ability to participate in online bidding and we are availing everybody of x-ray, scopes and agents to help look at them.

"Everybody is doing their best to give everyone the opportunity even if they don’t come to be part of it. If you don’t buy at this sale, you lose a year. Nobody in this industry can afford to do that."

The one aspect which vendors will need to consider closely is where they set their reserve prices, according to McAlpine, who believes that getting the sales done will take priority.

"We will have to re-evaluate what our reserves are and how we handle it, but I think in the crisis we are in, we have to sell these horses. Our next ones are waiting to go into boxes. We need to move them on to new ownership," he said.

Boom times roll on

Champion Queensland stallion Spirit Of Boom has made a substantial difference to the family-owned and run Eureka Stud business in the past five years and his fourth crop, the last conceived at his initial service for of $11,000 (inc GST), are well-represented at the March Sale.

There are 55 in all on offer, 24 of those from Eureka Stud's draft.

"You will buy nice Spirit of Booms here at pretty realistic prices. We know what the pedigrees of the mares are and they are related to good families. Maybe we don’t have the best champion black-type pedigrees, but there are a lot of winners in the families. For people with access to that QTIS prizemoney, there is a good chance of a good return," McAlpine said.

Of the Spirit Of Booms Eureka offers, McAlpine highlighted Lot 199 as one he expects to be well found by the market. That colt is out of Eureka Moment (General Nediym), who has already produced two winners in Bright Idea (Smart Missile) and Akeelah (Onemorenomore).

"He probably looks more like Spirit Of Boom than any thing else I've seen," he said.

Of the progeny of other stallions, McAlpine also has a high opinion of Lot 125, a colt by Starspangledbanner out of Beguile (Elusive Quality {USA}), making him a half-brother to seven-time winner Boingo (Helmet), as well as Lot 129, by Spill The Beans out of Big Pretzel (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}).

Lot 193 is a Sizzling filly who is a sister to recent Inglis 3YO Sprint runner-up Rari who has also garnered plenty of interest including from Rari's trainer Greg Hickman.

"We've got a lot of horses but we have got horses that have got enough going for them and the interest has been strong enough and the enthusiasm is there to get through pretty well," McAlpine said.