Cover image courtesy of Racing NSW
The Australian Financial Review (AFR) has published an article admonishing alleged variations in the application of strappers’ bonuses for major races in New South Wales.
Typically, the two per cent strappers’ bonus is only paid to those employed by New South Wales-based trainers. However, it is alleged that this policy has not been consistently applied by Racing NSW.
The AFR article cites Jonathan Munz, who lobbied V’landys to pay the strappers’ bonus to the employee of Victorian-based trainer Clayton Douglas after Giga Kick (Scissor Kick) won the 2022 The Everest.
“I emphasised that the $122,000 bonus for The Everest winner’s strapper was a life-changing amount of money,” Munz told the AFR. “I am very glad that he relented.
“I told Peter his policy was nuts – in my view it is fundamentally improper and unfair. You can’t treat a worker differently for doing the same work in NSW, just because they live in Victoria.”
“I told Peter (V'Landys) his policy was nuts – in my view it is fundamentally improper and unfair.” - Jonathan Munz
It is also alleged that Jacquniot’s ownership group, which includes Racing NSW director Simon Tuxen, then demanded the same for their strapper after the Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr-trained son of Rubick took out the G1 Golden Rose S.
Following that, two additional exceptions were allegedly made for the Victorian-trained I Wish I Win (NZ) (Savabeel) and Queensland horse Gypsy Goddess (NZ) (Tarzino), after their teams demanded the bonus was paid following first and third placings respectively in the Golden Eagle.
Prime Thoroughbreds’ Joe O’Neill, who was recently vocal in this publication in support of Robyn Whishaw’s resignation from Racing Australia and called for Racing NSW to work with other states, was angry after discovering the payment inconsistencies.
The three Group wins of Rubisaki (Rubick) in 2020 did not earn the strapper a bonus as she was trained by Patrick Payne in Victoria, despite O’Neill requesting it from Racing NSW.
Joe O'Neill | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“It f-ing stinks. It’s V’landys at his worst – he’s a shocker!” said O’Neill to AFR.
“We were very, very angry when we were told that Giga Kick’s was forwarded on to that stable, even though it was an interstate stable, and also that the money was forwarded to Jacquinot’s stable, which we thought was very suspicious given one of the owners is a director of Racing NSW.”
AFR concluded the article with the following statement:
“While the rules are longstanding and clearly set out on the Racing NSW website, we understand that Racing NSW will communicate these rules even more prominently henceforth. And under no circumstances will any further discretionary exemptions be made.”
The full article can be viewed on the Australian Financial Review website behind a paywall.
