Champion trainer Gai Waterhouse has called on Racing NSW to address a situation that has seen a second two-year-old race abandoned in the state in a matter of weeks.
Waterhouse took to social media on Monday afternoon to vent her frustration after Wednesday’s 2YO maiden at Wyong was scrapped at acceptance time.
Only five of the 10 nominated horses accepted, with most of them also nominated for the two-year-old handicap at Rosehill on Saturday.
Using its discretion under the Rules of Racing, Racing NSW deleted the race from the program in a preemptive step to avoid the likelihood of poor wagering on a small field of unraced juveniles.
Waterhouse was hoping to use the race to launch the career of $350,000 Tassort filly Palmanova, who is an aspirant for the $3 million Magic Millions 2YO Classic at the Gold Coast in January.
She suggested Racing NSW explore options that would deter trainers from nominating horses in races that they have no real intention of racing in.
“It is upsetting that Wednesday’s 2YO race is abandoned,” Waterhouse said via X.
“I want a couple of my Magic Millions aspirants to start.”
“RNSW says two of the five entries were double nominated for Saturday (at Rosehill).”
“Perhaps Racing NSW should copy the greyhounds and have a ‘stand down’ period for scratched runners. There would be few double noms and few scratchings.”
“In the UK, if a horse is scratched because of an unfavorable barrier, the trainer is fined.”
Last month, a two-horse two-year-old race was conducted at Bendigo after three horses were scratched from the original final field of five. Two of the scratchings were from stables that had two horses accepted in the race.
In January, Racing NSW abandoned the Listed Carrington Stakes at acceptance time after a field of only six on the advice that dual-nominated horses were unlikely to run.
