It’s no secret that Australia’s black-type system has been a mess for a long time.
Division between states has caused the breakdown of the Australian Pattern, which has meant that since 2012, no Australian Stakes race has been downgraded, regardless of how bad they have been.
In that same period, 79 races have received an upgrade, including seven to Group 1 status. There is a case to be made that many were deserving of an upgrade, although the view from many domestically and further abroad was that the pattern was being hijacked by self-interest.
That’s why in December, the Asian Racing Federation announced that its own Asian Pattern Committee would assume responsibility for upgrading and downgrading races in Australia.
The body even threatened Australia with potential demotion to Part 2 of the Blue Book, which would see our country’s entire black type system treated the same as racing backwaters like Panama, Turkey and Zimbabwe.
To be fair, it was probably the sort of slap in the face that was needed.
I loved the move from Racing Australia’s Chairman Rob Rorrison this week to appoint a ‘Black Type Advisory Group’ as a step to help fix our broken Pattern system.
In the absence of Racing Australia performing the important function or managing the pattern, the BTAG will provide feedback and recommendations to the Asian Pattern Committee.
Each of the seven members of the ‘Black Type Advisory Group’ have forgotten more than I’ll ever know about racing. While the represent the interests of some of the industry’s big players, they are being trusted to act in the best interest of the sport and I don’t have any doubts about their ability t do this.
There’s Barry Bowditch and Sebastian Hutch, who head up Australia’s two premier thoroughbred auction houses, Magic Millions and Inglis, respectively.
Godolphin Australia’s managing director Andy Makiv, Widden Stud principal and Aushorse chair Antony Thompson and Arrowfield Stud’s bloodstock manager Jon Freyer ensure the country’s powerhouse commercial breeders have a few seats at the table.
Then there are industry icons Adrian Hancock and Duncan Grimley, who will add experience and knowledge gained during a lifetime in the game.
It’s almost a dream team.
What I didn’t love was the glaring omission of anyone from the form or ratings space on the BTAG.
Ratings and data aren’t the ‘be all and end all’ when it comes to the pattern. But they should continue to inform a big part of the discussion, particularly in 2026.
There’s no ambiguity with ratings. No grey areas. No bias.
The numbers don’t lie and if races are consistently rating down, they should be put on notice. If the trend continues, they should be downgraded.
Surely there was scope to include the likes of a Daniel O’Sullivan from The Ratings Bureau, Vince Accardi of Daily Sectionals or Australia’s Timeform expert Gary Crispe?
One or more of these guys on the BTAG would only serve to bolster its influence and increase the likelihood that the Asian Pattern Committee will actually listen to what they’ve got to say.
If it’s quality control we need, I reckon that’s the best way to ensure it.
