Racing New South Wales and the Australian Turf Club have received approval from the federal government to host an equine quarantine, training and stabling facility at Canterbury Park ahead of The Championships, which will take place at Royal Randwick Apr. 4 and 11. The purpose-built facility is set to open on Thursday, with capacity to immediately accommodate up to 12 horses in custom-made areas developed from an existing stable block on the course. Space is available in two more blocks for further development. Among some of the features of the new quarantine center is a self-contained horse surgery, a scrubbing room and showers for veterinary, quarantine and stable staff, and a state-of-the-art digital security and surveillance centre.
Up to four Japanese horses heading for The Championships–To The World (Jpn) (King Kamehameha {Jpn}), Tosen Stardom (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), Real Impact (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) and World Ace (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn})–are expected to arrive in Sydney Wednesday night ahead of their required quarantine period. They will be joined in March by Australian idol Red Cadeaux (GB) (Cadeaux Genereux {GB}) once he arrives from his Melbourne campaign, and Hong Kong visitor Dominant (Ire) (Cacique {Ire}). All of the international horses housed at Canterbury Park are expected to remain at the facility to train and use the course proper for gallops.
Racing NSW CEO Peter V'landys paid tribute to the work carried out by his and ATC staff, saying “This has been an extraordinary effort by the teams of Racing NSW and the ATC as people don't realise the enormity of the task and what has been achieved in a short period of time. The international visitors who have inspected the Quarantine Centre believe that it is one of the best in the world. Although The Championships are only in their second year, with this quarantine centre they are well and truly on the world stage.”
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