Quarantine rules could hurt carnival

Racing Victoria holds fears that stricter quarantine regulations could lessen the international flavour at Melbourne's spring carnival later this year.

Quarantine measures recommended by the Callinan Report, released last month, following last year's EI outbreak are yet to be finalised.

The uncertainty has left RV director of racing operations Leigh Jordon, who will head to England on a scouting mission next Tuesday, unable to outline to connections exactly what quarantine measures their horses will undergo for a trip to Australia.

Horses from three different continents have been targeted for not only the major spring Cups in Melbourne but also The Age Classic, which is part of the Global Sprint Challenge, and the Emirates Stakes on the final day of Flemington's carnival.

Connections of Japanese stayer Delta Blues and Pop Rock are understood to be interested in another tilt at the race they quinellaed in 2006, while another Japanese horse Shadowgate could be a Cox Plate starter.

"That will be dependent a lot on quarantine regulations this year, with regards to the Callinan Report," Jordon told Sportal.

"It could have severe impact on Japan. We currently don't have protocols and we're waiting on a decision."

"We're waiting on rulings in regards to European quarantine which could impede quite severely."

"With unencumbered quarantine restrictions we'd definitely get horses from Japan."

Jordon said the quarantine barrier could lessen the level of international participation in Melbourne's carnival.

There were only three European-trained starters in last year's Melbourne Cup, run more than two months after the EI outbreak, compared to six in 2006 and five each in 2004 and 2005.

"I'm being very conservative because of quarantine," he said.

"It's difficult to come here and fly here because of length of travel but to put a lot of restrictions on in regard to quarantine could impact that (further)."

"That's why I'm putting a little bit of a rider in it. If that happens to become very difficult, all the changes, it could always impact on what happens."