The spectacular Royal Ascot carnival of 2024 has come to a close – there were emerging stars announced, certified stars crowned and plenty of memorable performances.
The week, as a whole production, is a clinic in creating hype and delivering a product unparalleled.
Here are three lessons Royal Ascot can teach the New Zealand racing industry.
PROTECT YOUR HISTORY
Innovation is crucial, change is inevitable and progression is paramount – this is rhetoric I have not just endorsed when talking about New Zealand racing but trumpeted.
Often it’s fallen on deaf ears, or been heard but certainly not consumed, Entain of course have bucked this trend and the flurry of financial support matched with an enthusiasm to be better on all fronts is extremely promising.
In the midst of this super surge in action, I would however urge the sport’s administrators to please protect and put an extremely valuable price on your history.
Royal Ascot is nothing without its depth of past. It is imperative to its success that every single year they promote it and explain the context behind the World Championships of racing.
Obviously there are more than three centuries to reflect on and it’s royal stardust carries more weight than Buckingham palace itself, but it has opened my eyes to the fact New Zealand can not get caught too heavily in the here and now and turn it’s back on one of it’s most reputable assets: it’s past.
Kiwi horses going back to Phar Lap have been world beaters through the decades. Nearly all of the equine reputation of New Zealand stems from the last century – this isn’t just important, it is industry-defining.
The patterns change, as they should, and breeds develop. But is there enough being done to celebrate the past and use it as a vessel to tell the stories of today?
Are enough races named after our legendary horses and horse people?
Is there a racing historian employed by NZTR, HRNZ, GRNZ or Entain to cultivate the stories and find the connections to today?
There’s no denying racing in New Zealand is at its most pivotal juncture, protecting its history is imperative to seeing it succeed.
EQUINE TOURISM, ANYONE?
One of the best aspects of Royal Ascot is without a doubt the international runners.
Through the years winners from Australia, Asia, America, Ireland, and France have created an Olympics or World Championship feeling about a carnival that is so special already.
Think about Cox Plates, or Melbourne Cups, and the extra layer of hype international runners create – is it impossible to lure horses from further than Australia to raid our biggest races?
This is a concept that needs greater racing brains than mine to fine tune the strategy, but with so much money being splashed on prize money, a fund or incentives to help get horses who come to Australia to then run in New Zealand would add an incredible dynamic.
The prestige of winning a Group One in New Zealand might not match what is available elsewhere, so the price needs to be right. For example, a horse planning a tilt at Sydney’s Autumn carnival could easily tack on a trip to New Zealand for the biggest races around the country’s new supercharged Derby program.
Collaboration with Australia’s racing clubs could be the ticket to opening these doors. Otherwise, a representative from NZTR lobbying trainers and owners to think about New Zealand as an equine trip is a no brainer – if it isn’t already happening.
The stories this would create and exposure to the world of racing for New Zealand would prove invaluable in the stakes to regain footing in the global sporting consciousness.
THE TIME IS NOW
The biggest takeaway from this week of Royal Ascot magic for New Zealanders should be simple: Roll. The. Dice.
Asfoora and Henry Dwyer showed the blueprint to become part of history at the world’s most prestigious festival of racing, they were brave enough to have a crack and proved it is indeed possible.
It’s been known that the international raiders, and especially Australian sprinters, have a great chance of taking the royal spoils when they come north. But there was probably an assumption a superstar horse was required – that has been debunked.
New Zealand’s sprinting stocks are on the rise and in recent years have enjoyed success in Australia’s biggest Group Ones. On the flip side, it seems as though the English and European sprinting class is at a flat spot.
The Queen Elizabeth Jubilee Stakes run on the last day was an average field and threw a winner which wouldn’t scare any stable down under.
Meanwhile rewinding to Tuesday, Asfoora who is well known to not be in Australia’s top tier of shorter distance gallopers, pulled off an audacious plan.
Trying to take on the locals at middle distances or staying trips would be a very tough task and one it would take a truly special horse to do it with, but the route is clear and the time is now – let’s send the sprinters north.
The bigger stables such as Te Akau Racing, Stephen Marsh, Andrew Forsman, Wexford should look at this opportunity and be considering how this could change the shape of their business and jolt them into the international market.
When the Pitman’s had a go with Enzo’s Lad it was an amazing story and actually in hindsight wasn’t celebrated enough but for whatever reason it didn’t open the floodgates.
The time to be brave and raid the north is upon New Zealand racing.