Emerald City set to shine

INTERNATIONAL FEATURE

APRIL 11, 2014

Emerald City set to shine

by Christina Bossinakis

The run up to Easter has always

been a busy one in New South Wales,

courtesy of the fall's Sydney Carnival

and the Inglis Easter Yearling sale.

However, this year, a season-concluding jewel has been added to Sydney's crown

with the

launch of the inaugural running of The Championships.

The series kicks off at Randwick Saturday, and is highlighted by a quartet of

Group 1

events: the A$3 million Doncaster Mile, A$2.5 million TJ Smith S.,

A$2 million Australian Derby and A$1 million Inglis Sire's Produce

S.

The second day of The Championships is contested Saturday,

April 19, and boasts an additional four Group 1's (six races

included in The Championships): the A$4 million Queen

Elizabeth S., A$1 million Schweppes Sydney Cup, A$1 million Australian Oaks and A$1 million Queen of the Turf S. in

addition to the A$500,000 Royal Sovereign (Aus-G2) and A$500,000 Royal Randwick

(Aus-G3).

"We badly needed in Sydney, a peak, iconic type of meeting," Chairman of Racing NSW John Messara

explained. "We did have

one in the past during the Autumn Carnival, which used to occur at Easter time.

Over the

years, it lost it's zest. The idea was to have an aspirational meeting that

would bring the best

against the best and that would draw the best horses from all over Australia and

New

Zealand, and hopefully, from all over the world. It would bring Australia into

focus,

worldwide."

Kicking off The Championships week in Sydney Monday afternoon was the unveiling

of the

event's custom-made trophy, featuring an emerald-encrusted horse with pink

argyle diamond

eyes and black diamonds on its mane and hooves. The statue was crafted by

Sydney's Nicola

Cerrone.

"The trophies are magnificent works of art that will sit proudly on any

mantlepiece,"

Messara said of the opulent sculpture. "They truly reflect the stature of our event

these wonderful

trophies are fitting prizes for owners of winners of the Grand Finals of

Thoroughbred racing."

After a lengthy period of visiting existing racing meets all over the globe,

Racing NSW

officially launched The Championships in 2013.

"We drew on the best features of the Breeders' Cup, Royal Ascot, Hong

Kong and Meydan," Messara explained. "The championship aspect came from

the

Breeders' Cup, pitting the best against the best. Our Carnival is held in April,

and is the last

major carnival before year end, which is July in Australia. It fits neatly to

allow for the top horses to fight it out."

He added, "At one stage, we were very keen on doing something with Breeders' Cup direct, but after industry

consultations, we decided we would have our own championships, akin to the Breeders' Cup and open to all comers."

Regarding some of the challenges

in drawing international competitors ahead of the inaugural championship series, Messara

offered, "It was

announced in November, which gave us very little time to get things in place for

international

horses to plan to be here, because plans had already been made for them. We hope

that next

year, the international community will work The Championships into their

schedules."

In addition to the relatively short run-up to the series, the issue of the

location of the

quarantine facilities also posed somewhat of a challenge for international

visitors, which could

lend to the absence of runners from several members of the international racing

community.

"We don't currently have quarantine facilities nearby, so we went to Victoria's

quarantine

station in Werribee (outside Melbourne), but it is a fair trip away," Messara

admitted.

Currently, visiting competitors ship to Canterbury after completing quarantine

and continue

their training there before shipping to Randwick in advance of the championship

day.

According to Messara, Racing NSW has been working toward setting up an easily

accessible

quarantine station for upcoming runnings of The

Championships.

"We have been doing quite a bit of research on provincial

tracks around Sydney, which have very good surfaces, where

some land would be available and suitable upon which we can

build our quarantine station next year," he said. "I think we'll

have that sorted out next year and we'll have a quarantine

station within an hour or two from Canterbury, which is a

great facility and a short ride away."

While satisfied with the way the series stands now, Messara

indicated a few adjustments might be in the offing for future

runnings of the series.

"We are willing to tweak as we go along, but will probably remain at 10 races,

because if

you have more than that you start to dilute the product -- too much of a good

thing is not a good thing," Messara said. "You want to maintain the quality without too much

quantity. We

want the races to be special."

Integral to the launch of The Championships has been the redevelopment of Royal

Randwick, which was first established in 1860. Over the course of the last two

years, the

facility has undergone a major facelift, to the tune of A$170-million.

"This type of series could not have taken place without improvement of the

customer or spectator facilities," Messara explained. "The old Randwick stand had structural

issues and

was past its prime. The renovation is more grandiose than it probably needed to

be, but it

effected a twin purpose of infrastructure now. A lot of functions are held there

on racing

occasions on the big race days."

The new facility is highlighted by a six-level grandstand, which has an internal

capacity of

over 14,000, and offering floor-to-ceiling frontage with the latest audiovisual

technology. The

five-level main building also includes a ground floor betting auditorium,

internal tiered dining

catering for over 1,300 diners, 1,000 capacity ballroom, 24 corporate suites,

the Owners Pavilion, 11 bars, 11 commercial grade kitchens and the membership club, The

Stables Royal

Randwick.

One of unique features of the new Randwick is the Theatre of the

Horse, an

amphitheatre-style saddling area situated behind the grandstand.

"Spectator facilities at Randwick are outstanding," Messara said. "They are

truly elite,

comfortable and great viewing of the races. The Theatre of the Horse is behind

the stand, and

it no longer interferes with the capacity on the front. It has reshaped the

viewer experience.

"The Chairman's Club is fantastic and luxurious facilities, which allows for

capacity of

corporate entities to enjoy the races and become sponsors of racing. The

facility will attract

more than the hardened racegoer. People can have a wonderful afternoon of

eating, watching,

imbibing and networking.

"On fourth floor, there is a club called "The Stables,'

which is

absolutely groovy. It's state-of-the-art, designed for younger brigade. My wife

(Kris Messara)

went up there and said, "We must become members of this club immediately.' It's

open 24/7.

Randwick is somewhat of a hub for racing and entertainment."

While the concept of The Championships was drawn from other international

events,

Messara was quick to point out that Australia's version has many unique features

to

distinguish it from other championship days, including trophy presentations,

which will be

made on the course proper and presentations by celebrities and dignitaries.

"We have arranged a series of trophy presenters, who are famous or fixtures in

the community, but with no speeches," Messara explained. "That's the new way of

doing it in

Australia. We have done away with those boring speeches. People will be able to

get close to

faces that they aren't used to seeing."

Besides establishing the championship days as a stage for equine racing

excellence,

Messara hopes to make the championships one the key drawing points for visitors

arriving

from all over the country and the world. However, Messara indicates some

adjustments would

be needed to establish early April in Sydney as the ultimate destination

experience.

"What we are trying to achieve here is the destination week, where people say,

'I

can't

afford to miss that week in Australia,'" he explained. "We haven't got there

yet, because the (Inglis Easter) sale would need to be wedged between the two (championship)

Saturdays.

That would require some readjustment of dates, but we are working toward that. It could keep

everybody here.

"In addition to that, we are trying for a Wednesday afternoon

race meeting,

and evening champagne sale session immediately after that. In addition to the

two Saturdays,

that would offer people a feast of equine excellence. Between the sales and the

racing, people

will know what Australia has to offer. We are a global player and we want to

continue to

climb up the global ladder."

The Championships received a vote of support from across the pond on Thursday when

Prince

William delivered a message wishing success for the event.

The Queen's horse, Carlton House will contest the Queen

Elizabeth S.

on the second day of The Championships, April 19, and thus will attempt to become

the first

of The Queen's horses to win a race named for her.

Prince William's video message will be displayed on the big screen at Royal

Randwick at

around 1:45 p.m. (AEST) Saturday.

"We thank His Royal Highness, Prince William, for going out of his way to pass

on this

message wishing us success on what will be a special two days for

racing, and indeed for Sydney," Messara said.