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Saturday 31 December, 2011:
Gold
Coast trainer Trevor Bailey is preparing to move his full time training
operation to New South Wales in search of higher prize money levels and
better returns for owners.
Bailey has been approved to prepare a boutique team of 25 horses at
Newcastle. The stable is set to commence operation at the end of January
2012.
Stagnant prizemoney and spiralling costs are highlighted as the major
reasons for the move.
“To run a stable here
properly with the rent we’re paying and what they expect owners to pay on
top of that in track fees, it boils down to making it near impossible to
stay here,” Trevor Bailey told the Gold Coast Bulletin.
“We pay a substantial amount more for track fees here than what they pay at
Rosehill and Flemington.”
“What I’m saying out load is only what everyone else is thinking and I’m
just grabbing the bull by the horns and moving,” said Bailey.
Bailey has enjoyed considerable success since setting up his Gold Coast
stable after returning from Singapore in 2006.
The stables principal client during that period has been local syndicator
and bloodstock agent Grant Morgan who trades under the Ontrack Thoroughbreds
banner.
Ontrack Thoroughbreds currently has 9 horses under the care of Trevor
Bailey, and has previously supplied the stable with classy stakes performers
Barlinnie, Fabiarna and Faster Son.
Multiple premiership winning Queensland trainer Alan Bailey is
likely to take over the preparation of some of the Ontrack managed horses
when his sons Gold Coast stable closes at the end of January.
“Alan Bailey has kindly offered to takeover some of the horses, particularly
those that are QTIS eligible,” said Grant Morgan.
“Some of the horses look suited to going to Newcastle with Trevor,
particularly those who are BOBs eligible.
“The owners of the horses will ultimately decide where they go in the next
few weeks,” said Morgan.
Morgan said he was sympathetic to Trevor Bailey and all other trainers in
South East Queensland.
“As I understand it, a larger Queensland trainer could save himself about
$40,000 per annum in Workers Compensation expenses alone if he were to move
across the border to New South Wales.”
“These sort of cost related anomalies combined with the lack of vision from
either side of politics in relation to much needed prizemoney increases at
midweek metro and provincial are all totally frustrating.”
Morgan said that in light of Trevor Baileys move, he intends to principally
support Premiership winning trainer Rob Heathcote with new QTIS yearling
acquisitions in 2012.
“We already have three horses with Rob (Heathcote), but my plan is to
increase the number of horses we syndicate into Victoria and also New South
Wales during 2012.”
“Both of those states now have plans in place to increase prizemoney so
owners can see that the better returns are on the way.”
“Until I can see some sort of similar plan in Queensland I can’t justify
doing too much here anymore.”
“Any yearlings I buy for the Queensland market will have to be QTIS
eligible. The returns under this scheme are very good if you can get a good
horse.”
“QTIS
bridges the gap for the comparatively low general prizemoney levels we now
have,” said Morgan. |
Trevor Bailey
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