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Racing Integrity Board members announced; Tofane on song ahead of Stradbroke;

Racing Integrity Board members announced

The new Racing Integrity Board will be up and running from July 1 to ensure high standards of animal welfare, integrity and professionalism in the racing industry.

Racing Minister Grant Robertson today announced the appointments to the new Board:

·         Sir Bruce Robertson KNZM – Chair

·         Kristy McDonald ONZM QC

·         Penelope Mudford ONZM

·         Dr Patricia Pearce

·         Brent Williams.

"Our racing industry relies on the highest standards of ethics and animal welfare in all three racing codes," Robertson said.

"This requires constant vigilance, which is why the new Racing Integrity Board is being set up to replace the current integrity system. The Board will be able to impose penalties on those who breach the industry's rules, including people who put the health and wellbeing of animals at risk.

"New Zealanders expect racing to be safe for the animals involved and fair for punters. The Board will help provide this assurance, which can only be good for the racing industry."

The Racing Integrity Board has been established as an independent body under the new Racing Industry Act 2020.

Members have a combination of adjudication, senior governance and animal welfare expertise, with the experience to ensure compliance with the rules of racing. The term of appointments is 1 July 2021 to 30 June 2024.

Tofane on song ahead of Stradbroke

Michael Moroney believes Tofane  is back to her best and he is hoping she can show that in the Gr.1 Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday.

The daughter of Ocean Park ran back into form when runner-up the Gr.3 BRC Sprint (1350m) at Doomben last month, with 60kg on her back, and Moroney said she has worked well since then.

"I think she has trained on to her best," he told SENTrack. "Our foreman, Olivia Miller, who was with her in Sydney when she won the All-Aged (Gr.1, 1400m), said to me this morning after she galloped her that she worked as good as she ever has.

"We are happy with her, so hopefully we draw a reasonable gate and things go our way.

"If she brings that form (All-Aged), she will certainly be hard to beat."