The Asian Racing Federation (ARF) advises that, given the exceptional circumstances that exist, the Asian Pattern Committee (APC) will, for the time being, make decisions regarding the status of all black type races in Australia.
This means that the APC will now be responsible for making status change decisions (including upgrades and downgrades) for all Group 1, Group 2, Group 3 and Listed races in Australia. These decisions will be reported to the International Grading and Race Planning Advisory Committee (IRPAC) of the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities, which will subsequently report any significant decisions to the Society of International Thoroughbred Auctioneers (SITA), prior to publication in the International Cataloguing Standards Book. IRPAC and SITA have been informed of the ARF’s decision.
The APC will commence its decision-making for black type races in Australia so that any status changes are determined prior to the start of the 2026/27 Australian racing season.
This course of action has been adopted in circumstances where there has not been a properly functioning black type quality control system in Australia since as far back as 2017/18. While the ARF has been extremely patient and provided significant assistance to try to resolve this matter, it determined that action now had to be taken.
The action to be undertaken by the APC, under the ARF’s authority, is intended only as a temporary measure. The ARF’s strong preference is that, as a Part I country, Australia establishes a functioning black type quality control system operating in accordance with the APC Ground Rules in the near future, and for the above arrangements to end. However, absent such resolution, the ARF will consider other actions that it may need to take.
