Kiwi Equine Exports Nearing Return

Media Release - Friday May 29

Ongoing Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) testing is providing optimism that the discovery of Theileria equi infection is a single, isolated case.

The horse concerned was imported to New Zealand by Cambridge Stud for breeding purposes in February 2019 and returned a suspected positive test for Theileria equi as part of standard export certification prior to onward shipment to Australia. Further MPI blood tests confirmed the horse was positive, although it had displayed no signs of illness in its time here.

At the time of import, the horse met all New Zealand’s requirements including testing negative for Theileria equi within the required 21 days before its shipment. It had also undergone full quarantine in the UK before export and in New Zealand on arrival.

Ministry scientists have been testing other horses at Cambridge Stud, whose cooperation and record keeping to enable this has been outstanding. This testing is to provide confidence that the operation is free of the organism, and that there has been no transmission of it within the farm.

All adult horses that were either paddock mates of the infected horse or had grazed the same pasture as the animal have tested negative for Theileria equi. Testing is ongoing on a wider group of adult animals associated with the stud.

Agreed trade conditions for a number of countries that import New Zealand horses require veterinary certification stating that New Zealand is completely free of the disease to accept horses from here.

Advertisement

As statements of country freedom cannot currently be given, alternate measures now need to be agreed until such time New Zealand can regain this status.

MPI has been working closely with Australian authorities and has agreed an interim testing regime for individual horses to allow exports to Australia and via Australia to resume. This testing will incur an additional cost to exports as the testing requires specialist expertise and therefore is subcontracted to an Australian laboratory with these skills.

Airfreight companies have indicated that they are about to recommence but as above additional testing will be required.

Talks are also underway with other importing countries, and to date very good progress is being made.

“The New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association would like to acknowledge the efforts of Cambridge Stud, MPI and the New Zealand Equine Health Association, in particular chairman Dr Ivan Bridge, in dealing with this response,” chief executive Justine Sclater said. - NZ Racing Desk

Advertisment
More Reading...
Transatlantic Takes $1million Five Diamonds Prelude
Transatlantic’s lucrative spring carnival continued at Randwick with an arrogant victory in the $1m Five Diamonds Prelude.
Early Return Home for Cogburn
Group I winning Not This Time son Cogburn (USA) will return to WinStar Farm in Kentucky earlier than planned after disappointing fertility results during his first Australian covering season at Widden Stud.
Hi Yo Sass Bomb Wins G3 on Sunday
Kim Reid bypassed a Group One in favour of Sunday’s Gr.3 Gee and Hickton Funeral Directors Thompson Handicap (1600m) at Trentham with Hi Yo Sass Bomb, a decision that paid dividends when the mare led from the outset to claim her third stakes success.
Good News Week for Geisel Park
Geisel Park’s black-type mare Laced Up Heels is in foal off a maiden cover to Champion Australian Sire Zoustar and an orphan foal has found a new mum.
Cream Rises at Trentham
A half-sister by Hello Youmzain (Fr) to dual Group I winner Mustang Valley, exciting filly Cream Tart is set to line up in one of the major three-year-old races over New Zealand Cup Week following her impressive win in Sunday’s Upper Hutt Car Sales LTD Three-Year-Old (1400m) at Trentham.
A Century of NZB National Yearling Sales Success: Cox Plate
Moonee Valley’s A$6m Group One WS Cox Plate (2040m) is known as the weight-for-age championship of Australasia and has been won by many of Australia and New Zealand’s greatest thoroughbreds.
Sires With Winners - Friday October 24
Here is the full list of 60 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Undefeated 3YO King of Light Wins Listed Belgravia
Dan Morton's exciting three year old King Of Light (Earthlight) remains unbeaten in three starts, as the gelding graduated to stakes company with a scintillating first up victory in the Listed Belgravia Stakes on Cox Plate Day at Ascot.
Pedigree Watch - Powerhouse Godolphin 3YOs Dominate
The current crop of three year-olds running for Godolphin lay claim to being the best they have ever produced in Australia and three of those colts won Group races in Australia on Saturday so let’s take a look at those pedigrees.
Sires With Winners - Saturday October 25
Here is the full list of 136 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.