Flight Drama Impacts QLD Carnival Runners

Seven top gallopers were prevented from travelling to Queensland from Victoria last night with the long-term impact for the Queensland winter carnival still uncertain, reports punters.com.au. "We have been flying horses up to Queensland on Cathay Pacific (freight), they run a service every Tuesday from Melbourne to Toowoomba which we have used regularly," said Air Horse Transport's Chris Calthorpe. "The plane goes Hong Kong-Sydney-Melbourne-Toowoomba, Hong Kong and there are guaranteed spots for horses and we [were] supposed to have seven on it last night including Ayrton and horses like Persan and Explosive Jack. But at 8pm on Tuesday night Queensland Health turned around and said… because you are coming from Melbourne and this plane originated in Hong Kong and you are mixing with (Asian) crew, you have been classed as a red flag and would have to do 14 days quarantine when you arrive." Calthorpe revealed, "I have 15 horses booked next week. The (plane) staff have COVID tests and I have a COVID test every week before I get on the plane, I am negative before I get on the plane. But suddenly, because these planes originated in Hong Kong, they (health officials) are worried. They are concerned about me mixing with the crew that might have come from Hong Kong." Calthorpe stated, "I need an answer from Queensland Health that we are not going to get held up in future weeks, because if I do then trainers are going to start not going to the carnival." Among the seven horses affected are Stradbroke favourite Aryton (Iffraaj-Odessa, by Falkirk), Explosive Jack (Jakkalberry-Extra Explosive, by Ekraar), Let's Karaka Deel (Dundeel-Tegwin, by O'Reilly), Lyre (Lonhro-Erato, by Street Cry), and Real Sensation (Real Impact-My Thriller, by Artie Schiller). Ayrton is likely to travel by road instead, a three-day journey.

Explosive Jack is among the horses impacted (pic: Steve Hart)