EI a lucky break for Inter champ Blacks A Fake

November 23, 2007 12:00am

Blacks A Fake will be allowed into Victoria to chase a record-equalling hat-trick of Inter Dominion wins.

Just 10 weeks ago trainer-driver Natalie Rasmussen was gutted when told the champion pacer had equine influenza, but, bizarrely, it has turned out to be great news.
The fact Blacks A Fake has had the virus and fully recovered weeks ago means he is at the front of queue when it comes to horse movement from Queensland or New South Wales into Victoria.
Victoria's chief veterinary officer Hugh Millar said horses trying to enter Victoria for the Inter Dominion or any feature thoroughbred races would be split into two categories: those who have had the virus and those who have been vaccinated.
"The safest horses are those which have had the virus," he said.
"As of today, I am very confident of our ability to get those recovered horses into Victoria in time (for the Inter Dominion)."
Rasmussen was thrilled with Millar's news.
"I always hoped common sense would prevail and they would acknowledge that the horses which have had EI are no danger at all," Rasmussen said.
"This is a huge weight off my shoulders.
"I've got a horse with the chance to grab a piece of history and make a real name for himself by winning three Inter finals in a row. Now I can focus on doing it."
Millar had even better news for Rasmussen when it came to quarantine protocols.
He said Blacks A Fake, and any other horses who have had EI, would not be subject to the same strict quarantine protocols as those who have only been vaccinated.
"The expectation is four weeks quarantine -- two weeks at each end -- when movement is allowed, but horses which have had EI won't have to go through that full-blown process," Millar said.
While Millar said he remained confident vaccinated horses would be allowed into Victoria in time to contest the Inter Dominion, which starts on February 16, he said it was a much more complicated issue.
"Vaccination is different because the horses still remain susceptible," he said.
"Normally, you can be confident a horse doesn't have EI if you contain it for a couple of weeks, but vaccinated horses can silently incubate it."
Millar is involved in daily meetings on the EI crisis, but said the most important talks would take place on Wednesday and Thursday.
"That's when all the technical experts get together in Sydney," he said. "By the end of next week, or the start of next at the very latest, I am confident we will be able to announce some definite protocols."
Blacks A Fake returns to racing at Brisbane's Albion Park in a 1660m free-for-all tomorrow night.