KEY POINTS:
One of New Zealand's leading equestrians is demanding answers from Australian quarantine authorities over the equine influenza outbreak that could slash his income and ruin his Olympic chances.
Blair Richardson was yesterday trapped with about 250 horses and 200 people at Morgan Park, west of Brisbane, which was quarantined on Sunday when 20 horses showed signs of the highly contagious virus.
Richardson said two of his three horses at the World Cup three-day event qualifier at Morgan Park, Clifton Zengarie and Knight Rider, were already showing an elevated temperature and a cough, as were up to 40 others at the venue.
"It's got too far before they've [quarantine officials] really got it," said Richardson, from Te Awamutu.
"There's got to be a lot of questions asked about the protocol at Eastern Creek [quarantine facility]. I am really concerned how it's got this far."
Clifton Zengarie, owned by Aucklander Francis Stead, had arrived in Australia only last Wednesday.
Richardson's 12 other horses based at his property at Scone, in the heart of Australian thoroughbred breeding country in northern New South Wales, had also started showing symptoms.
"It's incredible this situation. It's so massive it's not funny," he said.
Morgan Park was locked down for six hours yesterday, with a heavy police and army presence, after the first horses there showed symptoms.
Richardson's wife Nikki was allowed to leave late yesterday and return home to the couple's two young children, while Richardson remained at Morgan Park indefinitely.
"We don't know exactly what's going on. They'll tell us what's happening on Wednesday or Thursday but I think we're going to be here for a month to six weeks."
Richardson hoped to return home this week and send a stable employee to remain with the horses until they were released.
The one positive for Richardson was the health of his top mount Maximum Overkill, the third of his horses at Morgan Park, which is long-listed by New Zealand selectors for next year's Olympics in Beijing.
Maximum Overkill was vaccinated against equine flu last year when preparing for an overseas campaign. "He's okay. He seems well at the moment."
Richardson said he may be forced to try to qualify Maximum Overkill overseas if an outbreak forces the cancellation of the Adelaide event in November.
But he doubted whether New Zealand or other countries would allow any Australian-based horses into their countries for a long time.
"Adelaide's going to be crucial for Olympic selection. If that's cancelled we're going to be in a very difficult situation."
- NZPA
