KEY POINTS:
Two-year-old colt Sun Ruler got his first sniff of the Emirates Melbourne Cup trophy yesterday.
As organisers fight doubt about whether the world's richest race at Flemington will even start, the cup is touring the country with the Victoria Racing Club at Flemington on November 6.
An outbreak of equine flu has affected hundreds of horses in New South Wales and two in Queensland. However, veterinary checks on horses in Victoria have found no evidence of the influenza in the state.
The New Zealand Racing Board met various racing representatives on Tuesday to discuss how to combat the virus. They have ruled out vaccinating horses like Australia has, as it would be costly and does not guarantee immunity.
The board decided it would lead a coordinated industry planning group to help prepare for a possible outbreak.
Board chief executive Graeme Hansen said: "Our ability to deal with this situation if it arises in New Zealand is dependent on the industry having a cohesive plan in place.
"The underlying strength of the industry is quintessential in New Zealand, with more than 40,000 people deriving their livelihoods from the racing industry, not to mention accommodation, travel, fashion and entertainment providers who all benefit from the industry's wellbeing."
Known as 'the race that stops the nation', the Melbourne Cup - valued at about $6 million - is the world's richest handicap race and attracts a television audience of more than 700 million people in 120 countries.
Real estate mogul Don Ha, a one-time Vietnamese refugee who now operates Ray White's Manukau office, bought Sun Ruler for $2 million in January. He was bred from iconic New Zealand mare Sunline and sire Zabeel and is being trained by Stephen McKee at Ardmore.
Although Sun Ruler has to wait another year before he is old enough to enter the prestigious race, Mr Ha believes he has the breeding to take out the cup one day.
Victoria Racing Club deputy chief executive Sue Lloyd Williams said Australia and New Zealand share a mutual passion for thoroughbred racing, with both countries having strong ties to the Melbourne Cup.
"Almost half the Cup winners over the past 10 years have New Zealand connections. There is also a strong breeding story, with 36 Melbourne Cup winners being bred in New Zealand, including the much celebrated Phar Lap, who won in 1930."
