SYDNEY - Equine influenza has already claimed the Sydney spring carnival and now it is prematurely ending the racing careers of some fillies and mares.
Restrictions on the movement of horses, which have been in place since EI broke out last month, were eased in some areas onFriday when a new zoning system came into force.
It includes a purple zone in the NSW Hunter Valley breeding area which allows for mares to be brought in and served by a stallion at one of the region's many studs, providing the mares then remain at that stud until the horse standstill is lifted.
Rosehill trainer Chris Waller said three horses in his stable had been retired to the broodmare barn due to the ongoing uncertainty over when and where they could race again.
At least two of them were being prepared for stakes races this spring before the EI crisis began.
"The downside has been that we've got horses going to stud today," Waller said.
"Magically has been retired, I had Polish Princess who was placed in a group one in New Zealand and came over here for some black-type races, and a young filly of Gerry Harvey's who is a half-sister to Catbird who is now going to stud."
Waller pleaded with owners in NSW to stick to their trainers.
