The Hon. Black Caviar
06-06-2012
By TVN
Wednesday, June 6, 2012 - 3:38 PM
PARLIAMENT OF VICTORIA
5 JUNE 2012
QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE
Racing: Black Caviar
Mr SOUTHWICK (Caulfield) — My question is to the Minister for Racing. Can the Minister advise the house how Victorians can share in the excitement of the world’s best racehorse, Black Caviar, when she races at Royal Ascot later this month?
Mr Nardella — On a point of order, Speaker, I ask you to consider how a question about a horse racing at Ascot in the United Kingdom is relevant to Victorian government business. I ask you to consider this point of order and rule whether this question should be answered.
Mr O’Brien (Minister for Gaming) — On the point of order, Speaker, the Victorian racing industry and the strength of the Victorian racing industry clearly relate to a matter of government business. It may well be that members opposite have no interest in the Victorian racing industry, but we have a very strong racing industry. It is a great employer in this state. We have a Minister for Racing, which is a bit of hint that it does relate to government business.
Ms Thomson — On a further point of order, Speaker, the question related to Black Caviar, which last time I checked was owned privately. Therefore it was not about the racing industry in general but about a privately owned horse. I would suggest that on that —
The SPEAKER — Order! I do not uphold the point of order.
Dr NAPTHINE (Minister for Racing) — I thank the honourable member for Caulfield for his question and for his clear understanding of the importance of racing in the Victorian landscape, particularly in his electorate of Caulfield, where many people are employed in racing. The question went to how Victorians can join in the celebrations for Black Caviar
in her attempt to win a major race at Royal Ascot. I will be speaking in this answer about an event at Federation Square, where Victorians can all join in the celebrations of this great Victorian horse.
Today I was honoured to be at Peter Moody’s stable at Caulfield to farewell this Victorian champion as she travels to England to take on the world’s —
The SPEAKER — Order! I am interested in hearing this answer, and I wish the house would show courtesy to the minister.
Dr NAPTHINE (Minister for Racing) — I was saying that Black Caviar is simply the best racehorse I have seen, and we should all be proud of her. She was born and bred in Victoria. She was sold at the Victorian yearling sales. She is owned and raced by great Victorians. She is trained in Victoria and has largely raced in Victoria. She is 120 per cent Victorian, and we
as Victorians should be very proud that we are the home of the very best sprinter in the world. She has raced 21 times. She has 11 Group 1 wins and seven Group 2 wins, and she is rated as the best sprinter in the world.
I am aware that hundreds and probably a few thousand Victorians are actually travelling to England to support Black Caviar and cheer her on at Royal Ascot. However, I and many others are unable to travel to England to support her. Therefore the Victorian government, together with Racing Victoria, has today announced a massive event to take place at Federation Square on the night of Saturday, 23 June. This will allow everybody in
Victoria, including all members of the opposition, to come down to Federation Square and support Black Caviar at a terrific event commencing at 10.45 p.m.
There will be live entertainment from Matt Hetherington of the Voice and comedy from Tommy Little of the Project. There will be a big screen providing a direct telecast of the races from Royal Ascot. Race 1 will be at 11.30 p.m., race 2 at 12.05 a.m. and at 12.50 a.m. there will be the 1200-metre Diamond Jubilee, with a prize of half a million pounds. This will be Black Caviar’s race, and it will be really significant for all Victorians to get behind this great Victorian horse.
This is a great way for Victorians to join in the celebration and join in the pleasure of watching the best horse, a Victorian-bred and trained horse, compete against the world’s best at Royal Ascot. It will be a free event, so everybody is welcome to come along. There
will be great giveaways, including 500 passes to night races at Moonee Valley Racing Club and Black Caviar T-shirts, scarves and flags, and there will also be ‘Fashions on Federation Square’ —
Mr Howard — On a point of order, Speaker, I have listened to the minister’s answer over a period of time and I am struggling to understand how it relates to government business. I would have thought that the cuts to TAFE racing courses at the University of Ballarat would have been far more relevant to government business.
The SPEAKER — Order! I do not uphold the point of order.
Dr NAPTHINE — The Victorian government is very pleased to support the racing industry and to work with Racing Victoria to put on this great event for people to join in and celebrate Black Caviar.
