By Max Presnell
While the possible impact of 457s and early starts on the turf holds prominence, Saturday's Hawkesbury Guineas, the race that launched Chautauqua, will have the best ground for a Saturday around Sydney for two months.
Stand-alone Saturdays like Hawkesbury – without the opposition of a Sydney program – are rare in New South Wales but the success emphasises the necessity for more in a state enjoying boom time.
Vital job: Strapper Joe Flannery with 2016 Melbourne Cup winner AlmandinCredit: Justin McManus
However, should a ban against imported specialists come into play the racing industry would be gutted, surprising when you consider that Australia has always produced great strappers.
Going back to when Carbine was king, and until more recently, these essential stable workers were seen, not heard and only too happy to be rewarded with a few crumbs off the trainer's plate.
Obviously their profile has risen recently with the 457 visa declaration raising the possibility of restricting outsiders, emphasising the worth of foreign involvement with our thoroughbreds.
Now leading Sydney trainer Chris Waller is advocating later starts for the training regime so employees won't have to rise so early. Prior to daybreak is the norm.
Some figure the imports were only a source of cheap labour, akin to the way many youngsters apprenticed to be jockeys were exploited.
However, the move being sold to protect locals has triggered wails of regret from trainers, who just don't have sufficient Australians willing and able for hands-on assistants who prepare and nurture thoroughbreds while the boss tunes and conditions them.
Strapping includes feeding, walking, grooming, checking legs and joints for changes. Travelling with horses to race meetings is also a requirement. Track riding is an optional extra that can induce a penalty rate.
With major stables now churning huge numbers compared to the old scale, good strappers are vital. In the era when a big string for a trainer was 20 horses he was in closer touch with them, but now with many outfits churning out more than 100, more remote control is required.
No trainer could condition 40 horses every morning quicker than the late Tommy Smith. Lights were installed on Randwick training tracks so he could start as early as possible. And his daughter Gai Waterhouse has an early morning routine that would break an old-time milkman.
Unlike Europe where private training tracks operate, the conditioning culture here has always been early starts on racecourses because in many instances horses had to be walked to and from the venue to escape traffic.
Now most are housed at the course but, still being used for racing, maintenance has been an issue against later commencements. Not so currently, according to Darren Pearce, the Australian Turf Club chief executive.
"At present we have the financial structure to accommodate it," he said. "Some trainers advocate starting later, others don't. We will consider the proposal."
Randwick trainer Anthony Cummings maintains 80 per cent of his staff is from overseas, but there is an argument we don't want to be like Hong Kong where the industry is propped up by overseas workers.
Still the lack of local horsemen – and being a competent strapper is a skill that requires instinct and dedication – is a key issue. Previously country Australia was a major contributor. Alas motorbikes have replaced horses in many areas.
James Cummings, son of Anthony and a rising star in the training ranks, maintains the workers on 457 visas are better educated than the locals.
"The skills being taught in the United Kingdom and other countries are superior to those here," Cummings said on ABC's Hoof On the Till.
Even track riders, critical in the conditioning process, are making their mark against Australians. Once a batch of part-time track jockeys, in the colourful category, would handle five horses a mornings for $25 a gallop but this demographic has disappeared – not because of early starts but booze and drug testing on course. Being "colourful" at night can bring about a positive result.
But the dedication of those that make racing so good will be showcased at Hawkesbury on Saturday. Maybe there won't be a Chautauqua in the Guineas but a local filly Spright, on a good surface, will produce a similar result.