The Asian Racing Federation (ARF) wishes to provide an update on the implementation of special processes relating to black type races in Australia, and to advise of recent decisions based on the results of races run between August and December 2025.
In December 2025, the Asian Racing Federation (ARF) determined that, given the circumstances that existed, the Asian Pattern Committee (APC) would, for the time being, make decisions for all black type races in Australia. This meant that the APC became responsible for making upgrade and downgrade decisions for all Group 1, Group 2, Group 3 and Listed races in Australia.
Since then, in order to assist in prompt restoration of effective quality control in Australia, the ARF implemented a special decision-making process for black type races in Australia so that any changes are determined prior to the start of the 2026/27 Australian racing season.
During the process, the following steps have been taken:
1. The APC considered an application from Racing Australia, with supporting materials, for the proposed upgrade of existing black type races and the addition of non-black type races to the pattern for season 2026/27. Further, Racing Australia made submissions regarding races which were provisionally subject to a warning or downgrade under the APC Ground Rules.
2. Between 24-26 June 2026, the ARF Handicappers' Committee held a special conference to determine the end of season 2025/26 ratings for horses rated above 112 in the ARF jurisdictions (including Australia), as well as the ratings for the first four placed horses in all G1 races run in the ARF Pattern. These ratings were considered by the APC in the relevant decision-making process.
3. On 2 July 2026, the APC held a special meeting to consider Racing Australia's application and to provisionally determine the upgrade and downgrade decisions for all black-type races (which took place between August and December 2025) in Australia. A key purpose of this special meeting was to enable the ARF to assist the Australian industry to be fully informed of any changes ahead of the next running of these races, while other races in Racing Australia's application are to be further considered by the APC at its next meeting in September 2026.
4. Racing Australia was then informed of the APC's provisional decisions, and was invited to make comments on specific decisions before these were finalized and submitted to the ARF Executive Council for ratification. On 9 July 2026, Racing Australia informed the APC that it had accepted all provisional decisions made by the APC.
5. Following Racing Australia's confirmation of acceptance, the APC finalized and submitted its recommendations to the ARF Executive Council, which have now been considered and approved by the ARF Executive Council.
The full set of the APC's final decisions are linked to this press release for reference. These decisions have also been reported by the ARF to the International Grading and Race Planning Advisory Committee (IRPAC) of the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities, which is responsible for subsequently reporting any significant decisions to the Society of International Thoroughbred Auctioneers (SITA), prior to publication in the International Cataloging Standards (ICS) Book 2027.
The ARF would like to reiterate that the APC making all decisions on Black Type races in Australia is intended only as a temporary measure. The ARF has been clear on the requirement that Racing Australia establish a functioning system operating in accordance with the APC Ground Rules, and will provide a further update when it is considered appropriate for the above arrangements to end (or any other necessary actions to be taken by the ARF if such a system is not established).
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