EQUINE INTERNATIONAL AIRFREIGHT
IN-FLIGHT SEPTEMBER 2017
tter
le News
Where to start? Firstly, welcome back! A lot has been happening over the past couple of months, including the announcement that EIAF has formed a partnership alliance with Equestrian Australia. This is very exciting news and you can read all about it in the feature below, but effectively it’s a huge vote of confidence in EIAF from the horse industry’s peak body and we very much look forward to a long and productive association. You will also find snippets on our charters to the Magic Millions sale on the Gold Coast and to the Philippines, a staff profile on champion endurance rider, Alam Dastani, Aussie eventers competing overseas, the Tom Quilty Gold Cup and Oaks Jumping Championships, plus a look at in in flight air stables for horses. I’d just like to finish by saying that I’m proud of the advances EIAF has made in recent years, but most importantly, we act as a team and are only as strong as the services we provide to clients and friends. Your horse truly is our priority and you can always rest assured that the person you talk to - Shauna, Sue or myself - will be involved in ensuring your horse gets from A to B both safely and professionally. - CAMERON CROUCHER, EIAF Managing Director
EQUESTRIAN AUSTRALIA appoints EIAF It’s often said that the world grows smaller by the day and that is certainly the case with the international transport of our beloved horses. But, while it is in many ways ‘easier’ to get your horse from Aachen to Zurich, the level of care and professionalism required when actually transporting your precious cargo has grown commensurately. There are many, many, MANY steps involved in getting a horse from one side of the globe to the next. Logistics vary of course when numbers increase, but it’s essential you find a carrier that will treat each horse as an individual and a special passenger throughout their journey. So, it was with a great degree of pride that Equine International Airfreight (EIAF) announced that it had been appointed the exclusive airfreight partner of Equestrian Australia (EA), the peak administrative body for Australian equestrian sports. The partnership represents a three-year, strategic alliance which will see EIAF transport Australian-based horses to the 2018 World Equestrian Games in the United States and to the 2020 Olympic Games in Japan. The importance of this association cannot be emphasised enough in a country that rode through history on a horse’s back. Our success at the Olympic Games, for instance, is the stuff of legend: gold in Rome, Barcelona, Atlanta and Sydney … medallists in Beijing and Rio.
EQUESTRIAN AUSTRALIA let’s fly with EIAF
Is there anything more important to national pride than ensuring our four legged athletes get to their destination rippin’ and rearing’ to go? Equestrian Australia certainly believes it is paramount! In announcing the partnership with EIAF, EA’s CEO, Paula Ward, enthused: “Over many decades, Australia’s equestrian riders and their wonderful horses have established Australia as one of the elite equestrian nations. “It is of vital importance that we continue to enhance that reputation and to this end, EA will continue to develop relationships with like minded companies and we feel EIAF is perfectly aligned with that strategy. “EA’s High Performance Division was impressed by EIAF’s level of commitment and professionalism dedicated to the horse’s under its care. It cannot be underscored enough as to the importance of Australia’s equine athletes arriving at their given destination in prime condition.” EIAF’s Managing Director, Cameron Croucher, was similarly delighted with the partnership, adding: “Our company has built its foundation on providing a first class service to clients right across the equestrian spectrum and formed many close associations along the way. “EA’s philosophy of sportsmanship and the welfare of horses runs very much in tandem with our own, which obviously has played a big role in the alignment of our two organisations. “Owners want to know that their horses are being well cared for while they’re on the ground and in the air and at EIAF, the health and safety of horses is our priority. “Through the close association with Equestrian Australia, EIAF looks forward to contributing to the continued success of Australian horses on the global stage.”
NOW THAT WAS A MAGIC CHARTER!
Soriano on her way to being sold for $1.15million
The Magic Millions National Sales series on the Gold Coast is always a bumper affair for the thoroughbred industry … held over two weeks in May/June, this year there were 1,636 lots sold, which grossed over $144 million for vendors. Extraordinary! EIAF was again right in the thick of it, chartering a Singapore Airlines plane from Auckland, New Zealand to bring across a large group of horses for the weanling, mare, yearling and racehorse sections. We’re happy to report that many of the horses we transported made good prices for clients, while the obvious highlight - price wise at least - was the $1,150,000 for a very good race mare that was purchased by Mr Zhang a prominent Chinese businessman. Mr Zhang’s YuLong Investments has substantial holdings in both China (including its own racetrack) and Australia with a property in Victoria housing many racehorses and broodmares.
SPRING IS IN THE AIR ... AND SO ARE THE BROODMARES For horse racing enthusiasts, spring time is the best season of the year. But for industry professionals, it’s also the busiest period with mares to foal down and mares to be covered. EIAF has been right in the thick of it again in 2017 by facilitating the commercial matings of many, many mares on both sides of the Tasman. Indeed, EIAF has already moved over 100 mares to New Zealand in the last month or so on behalf of Australasia’s leading breeders, including Segenhoe Stud, Baramul Stud and Westbury Stud. Among them are several mares owned by John Camilleri of Fairway Thoroughbreds, who is also the breeder of the mighty mare, Winx, who won her 19th straight race in the Chelmsford Stakes at Royal Randwick on 2 September. John has some of the finest mares in Australia and among those heading to New Zealand including Indifferent, a daughter of Champion Sire, Fastnet Rock and a half sister to Australian Cup winner, Zipping. John’s mares are heading to Rich Hill Stud, which stands the Group One winning Monsun stallion, Vadamos, in which John is a shareholder. Interestingly, Monsun is the sire of three of the last four winners of the Melbourne Cup!
STOP PRESS Congratulations to the owners of Lim’s Sincere, a lovely bay racehorse that EIAF flew to Singapore in late 2014. Trained by ex-pat Aussie, Daniel Meagher, Lim’s Sincere won his fourth race at Singapore’s Kranji racecourse last Friday and is one of the region’s best performed gallopers.
EIAF STAFF PROFILE
ALAMDAH DASTANI How long have you been involved in the Endurance Horse Industry? I started endurance riding in 2000, but my interest quickly evolved and, since 2003, I have been riding and training in a full time capacity. What countries have you ridden in or trained in during your career? That’s the truly wonderful thing about the horse industry and the opportunities it provides: I have both competed and trained endurance horses in India, the United Arab Emirates, Denmark, Sweden, France, Germany, Malaysia, Thailand and Australia. What has been your greatest achievement in Endurance sport? It would be difficult to pin down, just one … I’ve had numerous placings in various competitions around the world, while other highlights include being Chef de equipe for Sweden in the 2008 world endurance championships, national trainer for both the Danish and Swedish National Endurance teams, one of the selectors for Equestrian Australia, plus Team Manager for the Australian Endurance Riders Association (AERA) at the 2017 Tom Quilty Gold Cup. I am also very proud to have been elected as the President of the New South Wales Endurance Riders Association. What is your role at EIAF? I act as an agent for EIAF which, once again, allows me to keep in close contact with many people throughout the equine industry and in particular my focus is on the endurance and Arabian horse world, both in Australia and throughout the Middle East where endurance riding is very prestigious.
What impact do you think you will have as a team member of EIAF? EIAF is a true leader in international air transport and there are just so many exciting developments in this field. For a lot of people, transporting horses by air is fairly novel and if the other team members and I can smooth the process for owners, that’s our goal. The catchphrase at EIAF is “your horse is our priority” and it’s something we take a lot of genuine pride in. I just hope that my experience and connections in the endurance world will be beneficial both to owners and the EIAF team. What other interests outside of Endurance horses do you have? I am a competitive pistol shooter with the aspiration to represent Australia at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Maybe I will only get there as a flying groom with EIAF but hopfully I will earn selection on the shooting team.
OAKS YOUNG HORSE CHAMPIONSHIPS Another fantastic weekend at The Oaks on 22-23 July with the Oaks Sport Horses Young Horse Jumping Championships again attracting some terrific riders and spirited competition. EIAF loves to support these types of events - particularly the rising stars of our sport and was a proud sponsor of the Futurity class which was eventually taken out by Aaron Hadlow on Twins Easton VDL. And well done to Melissa Blair and her mighty steed, Gigant Z, on capturing the 6YO Championship who is another of EIAF’s transports.
AUSSIE COMBOS SHINE IN GERMANY Some great performances by Aussie riders in Germany at the Turniergesellschaft Luhmühlen (trying saying that three times quickly with a mouth full of marbles). EIAF flew three horses for Katja Weimann to Amsterdam to compete in the June event and she did particularly well with BP Flamboyant in the 4*. Other Australian riders included Isabel English (Feldale Mouse) and Emma McNab (Fernhill Tabasco), while Shane Rose and Virgil again did us proud. And some great photos from Guillaume Beguin.
A GREAT VIEW OF THE TOM QUILTY The Tom Quilty Gold Cup, staged over a gruelling 160kms, is one of Australia’s most famous horse events and was first held way back in 1966. This year, the 52nd running of the Tom Quilty, was held at Wirrina Cove in South Australia and was again a great demonstration of the tremendous bond between horse and rider. Our heartiest congratulations to Brooke Brown Cordell who won the 2017 Tom Quilty on board the magnificent Tierview Slama, recording a time of 10 hours, 28 minutes and 40 seconds. The Tom Quilty is named after the Australian station owner, pastoralist, philanthropist and bush poet who holds the record for the largest freehold land acreage in Australia … over 3 million acres for a single property and in excess of 4.5 million acres of land.
let me show you to your stall ! Not surprisingly, we get a lot of questions about a horse’s ‘standing’ arrangements during a flight. And as, you can see from the accompanying photos, a lot has changed since famous racehorse, Tulloch, was flown to Queensland for the 1961 Brisbane Cup! So, to bring you up to speed … Prior to a flight, your horse will be loaded into an Air Stall which ensures horses are safely contained whilst on the aircraft. Non-slip ramps ensure smooth and safe loading of your horses. The stall is well ventilated, has plenty of head room and can accommodate three large horses. Its internal, full height partitions can be adjusted to vary the width of the individual bay. The Air Stall also allows the horse to be safely transferred to and from the aircraft and often have open panels around the top of the stall to allow for airflow. The Air stalls vary slightly depending on the make and model of the aircraft however their dimensions are generally fixed at: 294cm (length), 234cm (width) and 232cm (height). Depending on your preference and budget, either two but usually three horses may be loaded into each Air Stall and the space varies accordingly. For instance: 3 horses per Air Stall (described as horse travelling in a SINGLE stall – width approx. 75cm) or 2 horses per Air Stall (described as horse travelling in a WIDE stall – width approx. 115 cm). Once inside the aircraft, the horses are in an air-conditioned environment. The flying groom monitors the well-being of your horse and provides feed and water as per the horse’s requirements. We do all we possibly can to ensure stress free air travel, so your horse will arrive at its destination in top condition.
A massive difference between Tulloch (circa 1961) and the impressive EIAF air stalls in 2017!
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MANILA HERE WE COME ... Horses have a special place in Philippine culture and are known locally as ‘kabayo’, while a map of the island of Luzon is said to resemble that of a horse’s head. It is believed that the first horses were brought to the Philippines from Malaysia, while the Spaniards later sourced them from China and Japan. Since then a lot of horses were brought across from North America, but on 4 July, a charter organised by EIAF carried thoroughbreds, polo, equestrian and pet horses into Manila, all of which arrived safely and much to the enjoyment of their new owners with the plane landing in front of a spectacular volcano in the background.
Disposable horse stalls on board the plane to Manila Horses at arrival area are checked and branded as an imported horse
BE SOCIAL! We hope you’re enjoyed this issue of the EIAF Newsletter and look forward to presenting you with another edition in October / November. EIAF also welcomes your contributions - particularly photos and you can email those through to shauna@eiaf.com.au Make sure you also check out our Facebook page : https://www.facebook.com/equineinternationalairfreight/ which is updated regularly with news and events from around the globe. And visit our website - www.eiaf.com.au - to watch a video on international horse movements. Happy riding!
Official Airfreight Partner
For further information please contact
Equine International Airfreight +61 2 8817 0300 Cameron Croucher +61 417 293 747
www.eiaf.com.au