VRC faces fair work claim from former racing manager

Former VRC racing manager Martin Talty is set to lodge an adverse action claim with the Fair Work Commission after his sudden departure in February from the position he held for almost two years.

It is understood he believes governance concerns he allegedly raised with a senior VRC official relating to how the Melbourne Cup field was assembled was connected to their parting of ways.

Fairfax is unclear of the exact nature of his concerns.

Talty has engaged Josh Bornstein from Maurice Blackburn Lawyers to represent him in the claim, due to be lodged with the Fair Work Commission this week.

The VRC said at the time of Talty’s departure that the decision was made because it was heading in a new direction, requiring ‘‘leadership changes for the new era’’.

The club yesterday told Fairfax Media in a statement: ‘‘While the Victoria Racing Club is yet to view the claim, the Club is confident it has acted appropriately regarding these matters.’’

The VRC also parted ways with their track manager Mick Goodie at the same time as Talty departed, just days ahead of the Australian Guineas meeting on March 3.

The Melbourne Cup field has a limit of 24 with qualification criteria relating to the weight a horse is allocated and whether they have automatically qualified through winning ballot-free races.

The VRC and Racing Victoria also have discretionary powers to determine which horses run in the Cup.

The field for the 2017 Melbourne Cup, won by Rekindling, seemed relatively free of controversy after Jon Snow’s injury led to a field of 24 being assembled, which included 11 international runners.

Talty, a former journalist with Fairfax Media , was the racing manager in Dubai and responsible for the development of the Dubai World Cup Series before joining the VRC.

Article courtesy of Fairfax Digital and The Brisbane Times