Gamla Stan
At the Start
- Joined
- Aug 19, 2005
- Messages
- 4,337
Interesting story from the RP... Tend to agree with them myself but there is always the politics and sport shouldn't mix argument too....
Chechen president Ramzan Kadyrov is at the centre of a political storm in Australia after it was revealed two of his horses, both winners in Britain this year for trainer Gary Moore, are being aimed at high-profile races in Melbourne this autumn.
Australian Green Party leader Bob Brown said neither Mourilyan or Bankable, nor their owner, should be allowed to enter the country because of Kadyrov's suspected involvement in a series of murders, kidnappings and torture.
"If this nasty character were to get his hands on the Melbourne Cup it would be the lowest point in Australia's sporting history," Brown told the Sydney Morning Herald on Monday.
Human rights activists allege Kadyrov runs Chechnya as his personal fiefdom with backing from Moscow, and his regime has been linked to the murders of political opponents as well as the killing of Russian journalist Anna Politkovskaya, who described him as "a Stalin of our times" in her final interview. He has denied any responsibility for the deaths.
March Stakes winner Mourilyan has been targeted at the Melbourne Cup while Bankable, a Listed winner at Sandown last week, looks likely to sidestep the Totesport.com Cambridgeshire, for which he has been allotted top weight, in favour of the Mackinnon Stakes at Flemington on October 31.
Both went into quarantine last week and will be under the care of South African trainer Herman Brown if they go to Australia.
Chechen president Ramzan Kadyrov is at the centre of a political storm in Australia after it was revealed two of his horses, both winners in Britain this year for trainer Gary Moore, are being aimed at high-profile races in Melbourne this autumn.
Australian Green Party leader Bob Brown said neither Mourilyan or Bankable, nor their owner, should be allowed to enter the country because of Kadyrov's suspected involvement in a series of murders, kidnappings and torture.
"If this nasty character were to get his hands on the Melbourne Cup it would be the lowest point in Australia's sporting history," Brown told the Sydney Morning Herald on Monday.
Human rights activists allege Kadyrov runs Chechnya as his personal fiefdom with backing from Moscow, and his regime has been linked to the murders of political opponents as well as the killing of Russian journalist Anna Politkovskaya, who described him as "a Stalin of our times" in her final interview. He has denied any responsibility for the deaths.
March Stakes winner Mourilyan has been targeted at the Melbourne Cup while Bankable, a Listed winner at Sandown last week, looks likely to sidestep the Totesport.com Cambridgeshire, for which he has been allotted top weight, in favour of the Mackinnon Stakes at Flemington on October 31.
Both went into quarantine last week and will be under the care of South African trainer Herman Brown if they go to Australia.
