As Melbourne gears up for its iconic spring racing carnival, it’s taking out a $100 million insurance policy against an equine influenza outbreak similar to the one that last year wrecked NSW’s racing program and nearly derailed the Melbourne Cup.

But bloodstock insurance expert Ray Willis says the new policy is only a “band-aid solution” that ignores the need for a vaccination campaign.

Racing Victoria Communications Manager Damian Booth told insuranceNEWS.com.au the policy has been ramped up to satisfy everyone’s needs and ensure all the horses arrive in Melbourne for spring.

He says the organisation felt it had no choice but to take out the cover. While the Sandown quarantine centre in the south of Melbourne operates under Australian Quarantine Inspection Service (AQIS) rules, it is owned and funded by the racing industry.

“Last year was disappointing with only the horses from NSW that were already in Victoria and only three international horses competing in the Melbourne Cup,” Mr Booth said. “We don’t want to see a repeat of that.”

Mr Willis, a well-known NSW broker who also manages a thoroughbred stud farm, told insuranceNEWS.com.au the increased cover ignores the fact that thoroughbreds need to be vaccinated for equine flu.

“We should be embarking on a vaccination program in the thoroughbred industry,” he said. “They vaccinate in every country in the world but here. But the Federal Government doesn’t want that to happen.”

Mr Booth says because of last year’s equine flu disaster Racing Victoria will be as diligent as it can be in terms of the transport of horses.

“AQIS has agreed to take responsibility for the movement of horses to Sandown, which is great for us,” he said. “Our responsibility is only when they get to Sandown.”

Horses spend two weeks in quarantine in their country of origin and three weeks in Australian quarantine.