THE Australian Jockey Club and Sydney Turf Club have condemned figures compiled in an independent report calling for the formation of a metropolitan mega-club, reports Craig Young in the Sydney Morning Herald.His report adds: The two most influential race clubs in NSW, which pay $60 million in prizemoney annually, have called for a fresh report and ruled out the sale of Canterbury racecourse.The NSW Government commissioned a report into the ongoing and divisive debate about a merger between the

THE Australian Jockey Club and Sydney Turf Club have condemned figures compiled in an independent report calling for the formation of a metropolitan mega-club, reports Craig Young in the Sydney Morning Herald.

His report adds: The two most influential race clubs in NSW, which pay $60 million in prizemoney annually, have called for a fresh report and ruled out the sale of Canterbury racecourse.

The NSW Government commissioned a report into the ongoing and divisive debate about a merger between the two clubs. Compilers Ernst & Young released a 138-page report that proclaimed instant savings of $21m and the prospect of competing for $140,00 a race in the metropolitan area. "We were disappointed with the way the Ernst & Young report was compiled," STC chief executive Michael Kenny told the Herald last night. "We believe it contains inaccuracies and assumptions that cannot be substantiated. We thought the process with Ernst & Young would give us an accurate view of what the cost savings would be if there was a merger, but we didn't get that."

The AJC and STC, which both committed to the initial report, have called on L.E.K. Consulting to produce a new assessment into the economic benefits of a merger. The clubs believe each was "precluded from genuine participation in the formulation" of the Ernst & Young report.

Ernst & Young was engaged by Racing NSW following consultation within the industry. Kenny dismissed concerns L.E.K. would compile a report that was vastly different to Ernst & Young's.

"We want the facts straight," Kenny said. "We want them to put the facts together, we are not going to be leading the witness."

Champion trainers Bart Cummings and Gai Waterhouse led a chorus of industry condemnation when the Ernst & Young results were made public. Waterhouse declared the report "worth nothing".