That quarantine fiasco bubbles on, still threatening international participation in the spring Cups and Cox Plate...Latest reports say it's become a finger-pointing blame game between Racing Victoria and the Aussie Quarantine Service. The Age reports: 'It's understood that the deadlock between the two parties is over quarantine manuals. The new complex was due to be opened today by Victorian Racing Minister Rob Hulls but the opening was cancelled yesterday. Officials from Racing Victoria Limited

That quarantine fiasco bubbles on, still threatening international participation in the spring Cups and Cox Plate...Latest reports say it's become a finger-pointing blame game between Racing Victoria and the Aussie Quarantine Service. The Age reports: 'It's understood that the deadlock between the two parties is over quarantine manuals. The new complex was due to be opened today by Victorian Racing Minister Rob Hulls but the opening was cancelled yesterday. Officials from Racing Victoria Limited and AQIS were last night in a finger-pointing exercise, blaming each other for the delays. "We are disappointed at the delays we have faced in gaining approval for the Werribee International Horse Centre, especially as it has been completed and AQIS have provided in-principle approval,'' said Racing Victoria chief executive Rob Hines. ''This delay is all about the format of the operating manuals.''

Federal Government sources were last night claiming that RVL officials and not AQIS had not successfully completed the manuals. It's also understood that Hulls will be called upon to lobby for an end to the impasse between the bodies. The concern for RVL is that the approval of quarantine facilities in Japan for horses coming to Australia was delayed for three months before finally being signed off. (www.theage.com.au)