Second figure emerges alongside Kanga in move that could blow up VRC boardroom

A second figure has emerged alongside John Kanga in the race for a vacant seat on the Victorian Racing Club board in a move that could threaten incoming chairman Vin Cox’s position on the board.

Claire Ewart-Kennedy, Strathbogie Shire deputy mayor and a former chief of staff to Josh Frydenberg, confirmed to The Age on Thursday she had lodged a nomination to become a VRC director.

If ratified, Ewart-Kennedy’s and Kanga’s tickets will force the Flemington organisation into an election to be voted on by the club’s 36,000 members at the end of this month.

Sitting directors Cox, treasurer Glen Carmody and director Michael Saadie are all up for re-election this year, while a vacancy was created by the resignation of sitting chairman Neil Wilson. All three will have to win the majority vote to retain their seats.

The Age has spoken to two other potential candidates still weighing up whether they will run. Nominations close today.

Kanga launched his bid on Wednesday night, little more than 12 months after quitting his role at the Melbourne Racing Club amid a cloud of controversy.

The nomination put to bed weeks of speculation and personal denials that he would stand, and the colourful identity’s name adds extra spice to what is shaping as one of the most divisive and highly political VRC elections in the club’s history.

The Age quoted an inside source two weeks ago who claimed Cox won a boardroom vote 6-5 over vice chairman Michael Ramsden to succeed Wilson as chairman – the vote involved 11 directors, including Wilson and VRC CEO Kylie Rogers.

But Cox needs to be re-elected before he can accept the role. He then has to reaffirm numbers at the boardroom table to quell speculation of a coup. In theory, a 6-5 vote in favour of Cox is easily reversed with at least one director being replaced.

Any change to the board also has ramifications for the VRC’s future. Wilson was staunchly opposed to the club losing its tradition or identity if it bowed to industry pressure to merge with the MRC or Moonee Valley Racing Club.

Kanga alerted media outlets first thing on Thursday morning with a statement, saying “I am not interested in making promises I can’t deliver”. Nominations close on Thursday.

He has also declared his campaign would not be aligned to MRC vice chairman and influential racing figure Jonathan Munz, who took Kanga’s vacant seat on the MRC board last year.

“I am an independent candidate,” Kanga said.

“I respect Jonathan and agree with most of his views on what is best for the industry, but he is not involved in my campaign and did not encourage me to run as a candidate.”

Changes will be announced at the club’s December annual general meeting.

Ewart-Kennedy has been a VRC member for 28 years. She has also worked alongside former Victorian premier Ted Baillieu as a chief of staff and media adviser and now manages cropping and livestock farms near Nagambie, as well as helping with a family business in Melbourne.

“The reason I’m running is that I don’t believe the members have a strong enough voice in the direction of the VRC, and we need to have real value demonstrated for members – not just for the spring racing carnival – the cost of living crisis is real for everyone and for the VRC to thrive the members deserve greater accessibility, accountability & real buy in to what is happening with our club,” she said.

“It’s a club, not a pub, and I’m very much committed to building a synergy between the regional communities and members, and making them feel welcome and part of the whole experience.

“I’m very committed to the VRC being open and transparent. It shouldn’t be a closed shop.

“The members are the ones who pay the fees, so, as in other member-based clubs, it is the members that should have a greater voice at the table.”

Ewart-Kennedy said she had been approached by many everyday members telling her to run.

“It’s in my DNA to volunteer to make communities stronger, so let’s hope the racing industry and all stakeholders benefit from casting the net wider to better represent the interests of all members,” she said.

Kanga resigned as MRC chair on the eve of last year’s Caulfield Cup carnival after questions from The Age about loans and the use of his car in a 22-kilogram cocaine trafficking case in 2014.

Kanga said hehad resigned “to ensure the focus remains where it belongs – on racing, our members, staff, and delivering a world-class spring carnival”.

The Age does not suggest Kanga was involved in any criminal activity, and he has never been accused of any crime.

The Age reported last year that surveillance officers working on an investigation into “high-threat” money laundering, known as Taskforce Eligo, saw one of their targets, Assam “Sam” Lababidi, attending Kanga’s then-home and borrowing his car, according to an AFP report released under freedom of information.

Lababidi was followed to a storage facility. It was later raided and 22.7 kilograms of cocaine and $118,500 in cash was uncovered.

Lababidi, who was sentenced to 12 years’ jail, said Kanga had “no involvement” in his criminal operation.

Separately, financial records show Kanga had taken out loans in 2013 and 2016 with two people involved in the short-term, high-interest lending market. Kanga also had personal relationships with controversial figures in the racing industry.

During his time at the MRC, Kanga became popular among members after his board saved Sandown Racecourse from being sold for housing development, moved the mounting yard back in front of the Caulfield members’ stand and scrapped plans for a new $250 million grandstand.

But he also cut through with rank-and-file racegoers by cutting beer and food prices at MRC racetracks.

In his media statement, Kanga said: “My focus is simple. Better service, better value for money and a better race-day experience for VRC members at Flemington.

“I’ve never been one for sitting around the committee room when I could be out talking to members. You learn a lot more walking around the racecourse than you do sitting around a table.

“When I was chairman of the Melbourne Racing Club, we delivered better value for money on food, drinks and membership, and importantly, we listened to our members.

“Racing is also about the people who make it happen. Owners, trainers, jockeys, and other industry participants all have a stake in its future, and their voices need to be heard.

“I bring strong commercial experience, a deep understanding of racing and wagering, and relationships across the industry here and internationally.

“I want to get out there, work with members and the racing industry, and make a real difference.”

The Age reported last year that then MRC chairman Kanga met with Wilson at Munz’s Toorak mansion to discuss bringing Flemington and Caulfield racetracks under one administration. Ramsden also attended. But Wilson walked away not prepared to accept the proposal.

Kanga was still open to the possibility of Melbourne’s metropolitan club’s merging this week.

“The government and RVL [Racing Victoria] have encouraged club mergers and intuitively, there are big cost savings to be made,” he said.

“I have heard $30 -$50 million reported. The club executive and board would need to do proper due diligence first and have the support from members.

“If it did happen, you would apply part of the savings towards immediate benefits to members, such as lower food and drink prices.”

Seven MRC directors left the club after Kanga began his leadership tilt, while the club’s executive team was also stripped bare.

The club was also criticised for not running due process before appointing Munz’s associate Tanya Fullarton as chief operating officer or hiring Munz’s track consultant Kenneth Neff.

The jobs were not advertised, and no interviews were held. Both are still at the MRC.

After Munz replaced Kanga on the board, Fullarton was appointed MRC CEO.

News, results and expert analysis from the weekend of sport are sent every Friday. Sign up for our Sport newsletter.