Two figures emerge alongside Kanga in move that could blow up VRC boardroom

John Kanga will have to undergo a thorough vetting process before his carefully timed Melbourne Cup week re-emergence is cleared for a run at the Victorian Racing Club board.

The colourful identity nominated to join the famous Flemington organisation’s board on Wednesday night, little more than a year after quitting his Melbourne Racing Club post amid a cloud of controversy.

Kanga resigned as MRC chairman on the eve of last year’s Caulfield Cup carnival after questions from The Age about his past.

The looming elections have the potential to divide the VRC committee room and reshape the club’s future amid a growing industry push for mergers.

VRC chairman Neil Wilson has resigned, creating a vacancy on the board, while three sitting directors – chair elect Vin Cox, treasurer Glenn Carmody and Michael Saadie – are up for re-election.

Another figure, former Josh Frydenberg adviser Claire Ewart-Kennedy, confirmed to The Age she had nominated for a director’s role.

Two sources with inside knowledge of the process, but unable to comment on behalf of the VRC, said they understood Nicholas Tzaferis, a former adviser to Jeff Kennett and Denis Napthine, had also joined the election race.

Tzaferis, who was contacted for comment, has worked as an executive for The Lottery Corporation and Tabcorp.

All candidates will front the VRC’s remuneration and nominations committee in coming days to prove their suitability to stand.

“Nominations for election to the Victoria Racing Club board will be communicated to members in the coming weeks, following the completion of the club’s standard eligibility and governance processes,” the VRC said in a statement.

The current board was split last month in a secret vote to anoint Wilson’s successor.

The Age reported that VRC vice chairman Michael Ramsden lost 5-6 to Cox in a ballot that included votes cast by Wilson and VRC CEO Kylie Rogers.

Members were told in a club statement that Cox would assume the role at December’s annual general meeting.

But first he must survive an election at the end of this month to retain his seat, before heading off a potential board room coup.

A 5-6 vote is easily overturned once a new director replaces Wilson on the board.

The emergence of Kanga has several ramifications. He has previously been pro-mergers.

But the horse owner and jockey mentor denies his nomination is aligned to power broker and MRC vice chairman Jonathan Munz.

“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.”

The Age reported last year that Munz hosted Wilson, Kanga and Carmody at a secret meeting in his Toorak mansion to discuss a potential merger of the Victoria and Melbourne racing clubs.

Wilson rejected the suggestion and has staunchly defended the need for the VRC, which hosts Melbourne Cup week, to stay independent.

“The government and RVL [Racing Victoria] have encouraged club mergers and intuitively, there are big cost savings to be made,” Kanga said in a statement on Thursday.

“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.”

During his time at Melbourne Racing Club, 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.

Kanga resigned as Melbourne Racing Club 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 he had 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 board was then thrown into turmoil when Barbara Saunders resigned in support of Reilly, citing concerns about the club’s governance.

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.

Ewart-Kennedy, who manages cropping and livestock farms near Nagambie and is Strathbogie Shire deputy mayor, said she had been a VRC member for 28 years.

In addition to working with Frydenberg, she has also worked as an adviser to former Victorian premier Ted Baillieu.

“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.

Furniture company owner and former Melbourne Football Club vice president Bill Guest has also been floated by several sources as a potential nominee. He is yet to confirm.