The Asian Racing Conference will take place in Melbourne this week but it is a man who won’t even be in attendance that is set to provide one of the major talking points.

Head of Racing NSW Peter V’Landys has commenced legal proceedings against Racing Victoria, Racing Queensland, Racing South Australia and Racing and Wagering Western Australia. The legal action which is listed for Wednesday in the New South Wales Supreme Court – the same day the Asian Racing Conference commences – is centred around recently published allegations about ‘nameless and nefarious Victorian schemers’ supposedly conspiring to initiate a ‘shock and awe’ campaign against V’Landys and Racing NSW.

“I don’t think it’s coincidental that Peter V’Landys has called, essentially, the other states to court alleging collusion on the first day of the Asian Racing Conference,” said Michael Cox in this week’s Asian Racing Review.

“(Peter V’Landys) has got some powerful friends too in the media, with the Daily Telegraph, and they’re right behind his move… He has a record of creating news.”

Also in this week’s Asian Racing Review: 

The Asian Racing Conference & PVL’s latest stoush (0:00); ‘World Pool’ and the state of parimutuel wagering (4:20); John Size’s Beauty Eternal rockets into Hong Kong Derby frame (5:35); Tokyo Yushun winner Do Deuce returns with imperious G2 Kyoto Kinen win (9:17); Does Anamoe have the temperament to handle a Royal Ascot trip? (10:45), John Moore declines overtures to train in Macau … for now (12:40).

The Australian tote is dying, but does anybody care?