WERRIBEE Racing Club hopes to soon receive approval for the opening of its new quarantine centre after red tape delayed the arrival of the first international horses.

Two horses from Macau, Good Control and Luen Yat Forever, were scheduled to arrive at the new $1.4 million International Horse Centre last Saturday in preparation for the spring carnival.

But the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS) refused to give final approval for the quarantine centre because of the format of the operating manuals at the centre.

“We are disappointed,” Racing Victoria chief executive Rob Hines said.

“Especially as (the centre) has been completed and AQIS have provided in-principal approval,” he said.

Werribee Racing Club CEO Jeremy Crawford said AQIS only released their guidelines for the operations manual a few weeks ago, making it difficult to adhere to.

“It’s a shame,” he said.

“It has just pushed everything back a week.”

Mr Crawford said it was lucky the two Macau gallopers were landing much earlier than other horses, who are expected to arrive on 20 September.

“It could be disappointing but this first batch of horses are coming in quite early, so pushing everything back a week shouldn’t really affect the other horses,” he said.

Mr Hines said Racing Victoria would “continue to stress to AQIS that prompt approval of the centre is a matter of national importance.”

Connections of the two international horses are considering their options before making a decision on planned spring racing carnival campaigns.