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Puccini has got me twice and I obviously under estimated his ability.after today I wont again and its been awhile since I have seen a horse with more balls.Congrats to the Mckay team for a brilliant job and there is more to come

Reilly I think it's time they capped the amount of petrol vouchers that one individual trainer can collect from one meeting. These big trainer's would most definately be running dog's that they know are no hope of placing but they bring home $40 in vouchers each time. I see someone said on another post that $40 worth of vouchers per dog could potentially encourage a trainer to race a dog that they know isn't right, I don't believe this is the case, a trainer's pride would surely take presidence over a couple of petrol voucher's?

Confidence supreme, great ride, from a great jock. What's wrong with a bit of confidence in this game, usual kiwi knockers! Well done to the trainers, well prepared, and to a real passionate racing family, the Smithies from Cambridge. Well done to you all!

very unprofessional and quite disgraceful attitude i thought.i was embarrassed for the bloke and if i was lucky enough to be the owner of the horse hes riding id be bloody angry.there would be enough pressure on already i wouldve thought without your jockey going on in public like that.does he not realise that he has only got to have fired up one opposition jockey for his mount to be in trouble??unless hes a genius of course and he dosnt want to lead,,,,but time will tell.i say good luck to the opposition.would be a terrible shame for the horse,owners,trainers and jockey if he ran in to trouble whereever he goes in the race wouldnt it.lol

We all know Puccini and Sir Slick are half-brothers, both out of Miss Opera. But I just noticed another of Miss Opera's progeny is Shortblackmini, dam of Little Wonder! Dam of the Derby winner and granddam of the Darley winner - fairly good day's work.

All credit to Puccini and Michael Walker.. Walker made the move at the right time and many in the field watched him waltz by. Puccini didn't end up where he wanted him to be at the jump and Walker managed to avoid answering that question when asked and just decided to make it sound like the race fell into place the way he wanted and thought it would.. it didn't and others created opportunities for him with the slow pace and other riders wanting to hold back for a late run, but Walker made the most of his opportunities where other jockeys didn't. Rising Romance should have moved when Puccini did and I agree with you Ohoka, there is no way that RR should have been giving Puccini that much distance on the turn. There was not much action coming from the back over the day and there were no swamping runs of note in the lead up races, and leading or being close up in the first 3/4 coming into the straight was the way to go. Michael Walker out rode and out thought the other jocks and good on him for that. Rising Romance the run of the day for me though, badly thought out race by the jock let it down.

He only got me the once...backed him last start but thought the extra distance would have rising romance steaming over the top. Pleasure to dip out on comp in that fashion...Brilliant race, good luck to both horses in Oz.

Debate on the ride is of no value - he won

Very impressive Derby win. Ridden like it was the best and fittest. Personally I like a bid of confidence. Someone who gets off the fence and puts his gonads on the line with predictions will always get my attention. Only when they routinely get it wrong and make a dick of themselves would I critique bold confident put your money where your mouth is predictions. Walker routinely competes at a high level in big money Vic races for big money owners. Big gonads required there to match your ability. Many of the riders Walker is up against here would just drown there. Having said that I believe the smart move is to always via the media show respect for your fellow riders. Like Thumper would say "if you can't say something nice,don't say nothing at all" I've seen many drivers and riders over the years piss off their colleagues. I've also seen those same colleagues contrive together to make sure races are not run how you'd want them to be and any luck coming your way is bad. Calling your rival jocks "Muppetts" a diabolical call even if he was correct. That stuff needs to be worn and carried on the inside. I'm sure Mark Purdon feels he's got the wood on most of his rivals but he's smart enough and respectful enough to let his results do the talking on that score.

So was he meant to sit back on a slow tempo, wait for the pace to quicken from the 600 and storm home for a minor placing Lindsay? He worked out the tempo of the race, put his horse in the race from the 900m mark, and won easily. Even us jumps riders could see that it was a walking race, and the best horse got the chocolates! He knew, and had been saying that for the last week! As it panned out with the interference quite a few runners encountered, there was a few hard luck stories, but nothing was ever going to beat Puccini on the day.

It would have been 3 months!!!

Chris no none doubts micheal walkers ability but for a guy with your experience to say great ride has me a bit baffled.The ride would be the worst ride ever by a jockey to win a derby.Only the fact he was on a far superior horse saves him from being remembered as Shane dye(veandercross) and Mal Johnston (Kingston Town) had he have got beaten.He could have given the leaders 10 lenghts at the 600 and still won on his ear.Agree great training feat and congrats to the Mckays

Boom!!!! Buckle Up Wes @ $7.60 with $5 on the nose. Should have had an all up but now the tab account is topped up I'll go pay the cell phone bill - lol

Coleman fell asleep on RR early,may not of expected such a competition for the front which was foolish considering most wanted to undo the two favs expected to be in leading division,must be the run of the race although should be labelled worst ride instead.cert beaten,but walker rode a bottler on Puccini and deserved the win

Centrofold expressed congrats to the McKays and fair enough, but a great story and thrill for the deserving owners. There may be more to come in this horses future but from I believe the yarn from the start to today is epic as far as racing stories go. congrats Paul & Cushla!

If you thought Donna Logan was feeling pretty sick after the tragic loss of Mosquito earlier in the week then think how sick she must have been today watching the run Rising Romance received. Her run for second was absolutely massive.

YYEEEEHAAAA, what a way to finish. Kay you were stiff mate. Apologies to Richie and Todamax ,I knew that horse would give some stick so took the punt on a BB,which just got me home. Onwards and upwards, we flounder into the Finals. GO THE MIGHTY HURRICANES

Where do you think the money is coming from to top the pool up to 1mill and the millions that's been spent on advertising it all over radio and main stream TV??

Graeme ... great effort from you in the last race .......are you sure you read the script that the Blues wrote for you ??? Let's not have a repeat of that sort of mischief when our teams match up in the Grand Final. PJ ...I'm all in favour of 9 races each comp day ...the 10th is proving somewhat problematic. Well done Kauri Kats. RFT (Howie)

I didn't see the interview but I know from my friends what one considers arrogance, others do not. It is about perception. I am glad that Puccini won. I have followed the McKays for a very long time and think they well and truly deserve the win. As for Michael Walker, excellent jockey. If he said he was very happy to be aboard Puccini and saw him as the best Derby prospect prior to the race, he has proved to be a good judgement of the field. Puccini was well back in the field and swamped them. I would say Michael's opinion was right on the button. That might sound like arrogance but it is now a fact.

Yes confidence is good. Arrogance is no good. 2 different things.

Michael walker is a very good on pace rider no doubt,he took over from Gavin Mckeon who rode the biggest certainty to lose in Avondale cup history and won the next year at 8s on ginga dude,he survived a pig hunting accident that would of floored many,he took over after opie couldn't work it out from 1 in the ocean park and hasn't looked back.kia kaha

Really?? If so hang your head in shame JMac, when $$ comes before the dogs welfare you know you have a serious problem. I know mostly all trainers would have had the unfortunate pleasure of having to put dogs down due to a range of circumstances, but when your rewarding 'mass breeding' and rewarding mediocrity on the track then people like this will continue to milk the industry for all it's worth. When is the NZGRA going to start making it compulsory for all breeders to register ALL litters at 3 months old and make it available for all to see, ala the fasttrack system in Victoria. Some people may not agree / like it but the industry can't continue the way it is without change.

That's more like it

I would have liked to see Rising Romance closer to him on the turn, she must have given him 12 lengths start, then got knocked sideways. He was impressive but she is not that inferior.

Brilliant win awesome after match from trackside.Well done MW great racing story.

Arrogance! You betcha! You are allowed to be when you are THAT good! Michael will always have his haters, but winners always do! Great win Maori Boi!!!

Nice porky.perserverance can pay

strike rate just gets better...The knights queen. 1 starter 1 winner. good on her.

beautiful...got it back today.

Magic Spike recently spend time down at Andy and Bev Duganzich serving Rosieanna Belle again Know the result in pups in about 7- 8 weeks time

That's the one . She is just about to come back from a season. Won her maiden at wanganui in 17.66 and your right won 21.27 at Cambridge. Looking forward to seeing her over 500.

A hearty good morning to you all from here in Auckland City today, where we Jafas hold the first day of our much-heralded 3-day Auckland Cup Meeting. Yessiree, it's home advantage for us ‘Blues’ today, and Alf, Geoff and the team are expecting to take full advantage with plans for another big win to cement our position top-of-the-table. Weekend off to a great start just down the road at Eden Park last evening where Sir JK’s Auck boys demolished the once-useful but fast-fading Crusaders, running away to win in a canter 35-24. Maaaate, it was a beautiful thing, and even at this early stage it’s hard not to see Sir JK’s team taking out the Super Rugby Title for this season. I mean, how hard can it be ? Back to our racing comp, Bush Piggies are noticed searching everywhere for that elusive win, and completely 'out-of-left-field' in their state of panic have come up with a couple of “newbies” to take on the Jovial Jafas and the Kauri Kittens. I had a bit of time on my hands after selecting my 10 winners, so ran the “newbie” names through our Blues computer, and it came up with these revelations about their chances today :- Reilly … former top-class sprinter-miler on comeback trail after long layoff. Likely to need a run or three. Best scenario is will be running on to midfield. Counter Punch … has graduated to town-hall company after useful form around the smalls. Faces a massive task first-up in this grade, and place looks best. Right …straight in to it …these are the ones lining up and will do the business for ole RFT today :- R1 2x10 (6) Ooee x Pink Diamond R2 3x 6 (8) Rough Copy x Ultraviolet R3 2x 9 (8) Casillas x In Style R4 2x8 (5) BB NZ Irish Fling x Trepidation R5 1x4 (5) Red Tracer x Driefontein R6 2x3 (1) BB AUS Law x Risen From Doubt R7 1x6 (2) Puccini x Weregoingtogetcha R8 5x8 (1) El Roca x Liberty’s Choice R9 1x3 (10) Shamus Award x Eurozone R10 5x9 (11) El Magico x Office Bearer Good luck today Bush Piglets & Kauri Kittens …. I’m sure you’ll all score well, but there’s no doubt we Blues, well… Weregoingtogetcha ! Go get’em, Alf & Geoff ! Thanks, PJ. RFT (Howie)

Dusty , I think I own one from the litter that might be even better mate. Spikey is so under used.

give the battler a go I say...good luck to her. she may not have been born with a silver spoon in her mouth but her strike rate is good from memory.

it might be the 'weakest' [worst] adv't i've ever seen on television..the theme rationale, it's acting and portraying..and a Big 'fail' for the way the actor uses his voice., the depths of gruff baritone accentuated and held there..sound like the Troll under BillyGoatGruff's bridge ..and the contrived glee falsettos in the exclaimation of excitement., by Now, nearly make me puke...inDeed, i'm bloody near 'sea sick' from the whole 'journey' each time it airs

Doesn't petrol vouchers as a currency undermine the trainers priority of animal welfare and instead the focus becomes getting as many petrol vouchers as you can thus running as many out of form dogs as possible?

I can think of another occasion a couple of years back where a red hot favourite ran last and a kennel mate won the race at understandable long odds. The favourite was asked to get a vet check but they took the dog straight home without one. The owner of the dog then appeared on this forum saying how they had cleaned up on the punt. Before the race you would have to have been deluded to think it could win. I think it was the same stipe, gave the trainer a warning not to do it again.

Haha he was named after that old school song johnny angel by his owner.... And ocotillio won over 520 in.aussie and yella mustard won over 520 im 29.80 odd in wanganui so hes not a complete plug. Here is link to the breeding as you can see ocotillo comes from the portrait dam line very good strong staying bitches. I am hoping to get pups competitive over staying distance (once i develop the skills to train a stayer properly) lkl

Because that's what he's constantly referred to in this industry / at the awards nights. Personally I don't think weight in numbers means your the country's best trainer because you have over 2x the amount of dogs as any other trainer, but that's just my opinion. I'm not anti McInerney at all, it may come across that way but if it was any other trainer I would have made exactly the same thread. Consistency is the key when it comes to stipe's and punters deserve a lot better IMO.

Ostapchuk- I don't have a problem with Harvey Nichols getting a 28 stand down, I hope the dog is alright and does eventually make it back to the track... I'm talking about the double standard between Mcinerney failing to turn up for a vet check in an Auckland cup heat and he got a 'talking to' by the stipes with no standdown imposed, yet the dog goes around odds on next start at runs one of the worst race's of his career from his favourite box... Where is the integrity in that for the punter that bets his hard earned on this industry? Why didn't he get an automatic 28 stand down? Mmmyb- you've taken my post completely out of context, as Mike said this post isn't anything to do with animal welfare, which of course should always be the most important thing.. Yes I have had shares in a dog before and had them scratched on race morning and was always happy that the welfare came first, no matter how small a problem it is. We have vets on course for before the race and AFTER the race, it was an Auckland cup heat, why on earth should they be able to take their dog home after running last as an odds on fav and only recieve a talking to for failing to show up for a vet check? Punters fund the industry, atleast treat them with a bit of respect and have the same rules for everyone no matter how big your kennel is.

I think you miss Reilly's point. He was questioning the variation in judicial decisions nothing to do with animal welfare. Asking if Reilly would be happy for his trainer to send a dog round injured is childish and nothing to do with his original comment.