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I haven't jumped on this thread earlier as I was out every day last week supporting the industry by being at 5 race meetings, punting Thursday off course, eating and drinking on and off track, buying tickets and hospitality, having horses start, and thoroughly enjoying myself. This included meeting lots of people who were on track for their once or twice a year racing fix (and they had a fine old time), and meeting lots of people from around the country who love Cup Week for what it is - as good a week's racing carnival as you will see in NZ (and we do Auckland every year and love it so I am not having a dig - just stating a fact). Are the fields as good as up North - nope. Do the feature races sometimes lack numbers or quality - yes. Have I seen some absolutely great horses win the 1000/2000G - yes. This year...? Who knows. But all this misses the point unless you want to just run races at Ellerslie (or name your NI track of choice). Cup Week is great for the industry. Great for NZ racing. Great for Christchurch and the SI. Don't try and break something that works just because you might not like the fields this year, or the fact it's not held up North. PS -well done to the CJC and Addington

Logic might say that Chris but given the unreliable weather in your locale those races might well have been run on slow 8 or worse tracks if they had been run at this time of year. Whilst Embellish and Hasahalo may have been first starters in the South Te Akau in particular have a protocol(and a successful one) of bringing their horses south early to take advantage of the superior weather and tracks in the leadup. That is very much a two sided argument. And whatever happened I would like to know what horse which stayed North would have strengthened those fields. Or indeed over the years an instance of a serious contender who did not travel.

Superb - the real Chris presented - very softly spoken and wearing his number ones - superb

Ironic really - Ellerslie broke all the traditions, rescheduled into two Auckland Cups and that worked NOT, they can't handle Canterbury success story, year after year

Why don't you take the NZ Cup up there too. Plus the Valachi Downs and Stewards and Trotting Cup Just gut the week and turn it into a normal race meeting.... Guess you are thinking the same with Melbourne Cup being run at the Curragh ?

I don't quite follow your logic. You suggest betting figures will be down because there are three hot favourites on the day (thank god you don't follow trotting) and yet you criticise the bigger attractive betting fields because of their lack of quality, and you didn't rate Prom Queen anyhow. As it turned out, other than the 2yo race the hot favs turned out to be false favs so there was certainly value for some. And really Riccarton didn't do too bad when you look at the ordinary lot that turned out for the Group II at Tauranga. And wait until you see the fields that turn up for the Group 1s at Otaki and elsewhere. It isn't just a SI problem.

Great to see the early days, Canterbury Belle with Dave and Jan Kerr and Phillipa Rush and many others...and the old guard Grant Davison etc

One thing is for sure - Greg O'Connor will ask the right questions at the right time and actually let the subject do the talking. I seriously doubt whether CWJ would have done this interview with anyone else (in fact you could say that about a lot of the people he does these special docos on). Greg is by far the best at his trade.

Pam and yourself certainly make a lot of sense in your posts on this topic. I would hate to think that this isn't being considered by the powers that be - needs long term thinking and commitment though (ie they will probably have small field sizes for a year or three) until it gets traction

Good points. Two year old racing has a terrible structure down here, there used to be numerous opportunities away from stakes races but now there is little incentive to have a two year old in training apart from educational purposes. Even the time-honoured McLean Stakes, run early { October I think } at Wingatui got the chop - Princess Mellay comes to mind as one of the good horses who competed - the two year old parade run at National time was often held in divisions....and yes, the early season staying races also underwhelming. It baffles me that Riccarton, with it's ability to easily run 2500m races, consistently 'dumbs down' open handicaps to 1800m . Agree re. spring hurdles too.

Don't let the facts get in the way of a good whinge Berri. Agree that the writer is well past his use by date, but this is what he actually wrote; "Spratt has soft hands and is one of the finest front-running jockeys of modern times. Simply put, horses run for her - and often keep running." ONE of the best. That's a lot different to THE best, as you've misquoted above.

Gerard in Switzerland calls his son Justin in Paris the day before Christmas Eve and says, “I hate to ruin your day but I have to tell you that your mother and I are divorcing; fifty years of misery is enough.” ‘Dad, what are you talking about?’ Justin screams. “We can’t stand the sight of each other any longer” Gerard says. “We’re sick of each other and I’m sick of talking about this, so you call your sister Winona in Manchester and tell her.” Franticly, the son calls his sister, who explodes on the phone. “Like hell they’re getting divorced!” Winona shouts, “I’ll take care of this!” She calls Switzerland immediately, and screams at her father “You are not getting divorced. Don’t do a single thing until I get there. I’m calling my brother back, and we’ll both be there tomorrow.Until then, don’t do a thing, do you understand me?” and hangs up. The old man hangs up his phone and turns to his wife. ‘Perfect!Justin and Winona are coming for Christmas and they’re paying their own way.’

A 75 year old man Gary was having his yearly checkup when the doctor asked how he was feeling. “I’ve never been better!”Gary boasted. “I’ve got a 20 year old wife who’s pregnant and having my child! What do you think about that?” The doctor considered this for a moment, then said, “Let me tell you a story. I knew a guy who was an insatiable hunter. He never missed a season. But one day he went out in a bit of a hurry and accidentally grabbed his umbrella instead of his gun.” The doctor continued, “So he was in the woods and suddenly a grizzly bear appeared in front of him! He raised up his umbrella, pointed it at the bear and squeezed the handle. And do you know what happened?” the doctor asked. Dumbfounded, Gary replied, “No, what?” The doctor continued, “The bear dropped dead in front of him.” “That’s can not be true!” screamed the old man. “Someone else must of shot the bear.” “That’s kind of what I’m getting at,” replied the doctor.

Why?

No need for that comment. Not kind.

Brian De Lore wrote ,last week, in The Informant, that the AGM for our pathetic, rudderless NZRB will be at 4pm tomorrow at Karaka. In his articulate style he noted that the NZRB doesn't have to publish their annual report before the Annual General Meeting ! I can not find the 2017 version on the NZRB Website. When we do get to see The 2017 NZRB Annual Report will it look like Racing Victoria's? I suspect that, The NZRB Annual report will be a cover up like The Waikato District Health Board for the crooks Nigel Murray and Mohamed Shakel Siddiqui. Let me know if you are going tomorrow to hear this report !

A new comp starting next week. Familiar format but an individual comp on 12 racedays (NZ only) between now and Christmas. Some midweek meetings. All announced in detail on Wednesday.....

I see they are now putting the race replays up on the GRNZ site faster now since the new Trackside system came in. I think it's about time instead of having to wait 3-4 days for them. https://www.grnz.co.nz/News.aspx?NewsID=2568

Gruff Lisa rode him 12 times but did not win on him. Michael Walker won 3 on him. Isaac Lupton 2 and Daryl Bradley, Sam Fieldes and Jarrod Todd one each.

Mickey was a very consistent racehorse. 78 starts. 8 wins/ 14 seconds/ 9 thirds/ 11 fourths/11 fifths.

Nowhere near the normal Northern horse representation as the logistics of the travel put paid to that. Flights both ways would change things, but then again, it was good to see the Southern trainers reap the rewards. Maybe time to bring the two 3yo races a North.

Thanks Jason and Sarah and the wee ones ..... very well organised and fun to be part of ..... certainly will be in the 2018 series in what ever shape it takes certainly given us some food for thought Jason. As to the payout Jason into my bank a/c please, will send u details later today. Thanks once again the McCook family and Merry Xmas to All.

Many thanks for the competition Ferdies was a fun 3 weeks. Thanks to Koriokaramea for covering for me middle week of the comp. Thanks to the Turbo Team Korio, Gruff, Lloyd and captain Moosey for allowing me to be part of the team and if u want me again just holler !!!! Rex.

Manny thanks all you guys for fun times, especially you “Winners”,and Jason and Sarah for all you do.Have a happy safe festive season.

THE FINAL MAGNIFICENT SEVEN ! (after 11 matches) 3575.00 Howie (Blues) 3175.00 Lloyd (Turbos) 3158.00 Pete (Blues) 3020.20 Harewood (Thieves on Wheels)** 2747.20 John (Hurricanes) 2743.40 Jack (Thieves on Wheels)*** 2737.80 The Crucible (Hurricanes) *** 9 matches only ** 10 matches only

Heartiest congratulations to our friends and rivals the Hurricanes - TC, John, Hesi, Porky, Cubes. Absolutely worthy champions ....again ! Brilliant. Thanks to my Mighty Blues Brothers Pete, Gordy, Brian and Geoff. You guys have been great, and very well led by debut captain Pete. Top effort Blues to come from 8th and last qualifying spot, to finish the closest of seconds. It wasn't our greatest day of tipping today, but when Kidmenever had it's nose in front a stride from the post in the penultimate race we had the winning of the match. Coulda, woulda, shoulda ....ultimately we came up short. But what fun it has all been. Biggest thanks of all to PJ ...thanks for your wonderful comps and all the pleasure they have given to all of us. You're truly a legend, PJ.

You are mentioning names - why don't you reveal you name too - just to tidy the whole thing up. (signed) Long suffering losing punter - alias Lloyd Jury!!

These people you refer to chevy are not just away from our shores. Sit down with any Primary school Principal and they will tell you plenty of stories about the number of waste of space NZers spitting out tonnes of kids who are destined to repeat the cycle. These Waste of spaces are incapable of looking after themselves, least of all a young impressionable child. The dumbing down of NZ society is happening before our eyes and the social and criminal problems that exist today will be dwarfed by whats around the corner.