atubbs

Te Rapa: 1 4 The Lost Boys 2 5 Woodcote Lass 3 6 Arlington Gold 4 12 Tokorangi 5 3 Gold Watch 6 9 Levante 7 3 Il Affare 8 9 Melody Belle 9 1 Humbucker cheers, Tubbsy

Race 8 - 15:57 - THOMSON WILSON R85 2100 2100 m Results home Stake: $20,000 Track: DEAD6 Weather: FINE # Name Jockey/Driver/Trainer Win Place 5 Hasselhoof Matthew Cameron 1.10 1.00 6 Smedley Sam Spratt 3.10 1 Canterino Shaun McKay (a2) 2.90 sorry if format is out of kilt - hasselhoof $1.1 last year

Bradez - I am not disagreeing with this statement (although proof will be in the pudding next year whether it was a waste of money the track redevelopment) - however why was racing even scheduled at Counties during the winter if the grass was as you describe inadequate to race on after plenty of rain? The biggest joke is "Every attempt was made to find an alternative venue" - what, with 24 hours notice for another club to pick up the meeting.....or did NZTR know, for arguments sake, in the weekend, that it was looking 50/50 and did nothing about it?

Is anyone able to shed any light as to why Blake Shinn is riding at the Rotorua trials? https://www.nzracing.co.nz/RaceInfo/45194/Meeting-Overview.aspx - heat 9 and 10 from a quick look.

http://www.theinformant.co.nz/racing/YN49025/Capella-in-surprise-switch-to-Derby Ah that makes sense, Provocative not running.

According to Aidan Rodley's twitter feed...Capella will run in the Derby, Leith Innes to ride. Does this mean Provocative will not - or simply Innes has choosen Capella over Provocative??? Capella running certainly adds another genuine contender to the race!

It really is a case of throwing a dart when trying to predict when trial videos will be uploaded to the website... Avondale...1 week Matamata.....24 - 48hours Cambridge...3 days and counting (my guess will be Monday as the staff would have knocked off by 12pm Friday) The time it takes to post trial videos is more random and harder to predict than the roulette wheel

I am still in the Valley Girl camp along with Provocative. I understand VG had 7kgs and 5kgs less than Kawi and Stolen Dance last start respectively, however I can not see any of the other well fancied horses such as Get that Jive / Rangipo getting WFA weight allowances from Kawi and Stolen Dance and going past them like Valley Girl did.

Agree on the breeding side of things - my rationale was solely based on the run to the eye, however the points you make are valid. As of today, I would be backing VG over Predator, however Provocative would be the one I would choose if I could choose one based on his last start at Ellerslie! Very open Derby three weeks out - when compared to last year, I seem to recall even at this early stage VnB and Mongolian Khan were around $4 each and no other horse under $10.

I would be on Valley Girl personally over Predator given she comprehensively defeated him last start and ran on like 2400m should not worry her. I I tend to agree with Midget in the two horses he likes are the ones I am following and I feel it could be a fillies derby if they all choose to go that way (including Capella). Must say Donna has a good derby record of late adding to Valley Girl's chances...Habibi (1st 2013), Rising Romance (2nd 2014), VnB (2nd 2015).

Apologies, the horses from Chis Waller I was referring to have been withdrawn.

https://www.nzracing.co.nz/RaceInfo/44627/Meeting-Overview.aspx Will be interesting to see the bookies reaction to the market given a: the horses that have not accepted any further and b: Chris Waller's horses that have been accepted... Does anyone know much about his horses that have accepted?

As I write this, it is 9:15am Tuesday 09 Feb, therefore one hour 15 minutes from being ONE WEEK to the minute from when Turn Me Loose won the first heat. Specific to TML, how are we meant to back the horse in the weekend if we can't see its trial. Final Field odds will probably come out and we are unsure whether to back it or not based on being unable to see the trial. Likewise VnB. Furthermore, how amateurish is NZ racing going to look if the trials are not able to viewed by the Australian punter (and wider industry) wanting to back TML if the trials are not put up.

Midget, was my initial thought...however I think only horses sold / brought at Karaka sales eligible (or paid a nomination fee to qualify for Karaka Millions 2yo / 3yo race when brought at sales). Hence my comment wouldn't it be great to see a race With the best 3yo's from both races combined

It is a shame the listed 3yo mile is not open to all 3yo's. I understand why it is restricted, however if you could add 6 or 7 of the 3yos from the spec. cond maiden 1600m race into the listed race and you would have one heck of a race - when I say this, it may potentially lack a very good horse like VnB was last year, however would be a very even event. If I had to pick whether I thought the derby winner would come from the listed or spec cond 1600, I would lean to the spec conditions race....