Maximus

This decision comes as a proactive response to recent track issues and concerns raised by stakeholders ... A proactive response would have been to do the sensible thing after the partial abandonment on 10 April...ie transfer the Easter meet to another course and begin the "planned winter renovation" from 11 April. Max travelled to Ellerslie from the glorious North on Saturday to support a mate (a first-time owner) whose horse was in Race 8. Imagine the disappointment/frustration...and 5 hours on the road for sweet f-a. When the young lass fell off Opaea Joe earlier in the day, Max feared the worse. But mercifully her horse had 'clipped heels' and she was dislodged (or so we're told). Yes, the rain was steady/relentless and sometimes heavy, but on the 'old surface' the last two races would have likely proceeded (on a Heavy whatever). To see the 'spin' here about a proactive response is sickening - though entirely predictable. Max's sympathy is with all the connections of horses entered in Race 7 and 8.

TE RAPA 2 13 1 2 11 4 13 8 15 BB AWAPUNI 5 5 7 3 1 6 BB 5 8 4

congrats, Pam, well deserved..hope you made a quid or three.

Chelsea Burdan | Out until further notice from Friday 29 April

no no Miss Jools..it's: their horses, not there Horses you crack me up.

I think Chris won a few more in Oz than Jamie LOL

which examples are you thinking of, nstrip? Melody Belle won God-knows how many Group1s/2s..TA 'set' lots of horses to win lots of races but most fall by the wayside; but they have strength in numbers and resources which allows them to dominate.

if you're not criticising MW why make the comparison to Jamie Richards? IMO TA are still targeting the 'big races' and everything else along the way - they have a massive team, so that's inevitable. Problem this year is: their fab precocious youngsters of Karaka 2021 ain't as fab as Spring 3yos as they'd want them to be - notably Dynastic. Personally, I'm happy to see TA get a run for their money for a change in the Group races - the likes of Dark Destroyer, La Crique and Pier etc As noted previously, Melody Belle and Avantage dominated this country's Group 1 scene for several years with JR in charge. Imperatriz looked like she'd do the same after the Foxbridge but didn't go on with it. I expect it won't be long before MW unearths another. I also expect he will set a new record for most wins in a season.

bit harsh of you IMO ...Mark Walker hasnt inherited a Melody Belle or Avantage..he's posted huge winning total. But because he hasnt got the 2000 Guineas winner or Hastings Triple Crown under his belt already he's not as good a trainer?

another observation ...at the Parade of Champions on Cup Eve, a small group of protesters made their point with such banal chants as "Jockeys Choose, Horses Don't!" My fervent wish is that they decide to turn their passionate but misguided attention away from thoroughbreds and on to far more important victims of human exploitation: - cabbages, perhaps. I

...and when was the last time Kiwi Prime Minister presented a Group 1 trophy at any NZ racecourse? In Oz, all the influential politicians make a point of showing support/lobbying for the industry cos they know they'll be booted out on their ear at the next election if they don't.

'Magician' doesn't quite convey the sheer enormousness of CT's stopping power. He is a veritable Force of Nature, a Global Titan of Stoppingness, the Zeus of Cease, the Da Vinci of Da Stoppers. That Multi ticket wouldn'tve been a winner if they'd been Top 4 instead of Win. As for Flemo "laying it on " weather-wise, I froze my Weasely buns off the first three days and hightailed it back to Godzone before the hail froze over - the worst Cup week weather since Subzero won in 1992. Great city, though. Love the place, esp the Course of History, the slick TV presentations and Racing.Com previews/reviews, the on-course Racebooks (about 260pp of info! per raceday) and the feeling that this is an important industry/business/entertainment/spectacle - unlike NZ, where you slink onto a decrepit racecourse wearing dark glasses in case someone recognises you having a punt and pots you to the tut-tutting, virtue-signalling Powers That Be. Photos from Oaks Day 5/11/22 herewith.

could win several at Hawera as well ...

No real reward in labelling a $1.40 shot in a depleted field, is there? Horse hasnt raced for 6 months, beat a field of no-note maidens at Hastings in the autumn (none of those he beat that day has won a race in the interim). Might win today, might not, but how can you back it with confidence?

A general question for you all to consider. At what point should a gifted horseman get punished for cruelty to animals?