rdytdy 5,341 Report post Posted July 5, 2017 Racing: Mega night means reshuffling race deck by Michael Guerin The creation of New Zealand's biggest race night at Ellerslie has caused a shuffling of the feature race deck. Ellerslie confirmed their long-rumoured dream scenario of two $1 million races plus four group races in the support card for the new Karaka Million meeting, which will move to a Saturday night twilight spot on January 27. The $1m two-year-old sprint will be complemented by a $1m three-year-old race over 1600m, both for graduates of the Karaka sales, with the annual sales starting the next day with a new night session. The two $1m races will be supported by the $200,000 City Of Auckland Cup, moved from its traditional January 1 date, while the $100,000 Westbury Classic for fillies and mares also moves to Karaka Million night. The six-race card will also include the $70,000 Mr Tiz Trophy for sprinting three-year-olds and the $70,000 Concorde for the older sprinters. The changes mean several other major races have been moved to ensure the best pathway to Ellerslie's richest events both on Karaka Million night and also for Cup week in March. On the staying front, the $100,000 Avondale Cup moves from mid-February to New Year's Day to replace the City of Auckland Cup, while the $100,000 Karaka Stayers Cup, which has been held on Karaka Million night, comes earlier on January 14. With the Avondale Cup moving Ellerslie loses its traditional major form lead-up race to the $500,000 Auckland Cup on March 10, so they have slotted the Nathans Memorial into their February 17 meeting to continue the build-up to the Cup. The $50,000 Mufhasa Stakes (3-y-o, 1200m) moves from early December to March, replacing the Mr Tiz at the Cup carnival, with the Bonecrusher Stakes taking that December 9 slot after previously being run in September. "Both the Auckland Racing Club and the New Zealand Racing Board are thrilled with the new programme for the Karaka Million meeting," Ellerslie racing boss Craig Baker said. The change to a Saturday twilight meeting from its previous Sunday date for the Karaka Million will see the Wellington Cup meeting move some of its major races, including the Cup, forward a week. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest 2Admin2 Report post Posted July 5, 2017 The rich get richer. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
.... 226 Report post Posted July 5, 2017 What about the super Special Maidens that used to be on Karaka Millions night?. where are they being re-aligned to? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrBigStuff 394 Report post Posted July 5, 2017 All the Ellerslie haters will be out in force no doubt. Cmon in Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
porky 900 Report post Posted July 6, 2017 1 hour ago, MrBigStuff said: All the Ellerslie haters will be out in force no doubt. Cmon in How much will those inside barrier marbles be worth? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
TOM(the other Molloy) 1,774 Report post Posted July 6, 2017 4 hours ago, MrBigStuff said: All the Ellerslie haters will be out in force no doubt. Cmon in Shut the dump down Mr BS. You can't run a decent meeting on it for eight months of the year due to the bog track and any time any other venue has the slightest hiccup you demand closure so source for the goose! Not to mention the bloody great hole they discovered halfway down the back straight, the lack of camera views for judicial proceedings or the halfwit patrons dismantling the running rail just before a race. Huey, We're Doomed, Insider and 2 others 5 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
rdytdy 5,341 Report post Posted July 6, 2017 1 hour ago, hesi said: We've seen these million dollar plus races before, not really convinced they do much good, other than massage a few egos. The fields are no better, and at best, they have attracted 3rd and 4th rate Aus horses, the only exception being Starcraft. Starcraft never started in a million dollar + race in NZ. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
chevy86 2,704 Report post Posted July 6, 2017 1 hour ago, hesi said: (although I've never been back since they canned the iconic infield) Too true Hesi--I know dozens of previously dedicated racing supporters and punters who give Ellerslie the swerve after that crazy decision! pete, Turny and Gordy55 3 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrBigStuff 394 Report post Posted July 6, 2017 5 hours ago, TOM(the other Molloy) said: Shut the dump down Mr BS. You can't run a decent meeting on it for eight months of the year due to the bog track and any time any other venue has the slightest hiccup you demand closure so source for the goose! Not to mention the bloody great hole they discovered halfway down the back straight, the lack of camera views for judicial proceedings or the halfwit patrons dismantling the running rail just before a race. Yawn, same old BS from you. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mckenzie 607 Report post Posted July 7, 2017 So the City of Auckland Cup a week after the Wellington Cup? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Insider 3,947 Report post Posted July 7, 2017 Ridiculous isn't it? rdytdy 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Berri 2,131 Report post Posted July 7, 2017 Why the fuck can't people see whatI see? I must be insane and there would be plenty to support that notion, but.... Surely there are two lines of thought...one is we need to prove, or heaven forbid...improve the breed...and the second is that we should appeal to the punter. Handicaps are all about the punter...improving the breed is all about franking the form from 2 till three and then being able to test the 3 yo's against the older horses to see how good the 3 yr old generation is. Can someone please tell me how a couple of restricted races at this time of the year fit into that process? I'm utterly lost. Everything should be about the horse and the concept of championships, whether breed shaping or punter shaping. putting a carnival in the middle goes where? Someone please explain the rational to this unless it is that some people simply want to make a great evening of racing to appeal to the party goers. Huey 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
porky 900 Report post Posted July 7, 2017 10 hours ago, Berri said: Why the fuck can't people see whatI see? I must be insane and there would be plenty to support that notion, but.... Surely there are two lines of thought...one is we need to prove, or heaven forbid...improve the breed...and the second is that we should appeal to the punter. Handicaps are all about the punter...improving the breed is all about franking the form from 2 till three and then being able to test the 3 yo's against the older horses to see how good the 3 yr old generation is. Can someone please tell me how a couple of restricted races at this time of the year fit into that process? I'm utterly lost. Everything should be about the horse and the concept of championships, whether breed shaping or punter shaping. putting a carnival in the middle goes where? Someone please explain the rational to this unless it is that some people simply want to make a great evening of racing to appeal to the party goers. All of the carnivals are great, to their respective clubs... I,m no trainer...but fuck the calender Is disjointed for top line sprinter/mile/...middle distance and staying races especially in this country! How would one look to win the Caulfield or Melbourne cup these days, based in NZ ? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
rdytdy 5,341 Report post Posted July 7, 2017 1 hour ago, porky said: How would one look to win the Caulfield or Melbourne cup these days, based in NZ ? You would have to cross the Tasman for starters. porky and We're Doomed 2 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
