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Ellerslie trials - Embarrassing
Littletramp and 14 others reacted to bigrig for a topic
As a breeder/owner that was on course yesterday at the Ellerslie trials I was absolutely disgusted and disappointed at the lack of services available to us. At about Heat 10 (not quite half way through the trial card) the club ran out of food to serve to people! I wouldn't normally worry, but as the country's 'richest' and 'most prestigious' club - this is absolutely appalling, especially with 29 Heats operating yesterday. Not only was there no catering services to owners/breeders like myself. But more importantly, there was nothing available to any of the stable staff/strappers - most of whom had been up since about 3am, before heading to the trials up there all day. Only one little table available to serve any sorts of food and drinks.. yet Entain were having a huge meeting in their new TAB bar room and I can bet they didn't miss out on any gourmet food they wished for. ATR should be ashamed of themselves and take a long hard look at what they are about.. They are quick to get on TV and promote booze, parties and flash expensive fashion- but quickly forget the grass roots and foundations of this Thoroughbred industry. I really felt for more the stable staff, truck drivers and onsite people such as the farriers, clerks of the course, truck drivers, who had put in long hours who rely on the racing club to have something decent on offer. Country clubs like Te Aroha, Ruakaka, Cambridge, run rings around this club for things like this. I did notice ATR's racing manager looking absolutely dis-interested, and only willing to speak to his own 'mates' who he wanted too - again, this is so poor for NZ's biggest Racecourse; instead of getting around and about the facility talking to anyone and everyone as well as checking if everything was operating okay down at the horse Stables area. It's a club that certainly isn't there to help the foundations of this industry with poor performances like this. Yes they have good stake money but what else do they do? Its Quite embarrassing when you take along new and excited owners into the Thoroughbred industry and this is what they experience. The club will make an excuse and defend this situation as the always do, however there is no excuse and boils down to shaping up and having some decent management. Anyway, rant over - this will annoy some people - so what! Yesterday annoyed me, especially after all my investment in this industry. Thanks ATR for looking after yourselves as usual - you take the crown of being the most selfish club in existence15 points -
Now, there’s a blast from the past. Remember Shocking, who reeled in the Saeed Bin Suroor-trained Crime Scene to win the Melbourne Cup for Mark Kavanagh and Eales Racing in 2009? The son of Street Cry also won the Australian Cup back at Flemington on his swansong. He has been quietly standing as a stallion at Rich Hill Stud in New Zealand since his retirement 14 years ago, cropping up every now and then with the odd top-notcher like Toorak Handicap and Makybe Diva Stakes winner I’m Thunderstruck, but he made a big noise when notching a Group 1 double as a sire at Te Rapa in New Zealand on Saturday. El Vencedor, a six-year-old gelding trained and owned by Mark Freeman and David Price, ran out a three-length winner of the Herbie Dyke Stakes and an hour later Here To Shock, a seven-year-old gelding trained by Ben, Will and JD Hayes, slammed fellow Australian challenger Bosustow by four lengths to land the Waikato Sprint. El Vencedor was already a Group 1 winner, having scored in the New Zealand Stakes last March, but Here To Shock was gaining a first top-level strike. He takes Shocking’s tally of elite winners to five. Not a bad record for a horse who stands at a fee equivalent to £5,700 or €6,800. Shocking’s (pictured below) weekend exploits got me thinking back to a curious little chapter in the recent history of breeding in Britain and Ireland. A decade ago this year Dunaden became the first winner of the Melbourne Cup to stand in Britain since the 1890 scorer Carbine was imported by the Duke of Portland in 1895. The apple of his owner Sheikh Fahad’s eye, he was retired to Overbury Stud in Gloucestershire, with a range of bonuses unveiled to encourage breeders to take the chance on supporting him. The incentives were inspired by French premiums, with two-year-olds and three-year-olds from the stallion's first crop having their winnings in Britain and Ireland supplemented by 64 per cent, and those horses’ breeders earning 15 per cent of the combined prize-money and premium. Furthermore, the breeders of all Dunaden’s stakes-winning two-year-olds and three-year-olds in Britain, Ireland and France would earn a one-off £25,000 prize. In truth, even at Dunaden’s negligibly small fee of £3,000 those juicy carrots were needed. He was undeniably a talented individual, as he demonstrated when grimly repelling the challenge of Red Cadeaux in the Melbourne Cup and later also winning the Hong Kong Vase and Caulfield Cup, but stamina just isn’t what commercial Flat breeders want, and his pedigree was a bit out there, too. He was one of 15 foals in the first crop of Ian Balding’s Group 2-winning miler Nicobar, who stood for little money in obscurity in France, and was one of four winners out of the unraced Kaldounevees mare La Marlia. Until his niece Ribera ran second in Listed company a few years ago, he was the only black-type horse under his first two dams. Nevertheless, the novelty factor of a Melbourne Cup hero standing in Britain, those generous breeder bonuses and that refreshing outcross pedigree all conspired to generate plenty of good will for Dunaden. His novelty factor didn’t last all that long, mind you; like London buses, another Melbourne Cup winner turned up in the British and Irish stallion ranks soon after Dunaden’s arrival at Overbury Stud. Americain, who won the Melbourne Cup in 2010, had been part of the lucky bag of stallions that Brad Kelley stood at Calumet Farm in Kentucky, and had shuttled to Swettenham Stud in Victoria for two years before it was announced in the January of 2015 that he would stand at the Irish National Stud that season. Americain was more conventionally well bred than Dunaden, being by the internationally recognised stallion Dynaformer and out of the Wertheimer brothers' Group 2-winning Arazi mare America, and he was at least as tough and classy as Dunaden, having also won Group 2s in France and Australia and regularly run with credit at the highest level down under. However, there were no incentives provided to use him, and in a market that values sprinting over stamina for better or worse (definitely worse), he unsurprisingly proved to be a bit of a hard sell, even at his bargain basement fee of €5,000. That turned out to be his sole season in Ireland. Still, the number of nominations sold shouldn’t be the ultimate arbiter of success in the stallion industry. So, looking back ten years on, how did those two Melbourne Cup winners get on at stud in Britain and Ireland? Dunaden’s first crop of 49 named foals yielded 11 winners, including two really admirable geldings: Ranch Hand, who won seven races on the Flat including the Listed Rose Bowl Stakes and one over jumps, in a novice hurdle, and Just Hubert, whose seven victories included competitive handicaps at Glorious Goodwood and the Shergar Cup meeting. Both horses, who won at two and/or three and should have unlocked bonuses for their connections, were the work of smart-cookie breeders. The Kingsclere Racing Club-campaigned Ranch Hand was the result of another pragmatic mating devised by Emma Balding, who would have known Nicobar well, and Foursome Thoroughbreds’ Just Hubert was bred by the Veitch family of Ringfort Stud, who don't tend to let fashion concerns get in the way of a clever plan. Penelope Johnson’s first-crop Dunaden gelding The Pink’n also scored at two, and was later Listed-placed over hurdles. Among the other highlights of that debut crop were Corey’s Courage, Hidden Pearl and Pearl Warrior, all multiple winners at a slightly lower level. Demand for the sire’s services petered out over his next four seasons before his death due to a paddock accident at the age of 13 in 2019. The 14 named foals in his second crop included five winners, one of them being the fairly useful three-time Flat scorer Merryweather, and the 25 named foals in his third crop included two jumps scorers in Little Pi and Weaver's Answer. The ten named foals in his fourth crop don't yet include a winner, though four have been placed, while the four named foals in his fifth and final crop number no placed runners or winners. Dunaden wasn’t a roaring success, then, but neither could he be called a failure, not least because he wasn’t competing in the commercial realm. There was no shame in getting a handful of decent winners from small books of mostly modest mares. He might not leave any mark on the breed, but he gave a good few breeders a great deal of enjoyment, and even a little profit on a few occasions. Poor old Americain meanwhile sired only nine named foals during his sole season at the Irish National Stud. They included three multiple winners over jumps in American Gerry, Early Education and Camilla’s Choice. Not a bad strike-rate, but none were stars, and it goes without saying that the sire’s brief service at the Irish National Stud will be a deeply buried, minor footnote in the distinguished history of the operation. Americain didn’t leave much of note in America or Australia either, with one Group/Grade 3 winner in each hemisphere – Causeforcommotion in the north and Eperdument in the south. He died at the age of 17 in 2022. Americain and Dunaden set a bit of a trend, as Europe welcomed several more Melbourne Cup winners as stallions in the following years. Protectionist, successful at Flemington in 2014, stood at Gestüt Röttgen in Germany from 2017 until his death at 13 in 2023, although his principal attraction to German breeders was probably his pedigree, being by Monsun and related to Peintre Celebre, and his domestic victories in the Grosser Preis von Berlin and the Hansa-Preis, twice. He has delivered the dual Group 2 winner and Group 1 runner-up Amazing Grace, who was sold to Moyglare Stud for €850,000, and further Pattern scorers Lambo and Lazy Griff. He’s also had a smattering of winners in the National Hunt sphere, including Fergal O’Brien’s unbeaten Warwick bumper scorer Kaylan, a clever €26,000 purchase by Yorton Farm from the BBAG October Yearling Sale who was resold as a two-year-old at the operation's own sale to Highflyer for £55,000. Green Moon, the son of Montjeu who followed Dunaden on the roll of honour of the race that stops a nation in 2012, appears meanwhile to have been stood on a private basis by the Comer family in Ireland, and has produced for them their dual winner Roman Palace and a few other place-getters. Rekindling, the son of High Chaparral who was sent out by Joseph O’Brien to win the Melbourne Cup in 2017, has also covered a few mares in Ireland in recent years, first at Kenmare Castle Stud and then at Longford House Stud. Weatherbys records him as having sired six foals in 2023 and another four foals last year. He will have to perform miracles to make a name for himself as a stallion, but stranger things have happened in the breeding world. No doubt about it, Melbourne Cup winners standing at stud in Europe are more for hobbyists than hard-headed commercial breeders. But I’m all for something different in the stallion ranks, in particular a healthy injection of stamina and some invigorating new bloodlines. Without horses like those the breeding industry would be awfully beige. It wasn’t beyond the realms of possibility that Dunaden or Americain might have worked out better, either; especially if they had received more mares. Sheikh Fahad and Brad Kelley deserve some credit for giving it a go. Nothing ventured, nothing gained in breeding. The Duke of Portland came to realise that after he paid £13,000 to purchase Carbine out of Australia at the end of the 19th century. The New Zealand-bred, who supposedly couldn’t bear to get his ears wet – so much so that his trainer designed a small leather umbrella and attached it to his bridle so the rain wouldn’t fall on them – sired the Derby winner Spearmint and a number of other big-race scorers. Spearmint meanwhile sired another Derby winner in Spion Kop, and Spion Kop sired yet another Epsom hero in Felstead. Spearmint also made a deep impact on the breed through his daughters Catnip, maternal granddam of patriarch Nearco, and Plucky Liege, the blue-hen dam of Admiral Drake, Bois Roussel, Bull Dog and Sir Gallahad, all of whom became influential stallions.13 points
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KM night ...
Mattski and 11 others reacted to scooby3051 for a topic
Come on give them a break...we should all hope it's a roaring success....the industry needs it...good luck to all those competing and I for one hope it goes off without a hitch.12 points -
Shocking
Maximus and 10 others reacted to scooby3051 for a topic
So happy for Mark Freeman who bred and races him...his father was a great administrator..one of the best.. back in the good old days...and Mark has been a friend for years great to see him have a top class racehorse he bred...long may the winning run continue. and what a job Stephen Marsh has done with him too...congrats to all involved.11 points -
BOYS GET PAID
richie and 10 others reacted to scooby3051 for a topic
Why be so negative, surely they should be encouraged look how many people they bought in to the fun and I know most had a bloody good night, even if they did not win, a small investment for a chance to win big hell thats worth a few bucks, but overall I am sure some of them have been hooked by the thrill of the experience, shame some on here cant recognise the benefits of getting newbies involved.Good on BGP I say.11 points -
The poorest decision that I saw all day today was.......
chiknsmack and 9 others reacted to Insider for a topic
Putting up $350,000 for the equivalent of a R65 race! Well done to the winner and place getters, but $100,000 would have been a fantastic stake and achieved the same. If they needed or need help, to spend the other $250,000, send me a private message and I'll help out. Cheers Liz10 points -
Did anyone hear Pam Gerard’s comments about the track after Reputation won the Breeders Stakes. She couldn’t have been more complimentary. And for those that don’t know the track manager/caretaker is a young lady, I think in her early 20’s. Since she has taken over I have heard nothing but compliments. Now compare that to the majority of tracks around the country.10 points
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KM night ...
chiknsmack and 9 others reacted to scooby3051 for a topic
Great to see long time RC member and all round good guy Ted have a share in the KM winner...hope the night is a big one mate.10 points -
As a member of BGP since its beginning, the last 2 years are the worst for returns of their big investments on Karaka millions night. It's the risk you take with any investment and if you cannot afford it, don't bet or join BGP. Getting new people into racing must help the industry. I do get winners from their weekly email with their 9 trotting and galloping tipsters best bets. Having worked once with Luke for 2 years I've never met anyone with as much enthusiasm for racing as he is. Hopefully they'll take last night on the chin and carry on.9 points
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Craig Williams
Baz (NZ) and 8 others reacted to Michael Roustoby for a topic
Craig was in riding work at Randwick on the Sunday after he won the Golden Slipper on Miss Finland back in the day Myself and my brother were only just starting out riding work and he use to offer a lot of advice. Didn't even work for the same stable Class act on and off the track and always has been9 points -
The Racing Website - 'WELCOME BACK' LISA ALLPRESS December 26, 2024
meomy and 8 others reacted to Patricia Beatty for a topic
Lisa has broken her leg (tib) in 3 places. Couldn’t have surgery today as they don’t have right size rods to insert. Hopefully all go for tomorrow. thanks for all the wonderful message of support and well wishes for Lisa9 points -
Jockeys don’t get paid enough. And there is still idiots out there criticising their every ride. They aren’t perfect, and in every race they can be severely injured in the blink of an eye due to many scenarios. They are Brave and Talented Athletes.8 points
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Seriously guys, Bevan is a close friend of Christoper (Cobby) and Suzanna Grace., as am I. That was their second Black Type winner in 5 days and adds to their tremendous success this year. Besides their horses winning everywhere, you might remember their horse topping the RTR for over a million. (Was it a million and a half?) He was genuinely thrilled for them and got great separate interviews with everyone involved. Lily, Cobby, Susanna and Pam. Each was very interesting and told a part of how the win came about from Pam not wanting to take the mare all the way there, (gee it’s a long way). Cobby saying that he had to phone Pam twice and basically twist her arm. Lilly explained the race tactics and how the race unfolded slightly differently to those planned and finally Suzanna saying how much fun they were having with their horses at their age. In my opinion it was the best post race interviewing that I have seen on a racetrack this year. P.S. Now think about it and compare to to the crap that comes out of the Te Akau trainers mouths each and very time they have a win.8 points
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Wilson House
Gerrymir00 and 7 others reacted to unhinged for a topic
Wilson House is a very articulate well spoken young man and certainly deserves every success whether its driving or training in the future.8 points -
The trouble is Racing is just too long a day for most people, it’s slow & boring. Even I find myself when on course bored as, having to wait 35 mins between races is just too long in a modern world. Getting that time down to 25 mins is crucial for racings survival, yeah we know it’s a huge task but it’s not impossible. 25 mins between races, which start at 3pm in the summer & done by 6pm. Winter start at 12 & finish at 3pm. Gallops Friday Sat & Sun only 2 meetings each day.8 points
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Sam said "she would be proud for Pivotal Ten to represent the South Island in the NZB" Sorry Sam the CJC who have a spot...you would presume for South Island Racing but chose to attach it to their Group One races in NOVEMBER. This from the CJC When buying a slot in the NZB Kiwi the Board of the CJC did so with a strategy in mind to market and promote participation in the2024 AL BASTI EQUIWORLD DUBAI NEW ZEALAND TWO THOUSAND GUINEAS® and BARNESWOOD FARM NEW ZEALAND ONE THOUSAND GUINEAS® and provide an added benefit for a three-year-old running in one of those races QUESTIONS TO CJC How many owners/trainers came to the 2 Guineas races with the NZB ticket in mind........NONE How many races have been won by those who contested both Guineas races since......ONE SAVAGLEE Why would you use November form for a race in March Surely you should support the Owners/Trainers who pay Track Fees, Stable Rental and who support your Club 12 months of the year. Sadly the best 3yo from the South Island in many years may be missing from the NZB.7 points
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Ellerslie trials - Embarrassing
Houlahan's Dream and 6 others reacted to scooby3051 for a topic
One good thing is they have seen the thread and are addressing the posters concerns...thats what happens when you are the leading racing site people come from all facets of the industry.We get the message out there.7 points -
Ellerslie trials - Embarrassing
THE TORCH and 6 others reacted to Michael Roustoby for a topic
On the other side of the coin at the great metropolis of Te Aroha, the local racing club put on a free bbq for all the stable staff. Grassroots club looking after the kids who put on the show behind the scenes. Boys get paid may have been there in the executive suite,still to be determined,but the stable staff were well catered for which is a credit to the club. George Simon tipping the last winner also deserves kudos7 points -
Awesome Autumn (10 week) Comp - Week 1 entry thread
Chestnut and 6 others reacted to say no more for a topic
See the "Time for a Comp" thread for more details on how the wider comp works. Most of you should be very familiar with this format - but please note the change in the Regular Scratching rule - there will be no subs for regular scratchings - it is up to you to replace them before the posting deadline. For this week all you have to do is as follows: 1. Either pick two horses in each race listed below - you will have $10 each way on both and a $2 quinella; or if you'd prefer to pick just one horse in any (or all of the races) you can do that and you will have $20 each way on that one runner, but you will forego the quinella. 2. You will have two best bet races where your bet is doubled. They can be any two of the 12 races listed below. Posting deadline this week is 1.30pm This weeks 12 races are as follows - a great card to kick this comp off. 1. Te Rapa R4 2. Te Rapa R5 3. Te Rapa R6 4. Te Rapa R7 5. Te Rapa R8 6. Randwick R7 7. Caulfield R4 8. Caulfield R5 9. Caulfield R6 10. Caulfield R7 11. Caulfield R8 12. Caulfield R9 Please enter horse numbers, not names and remember to nominate two best bet races, and some form of punctuation between your two numbers is very helpful - thanks. Regular scratchings - it is up to you to replace any scratchings prior to the posting deadline. If you don't then you will have only one runner in the race, unless you have two scratchings or a single pick is scratched, in which case you will have no runners in that race. (and for the avoidance of any doubt if you pick two and one is scratched the single remaining runner will be a $10 each way bet). Late scratchings - any late scratchings will default to the TAB sub (and second win favourite if you already have the sub or both your runners are late scratched). In the event of equal second win favourites the second sub will be the horse with the lower saddlecloth number. If you have a single bet and it is late scratched, you will have a single bet on the TAB sub. Abandoned races - we need a minimum of 6 races to be run for the results to stand. Any less than 6 and we will re-run the round next week. If you had a best bet in an abandoned race you can change best bet races up until the posting deadline - after that it is just the rub of the green.7 points -
Mick Guerin's NEW show .....the Guerin Report.
Kiwihab and 6 others reacted to scooby3051 for a topic
They will Pete he is a champion and champions are always champions and find a way back to the top...he will and I also wish him all the success in the world.7 points -
NZB Kiwi slot race
meomy and 6 others reacted to voice of reason for a topic
Dont understand the over the top frothing for an invitation race ,for a select few who can afford 700,000 to purchase a slot.Then in most cases having a horse that they have absolutely no connection with running for them..Looks like a big wank for a few of the privileged to me...7 points -
NZ Racings Growth
Black Kirrama and 6 others reacted to Ripples for a topic
Don’t want to be a killjoy and spoil the negative vibe in this post but I see a lot more positives than negatives since Entain got involved. I am especially surprised about some of the comments around Champions Day. I was at Karaka Night the vibe was awesome, better than anything else I have experienced in NZ apart form perhaps Kumara, Kaikoura and Trot and Gallop cups in Christchurch. We now have Australian involvement in these meetings which surely can only boost turnovers. Looking ahead to Auck Cup on Champions Day I see Ciaron Maher has two nominated and Chris Waller also has one nominated and all at the top of the early market. Without these significant cash injections into stake money there would be no Aussie involvement. Im not suggesting everything is rosy, far from it as personally I am saddened by the demise of many country race tracks, particularly those on East Coast NI where a lot of my teenage pocket money was spent. Bring on 8 March I say7 points -
Those differences give a great insight into why and for what reason you would breed . Tarzino at 20k with light SW% and horses that take time , against Ardrossan also at 20k with 25% SWs . Now Ardrossan has got his results from relatively light books in all his first 3 seasons , all about 60/70 mare range , last 2 seasons he has covered over 120 mares . Tarzino has only dropped below 100 mares in a season once , admittedly a lot of those would have been GHs mares . Which one do you go to ? when you are wanting a quicker result and a bigger chance of Black Type , easy in my book . The problem is tho when you put a service fee of 20k on top of transport , vet bills , which can be big , and daily grazing rates , especially if you have a foal as well and your mare doesn't catch first time then these can become large also . Put those 3 extras on top and you might not be a long way off being double the service fee all up . But clearly the studs are getting good numbers , even if a large proportion are their own mares . But makes and has made it tough for smaller and part time breeders , hence the declining foal crops . Having 10k to drop on breeding a racehorse just doesn't cut it anymore , so may have stopped breeding and just try to pick up a cheap yearling , it's a no brainer . The next 5 years will interesting to see if they can find a way to stop the decline in foal crops , the studs in the long run might just have to carry the burden of ensuring that horse numbers at least stay static to ensure we have enough domestic product . Some would say certain chickens have come home to roost .7 points
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KM night ...
scooby3051 and 6 others reacted to Ripples for a topic
Im with Scooby, the industry as a whole needs this raceday to be a success, sadly there will be some who will hoping it turns to custard, however the fact is this is arguably the most important raceday of the season with all its overseas visitors and stakemoney levels unheard of in NZ Since its inception it has always been a 6 race programme starting after 4.30, increasing to 10 races as suggested by some will only dilute the quality, besides if its not broke don't try and fix it. As for the Hill I too miss the Great Northerns at racing headquarters but its gone so time to look forward not back.7 points -
The Desert Gold on Saturday was all home bred bar one, and isn’t the winner a beauty? I am over this sales crap of Karaka and how they have destroyed the pattern of NZ racing, especially the the two Summer carnivals, Ellerslie at New Year and Trentham mid to late January. Liz7 points
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When she gets better give her a few goes on Trackside. Look she would certainly have to be better than Leith.7 points
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I think you'll find the moaners are tired of moaning about stuff they have been moaning about and seeing nothing happen about the stuff they are moaning about . There's only so much moaning you can do before you give up moaning .7 points
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The Unhinged One was part owner of lot 62 , unfortunately someone tried to discredit the sale but despite that sold for 120.000 we will never know if some purchasers were put off . Karma will hopefully deal to the culprit who feeds Peter Profit absoulte garbage.6 points
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Auckland Yearling Sale
Pure Steel and 5 others reacted to CeeMeNow for a topic
The sale is now over, there were 125 yearlings offered with 36 being passed, you can see their reserve prices on the NZB Standardbred web site. In the last lots, after 107, there were another 5 six figure yearlings including, a CaptainT filly at $175k, Sweet Lou colt at $150k, and two $130k horses, a Tall Dark Stranger filly, and a CaptainT filly.6 points -
Terrible Fall At Sha Tin
Pegasus 9 and 5 others reacted to scooby3051 for a topic
Awful fall at Sha Tin overnight...sadly one horse was euthanized and three jockeys including Zac Purton taken to hospital...this was after an earlier fall in Race 6 where Vincent Ho was taken to hospital and I believe he was unconscious...hope all are ok...thoughts are with them for a speedy recovery...sad to see things like this happen...its the part of racing I never can get used to.6 points -
Autumn Comp - Results thread
Al Feilding and 5 others reacted to say no more for a topic
Points earned in Round 1. Long way to go - hope to see you all again next week. ENTRANT Round 1 1 Kloppite 43 2 Jayar 42 3 Montydrum 41 4 Joan 40 5 Seddon 39 6 Say No More 38 7 Gubellini 37 8 Basil Brush 36 9 Von Cettes 35 10 Houlahan 34 11 Al Feilding 33 12 Pete Lane 32 13 Jack 31 14 Pegasus 30 15 Dogzstar 29 16 Pheroz 28 17 Scooby 27 18 Kiwignome 26 19 Arjay 25 20 Black Kirrama 24 21 Richie 23 22 Ohokaman 22 23 Reacher 21 24 Foxmerts 20 25 Majestic 19 26 Voice Of Reason 18 27 Chestnut 17 28 Blaird 16 29 Pak Star 15 30 Sayer 14 31 Peter RS 13 32 Aaron 12 33 Kilcoyne 11 34 Alf 10 35 Lucasduke 9 36 Pure Steel 8 37 Seakem 6 38 Insider 6 39 Canterbury Man 5 40 Floyd Pink 4 41 Ponderosa 3 42 Pardon MD 2 43 Mr gee 1 44 Koriokaramea 06 points -
Two letters today ( rare articles these days) one from BNZ the other Father Murphy&Sister O'Malley Both asking why in banks case behind in mortgage and Father Murphy asking why contributions dried up and I'm lining up 3 times for .. Explained my income dried up since no S O So anyone know how her recovery going so I can keep these two institutions of my back6 points
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Agree 100%.....remember the good times and great memories and send her to stud6 points
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Tauherenikau track soft ??
bloke and 5 others reacted to say no more for a topic
I'm guessing it will be upgraded to Good after a couple of races and they'll have a perfect track for a great day of racing at the North Island's nicest little course.6 points -
The Listed 2yo race has been taken off New Plymouth this season , I presume because of poor numbers and quality . But a new Listed 2yo race on the same day has been has now been programmed at Ellerslie , the nom's for this bright shiny new race are out and only 5 nom's , 1 winner and 4 mdns , 3 unraced . Now the first question is "Would this have been any worse if it had still been run at NP ?", and the second is "Will this race still be run if there is no increase in runners ?". This proofs to me that there is a real disconnect in the programming and calendar , and that there needs to be complete overhaul of these . The more cynical part of me thinks that it is a continuation of the slow drift of races being moved north for convenience .6 points
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New NZTR CEO
We're Doomed and 5 others reacted to gubellini for a topic
Seems that the Recruitment Agency who select NZTR CEO's bin any candidate with impeccable racing backgrounds. Then shuffle the pack of those candidates with great academic/business qualifications who wouldn't know a forelock from a fetlock.6 points -
NZ Racings Growth
We're Doomed and 5 others reacted to Idolmite for a topic
In simple terms, whaat does the "world pool" actually add to New Zealand racing. The only thing I've really read is that the take-out is larger? That sounds like a negative to me, but is the theory that it generates worldwide interest in certain races, thus higher turnover? In reality, does it work? i must be old and tired these days, as l thought interest in the "Kiwi" was higher when first announced than it is now when it's only a few weeks out. I guess it might ramp up again a week out, but is it really going to pay off? All that money to one lucky group of individuals? Are slot races sustainable in the long term? Do they only make the rich richer while the true battlers in the sport - which have always made for the best stories - are forced even further to the extremities? I can never see the Kiwi story - the horse from Waverley, not the slot races at Ellerslie- being repeated. Or another Bonecrusher being bought for pocket change. It's all rather clinical and boring today by comparison. More international, maybe, but better? I'm not so sure. So many people, clubs and tracks forced into extinction can't really be good, if they're not being replaced? Like many sports, rugby included, centralisation over participation doesn't appear to work in the long term.6 points -
I had mentioned this very thing a few months ago and while I wouldn't neccessarily refer to it as 'pulling the strings', Paul's international experience and knowledge seems to be evident at least in an advisory capacity. Ultimately it's good to see a stable having their best season and with some serious prospects 'going forward' (gee, I hate that phrase.)6 points
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Ellerslie track conditions ...
JJ Flash and 5 others reacted to chiknsmack for a topic
Ellerslie is always a Soft 5 now. A month of drought? Soft 5. 8 inches of rain in five minutes? Soft 5. It wasn't initially because the idiots chose to use their own mix of grasses and ended up with a mat of knitted roots growing sideways instead of downwards, but they're on top of that now. That's the idea behind Strathayr. It doesn't bake hard and it doesn't turn to mud. It's a safe, consistent track you can run on once a week for nine months a year. It'll never suit Grey Way, but NZTR don't want tracks that'd suit Grey Way anymore.6 points -
Time for a Comp - seeking feedback on format
jack and 5 others reacted to say no more for a topic
Thanks for the feedback. As you would expect a bit varied, but still helpful. My key takes from the feedback: - individual comp preferred over pairs/triples - multi week not single weeks, but some don't want the duration to be too long, while others want it to run through the Sydney carnival - multi format works ok. So based on all of that what I'm thinking is: Individual comp. start 8 February (weekend after next) and run for 10 weeks through to 12 April (QE Stakes day) - this meets the Sydney carnival preference but is not as long as 13-14 weeks. multi-format but only the more preferred formats, based on previous polls. More details to follow ahead of next week.6 points -
“Orchestral Sister Smashes Record”
Insider and 5 others reacted to shaneMcAlister for a topic
Sorry I meant octagonal and Mouawad. Had a few beers yesterday……6 points -
Looked a tremendous evening and I don’t know why it’s always nine and ten race cards - a quality six race card works well. LA DORADA and DAMASK ROSE were very good but the Railway was a fantastic race, I thought CROCETTI, who I had fancied to win the Concorde, couldn’t give the weight to the younger filly but I was wrong. I’d forgotten what a fantastic 3-y-o he was winning the Almanzor on this card having won the 2000 Guineas. I suppose ALABAMA LASS could have run against her own age group in the Almanzor but her connections rolled the dice taking on the more experienced sprinters and it so nearly paid off. A real advertisement for NZ racing and I hope it drew in money from Hong Kong and perhaps elsewhere via the World Pool.6 points
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That little bird was on my shoulder today at the Karaka Millions, I had picked La Dorado in the two year old comp along with the other 4 and I have a share in the winner of the 3 year old race.It was a great day, big crowd and plenty of younger people which was great to see. Pity the rain came but it might slow the after party down, the drinks were certainly flowing. On face value it was. well planned and supported, I hope it worked for Entain who are driving these initiatives. The slot race and champions day should also be well supported , there appeared to be no issues with the track when the rain came. Ultimately for Entain its about betting numbers, time will tell.6 points
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Wonderful Ambassador for the sport and an even better human being.6 points
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Yeah just finished the exhaustive run through the book. My top lot would be back-to-back with last year. #564 Proisir / Donna Marie - another Prowess sister that will be tought to beat off as saletopper. General comments: - Kiwi breeders continue to do their best to balance out their breeding, lots to interest linebreeders - ...but the lack of stallion diversity is telling. 57 lots for Satono Aladdin is a bit over the top. They've also had to stretch further to Aussie stallions with the Kiwi stallion % dropping to 77.5% from 80% over the last few years. Ideally we need more stallions with more variety - e.g. would be good to have more Acclamation lines here given his offshoots like Dark Angel have done so well in the UK, also no Scat Daddy lines this year as Justify and Mendelssohn aren't back which is a hole. - ...and speaking of Aussie stallions, I don't see why so many of them made the Book 1 cut at the expense of quality Kiwi breds that the Aussie and Hong Kong buyers come for. I'd understand if it was the big sellers but I Am Invincible has just 3, Snitzel 2, Zoustar 2. There are 10 x Proisirs in Book 2 for some baffling reason, including Lot 919 out of a Savabeel with Marquise representing Eight Carat on the page... I've said this in prior years that Book 2 isn't far off Book 1 and the results keep proving that. Could it be that NZB are looking at these strapping early-growing Aussie bred sprinting baby types and putting too many of them into Book 1 purely on their early looks? - Best balanced stallions for me this year are the Vanbrughs, the Noverres and the Savabeels. Kudos to Waikato Stud with the matches they found for Noverre - he's set up to be the fourth in the Sir Tristram dynasty for mine. - Poorest balance - I'm not getting the St Mark's Basilica mare selections. May be just my lack of knoweldge on his own lines but as an example I don't see why Hallmark would send a very ND heavy mare in Bronte Lass to a very heavy ND stallion. For similar reasons I'm not sure they're getting the right mares to Circus Maximus. - Not a single Northern Dancer free entry in either of the two books. I can't recall that happening before but may not have paid as close attention.6 points
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Are we losing Interest ?
Bruces650mill and 5 others reacted to Idolmite for a topic
Hopefully they'll make Derby Day about $20 and I'll go and make that as "My last ever day at Ellerslie" (oops, I've just re-read your post and see that it's $45). I've already done "One last Alexandra Park" and I have a fair few other non--racing things to do before I'm completely unable to get out and about, or even worse. It's inevitable that's what's gonna happen - and it's a bet I can't lose - so I've got to do these things while I can. But as some days I need a driver and/or carer as well, I sure ain't paying 2x$60 for six races. And THAT bet is a certainty too. That's $10 per race for a single race goer, $20 per race if you're paying for somebody else too. And I really don't want to be swamped by out-of-control young piss-heads either. I'm sure the ARC won't miss a small spending old pensioner like me6 points -
All well and good , but read my last sentence again . We were bust till Entain walked in , if they hadn't none of Winnie's tricks had helped the industry . And a small tale for you , my wife and myself in a small group of 4 people spent some time talking with Winnie at the races once , now I consider myself a fairly smart bloke , but I came away feeling like I had just been sold a cheap second hand car , my wife's words , a blowhard .6 points
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Minister for the South Island
Tauhei Notts and 5 others reacted to Insider for a topic
If anyone on here is criticizing Winston Peters in his position of Minister of Racing over the years, you have got rocks in your head pure and simple. As someone said, "he make not have got everything right" but without him we would hardly even have an industry today. Liz6 points -
Otaki's biggest day is upon us.
We're Doomed and 4 others reacted to Insider for a topic
Well I am saying it. 1] They have screwed their Christmas - New Year Carnival 2] They have screwed the Auckland Cup 3] Their demands [given in to] have certainly screwed the Wellington Cup Carnival.5 points -
Programming
Pam Robson and 4 others reacted to nomates for a topic
Exactly my point . But , in any G1 race run in NZ or any group race for that matter , with a very few exceptions the majority by far are trained north of Taupo . So their interest is going to be self interest . Which to a large degree I can fully understand , but , they can't just keep taking races from the CD and recondition them for the Northerners , at least without some consideration to those clubs in the CD and those that own and train there . As I said a more holistic approach needs to be taken in regards to the calendar and programming .5 points