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No, hasn't been for over 12 months now. A shame when they decided to not want horses there any more, I was ok because Opaki was closer for me anyway but a couple of other trainers were not so lucky with one pulling pin completely and another just carrying on with a couple that he can work around the roads and bring up to Opaki to fast work. It didn't worry me at all, the Opaki training tracks are so good, that big long straight so good to educate young ones to gallop.

http-::www.theoptimist.site.webloc

Sickening stuff. The industry owes a lot to Brain de Lore for keeping us up to date, no one else is doing anything. It is such a bloody mess. I cannot understand how the TAB ever came to be running the racing industry. They always used to be just a service organisation. They have no skills or aptitude for running the whole industry, they can't even manage gambling properly. Staggered at Robertson's suggestion that nominees for the board don't need to have any racing knowledge. I can't think of a single example where that has worked in the past. It sounds like from Brian's piece that only half a dozen or so of the nominees are actually racing people. Is it right that he is suggesting that NZTR could actually pull away from the TAB and align with an Aussie TAB, leaving the dogs and trots and sport to nominate whoever they like to the TAB and do their own thing? Hopefully NZTR take their share of equity from the TAB with them when they go. One thing that is apparent is that it is about time important industry bodies such as the trainers and owners organisations stand up for themselves and stop ignoring everything going on around them. There is a fair bit of fiddling going on while Rome burns. I don't think we have any more second chances left. The cat has lost 8 of its lives.

Any doubters on our new track at Cambridge, check this out! Between 4.00am yesterday and 4.00pm, 90mm of rain fell and the track was absolutely perfect this morning. It bodes well for the upcoming winter, and I see Riccarton is coming along in leaps and bounds to.

Not sure I agree. He improved from 2 to 3. Ran 6 lengths behind Enable first start at 3 after being gelded, then dropped off the planet at Roger's yard. Changed trainer, won a handicap by 6 and then ran 2nd in a listed race. Rated 102. Putting it into perspective, Darci Brahma was rated 101 when winning the GP 1 at Otaki. He fell off the stage when transferred to Hong Kong. Not saying he was a great horse but he has some unrealised talent. Don't think he'll get it back though. Many horses hate Hong Kong. Terrible place for a horse.

Terrible read

Heading for a bigger shit storm than we've been through before by the look of it. Henry and Brooks should be in jail and yet they get put forward !! You're right Nerula , we'll be off to the DIA for a punt soon cos the TAB can't get their shit together. Robertson isn't going to f*** around , he's still spewing Winston gifted them all that money. Watch out. Nice work The Optimist ,it's a pity this bloke doesn't get more support.

You wonder whether Hughes and her mates are now fully aware that they are unemployable anywhere else. The fact that Allen didn't take any of them with him this time is probably indicative of the fact that even he realises they are toxic; although I imagine that when he was employed by his new lot he was told not to bring any of his cronies with him. How ironic is it that Wellington must be one of the few organisations worse run than the TAB. He has certainly found his level.

Have reread this morning Words fail me, what a bloody incompetent company Staggering to believe this happened Heading nowhere here

That Newbury race in early 2017 was remarkable in a number of ways. As you say, ENABLE ran third which, apart from her final run in the Arc last year, was her worst place in a race. She ran 19 times, won 15, was second twice, third once and sixth in the Arc. The two occasions she was second were to WALDGEIST in the Arc and to GHAIYYATH in the Eclipse. SHUTTER SPEED was the more fancied of the Gosden/Abdulla pair but splitting them was none other than RAHEEN HOUSE who is now racing in Australia. Indeed, ENABLE nearly nicked second off RAHEEN HOUSE and the three were six lengths clear of TEMPLE HOUSE, who ended up rated around 100 and KUNGFUMASTER PANDA. Off that Newbury run, KUNGFUMASTER PANDA got a rating of 90 and he never bettered that at three in the UK and ended up last in an Ascot handicap and dropping to 86. As you say, change of scene and won a couple of races as a 4-y-o at The Curragh and his win at the Irish Derby meeting was decent and that pushed up his rating over 100. He was beaten at Roscommon off 102 by a mare of the Aga Khan's called KALAXANA - she's by Rock of Gibraltar out of a Danehill mare and her first foal might well be a juvenile this season. Given he'd won over 2000m on quick ground and had then placed at 2350m on quick ground, I can see why they might have thought Hong Kong would suit but he started off 80 and ran a series of shockers until he placed off 44, won off 39 and has now won off 45. I'm not sure how NZ ratings translate to UK/Irish marks. MELODY BELLE is currently rated 116, MISHRIFF is related 122. Who would you be on if they met over 2000m?

Staggered at Robertsons suggestion that those on the board don't have to be racing people,as the minister of racing is he?

Addington Last Wednesday R May (DALNESS FIRST) [Rule 869(3)(b)] - Careless driving causing interference (3 days). Suspended from 29/03/2021 until 05/04/2021 inclusive.

That is unfortunate that the club doesn't want trainers there. I'm sure when Tauherenikau was favoured over Opaki it wasn't anticipated that trainers would have to rely on Opaki. I often drive through Opaki and try to recall where the racetrack once once. I didn't realise it was still in use. My last visit to Opaki was when Bond Street won the Cup, at least I think it was the Cup, may have been a support race. I think I was there when Our Boyfriend won as well. Nice racecourse, long straight, but terrible public facilities and bloody cold in the winter..

Re new season stallions, the owners of Russian Camelot have said NZ studs are interested after he came in lame in the All Star. We have to bag him for our industry I reckon. Love his bloodlines and he slots into our distance niche perfectly.

Yes, the dam also threw SEXTANT (by Sea the Stars) who is now a dual purpose horse. Group 3 placed on the flat and now jumping hurdles. MATHS TEST, as he was when he raced in the UK but mainly in Ireland, saved his best form for slower ground. Showed a little as a juvenile, won a couple of small races, placed in a decent nursery but they gelded him and it didn't improve him as a 3-y-o. He improved a little for going to Ireland and joining a smaller yard - won a couple of decent handicaps including a fair race at The Curragh doing the Irish Derby meeting but there was no real consistency and while he got to 102, he couldn't hold that and he's regressed in Hong Kong from 82 to 39 and while he can pick up a small race off that mark that's all he is I fear.

Michael Guerin stated this on Weigh In. Apparently, Clayton is 'stepping back' after Wednesday, (Matamata races where it seems he has one runner) & which just happens to be the end of the financial year, too. I hope all is well with him.

Well, as I said on the "Sunday Racing" thread--why not fill the hole and get on with the racing? All smells a little fishy.

Agreed, HD. I had a wonderful day on my tod at Rosehill yesterday - the Trifecta in the opening race and the First Four in Mo'unga's Rosehill Guineas, e.g. - but got almost as much excitement at watching no-one in Race Cafe getting up to beat me and take my first-ever win in a Scooby/Ponderosa comp. Now comes the real pressure bit, ha - trying to convert my free-of-charge bet into a profit for a) future pools and b) my jammy butt! Maybe the complainer about the 'poor' performances by the 'free' bets would prefer that the entire bet was placed on the nose of the latest Winx?

Tauherenkau has the biggest average attendance of any NZ racetrack. The New Years meet had a crowd of about 11 k which was well down on the previous year due to the weather forecast of Thunder Storms. The Waitangi Day meet has a crowd of approx 14k. The Club pays for the track, in fact the net profit for the Wairarapa Racing Club in the last financial year was $260k. If you look at the large tracks they are the drain. Have a look at Auckland for the Magic Millions day. NZTR puts in a fortune for a very poor return on investment.