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Without the second-rate Europeans, the Melbourne Cup would be nothing more than a Saturday handicap. I saw a two-win stayer in France last night that would likely towel up Australia's best.

Sure can good luck hope it salutes.

Can anyone remember when this rule was last enforced? 3.7 A driver must ensure a whip does not project outside his or her sulky. I presume this means both when the whip is carried over the drivers shoulder and when the whip is used in horizontal strikes from outside the sulky shafts.

Must say the fields are absolutely outstanding for Saturday at Te Rapa don't you reckon ? Lets hope this is sign of things to come. Well done Cambridge JC fair to say.

Perhaps the green party got some sort of promise from Labour in the initial negotiations? Re the P positive, lifetime ban for the person involved in my book.

thanks for your winning bet offer cheers Rob

Looking back on the first day at Punchestown where some much needed rain had eased the ground to Yielding. Three Grade 1 races on the opening day card - the 3200m novice hurdle saw the odds on favourite ECHOES IN RAIN build on the promise of her Fairyhouse win and she looks another tremendous mare for Willie Mullins. BLUE LORD set the pace but was a sitting duck off the home turn and faded to third behind the fast finishing COLONEL MUSTARD. Not sure what the longer term plans for the winner would be at this stage. The 3200m Champion Chase looked a fascinating match between CHACUN POUR SOI and NUBE NEGRA who were third and second in the Champion Chase at Cheltenham with Ryanair Chase winner ALLAHO in the mix. In the end, though, it was a one-horse race with CHACUN POUR SOI back to his best on this slightly flatter track and easier ground. He comprehensively reversed Cheltenham places with NUBE NEGRA who was well held in third. ALLAHO tried to go with CHACUN POUR SOI but hit four out and wasn't good three out and that was him done for all he ran on well enough. I suppose we could begin to suspect CHACUN POUR SOI simply doesn't like Cheltenham but this was a championship performance by any consideration. ALLAHO didn't run badly and back up over 4200m or further he'll no doubt be a player - I'd love him to run in the King George at Kempton on Boxing Day. The 4800m champion novices chase had only four runners but this was also billed as a match - this time between MONKFISH and ENVOI ALLEN. However, this was one of those occasions when both favourites misfired. ENVOI ALLEN jumped okay but from four out Rachael Blackmore looked unhappy and the horse quickly lost ground approaching the straight and was pulled up lame. This should have given MONKFISH the edge but COLREEVY, who we remember doing me a big favour on the final day at Cheltenham, continued her upward trajectory making every yard, She made a couple of serious errors notably at the last but MONKFISH was beaten by then and his effort looked laboured and had the sense of a horse who was done for the campaign. I'm not sure this race told us much - COLREEVY is yet another Mullins mare on the upgrade and connections may well feel ready to go into open company next season perhaps starting at Down Royal before Leopardstown at Christmas.

I've no problem with much of what is being recommended. Enhancements to horse welfare are nearly always to be welcome. I do wonder if some European horses find some of the Australian turf much firmer than anything they encounter on the well-watered European tracks. I note the thought the Melbourne Cup should only ever be run on Good 4 or slower - that's akin to what they did for the National this year - they watered to produce ground on the slow side of good. Had they not done so, it would have been good to firm if not firm ground. I can't equate Good to Firm turf up here with a Good 3 in Australia - I don't know how watering happens or whether it prevents any jar. I don't support the idea European runner should only be allowed one prep run - that seems to suggest a belief European horses can't stand too much racing and while the training methods are very different, I'm not convinced. To be cynical, I hope all this isn't some misguided response to the European 1-2-3 in last year's race. If you want to deter the Europeans, cut the prize money in half - otherwise accept you have a global race which will attract global interest.

Where do we look at when giving black type regarding the time clock ? 1609 / 1700 sub 1:55 ? 1950 - 2300 sub 1:57 ? 2400 - 2800 sub 1:58 ? 3200 sub 1:59 ? Do we move these Mile rate goal posts up 2 sec when racing on grass ? or Slushy tracks ? What about 2yo's ? Do we keep the present system with a tweak - running the last half in sub 55 ? 56 ? 57 ? Interestingly there is no last half posted in the result of Don'tLie To Me's 1609 win at Rangiora last weekend . Mile in 2:01.1 However take Pam Bromac's 2006 run @ Ashburton over the mile running 1:57.2 , last half 57.4 , quarter in 26.9. Basically from last at the quarter Mark. Also the qualifying standard over a mile is set over the 2 minute Mark (might be different at different tracks) What really does deserve Black Type ? We have listed races, group races and age group races (Classics).

Yes. Good move. Something had to happen.

Agree that sub 2.00 MR for pacers is ho hum. But for trotters it is important, especially given the rarity of mobile sprints for the average trotter. In the NI if ýou can't get a good time as a juvenile or in the few maiden mobiles, you have to wait till racing in feature races.

Best thing they could have done...its been tragic to see so many injuries in the past few years.

So Australia is going to war with China?? Well that should be interesting! Best we just sit back and see how it plays out, I reckon

Maybe another "novel" day though running mile meetings is not uncommon. My gripe is that horses running 1.59.8 are still getting black type. Given our quality of tracks today any horse running, say, 1.56 or slower doesn't deserve black type.

A group of us were there on Saturday , what a magic day , well done to the ARC

The Rider Horse NZ had a dispersal sale had 121 lots sold for a total of $192,000. Average price was $1,586, medium $500. 22 horses sold for $100. Cattle in Frankton sale yards average more. In fact sheep would sell for more than $100.