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Win Win Win Win Win this week - might lose the last one though

But running a second quarter in 30 and change as embarrassing. 1:56 is way too slow for these horses. I guess I've been over here too long in the USA but they should be running the 1st half of miles over there in better than 56. Particularly on tracks like Ashburton and Winton, especially with the better class of horse. They have the right idea at Menangle and that is a perfect track for high speed but back there IMO, there needs to be more mile racing and there is no reason why some of the top horses cannot run in 1:50 at Ashburton or down south. Granted that bigger fields there are suited to longer distances for the most part but I always thought it would be better for the sport if they had more mile racing that didn't have pedestrian 1st. halves. I guess I am spoiled here when I see 3yo trotters running in 54-55 seconds for the 1st half mile routinely. As I said that startin gpoint is awful but running that second quarter in 30 plus meant that Oscar Bonavena had no shot. Had they run that in 28 or better, he wins for fun

I offered John a free bet today for all his help and he said he would not use it, which was much appreciated too... so I will use it for the charity and I will put 20W and 30P on Polly Grey today with all proceeds to the soup kitchen...good luck.

And that was the high point of your career…it was all downhill after that…especially when the celebrity “pretty boy” Molloy turned up and cut your lunch

Almanzor has the makings of a top Stallion. He was without doubt a top racehorse, has the looks and from what i have seen he throws this trait onto his progeny. He has been extremely well received by many astute judges. Cambridge Stud deserves a top stallion after the tragedy of they have suffered with losses early on and in Almanzor they have hit the jackpot, IMHO

Not emergencies as such after field announced as slot holder needs to contract with horses owner but if a horse there at moment went amiss before final field then owners would go after a replacement to take their slot !

I thought an apprenticeship WAS to teach them to ride racehorses, not that they already knew how to do that? Am I missing something here?

Moaning again ivan- how unusual. Trials are shown all the time on Trackside and if you need track info or tips you should not be following the current lot of commentators or the whale. Back your own judgement i'd say

Introducing myself will not achieve anything, all that will do is give ammunition to detour people from the facts, and that is, the boy needs to listen to someone. That goes for any young driver that wants to do better and learn.

Some of the questioning is just plain absurd. Makes me wonder if the monkeys at the zoo are writing the questions.

Stipes questioned Timmy last night as to improved showing of horse.. FFS - the punters "knew" - he went out favourite. Surely we not paying officials to question winners. Perhaps this was the last hurrah for the "Remote" Stipe. He wont have to be remote after the weekend and north island stipes wont need to be sent to officiate at Invercargill!

A couple of entries were posted not long after the deadline - Beecee and Ivanthegreat. I will accept late entries posted up until 2pm today (provided the selections haven't raced already) in the interests of keeping numbers up in week 1. From next week I won't accept late entries. Sounds a bit grumpy but the deadline at first race start time helps me to lock things down and get the spreadsheet finalised and helps to avoid situations where I can't be sure exactly whether the pick was posted before or after the race start time. Please take note of the posting deadline next week and be sure not to miss it - thanks.

you're also missing a race in your picks

Supposed to put horse names as well for this comp ONLY.

Riccarton R4 1-2 Riccarton R8 6-13 Tauranga R6 9-10 Tauranga R7 3-7 Rosehill R2 1-3 Rosehill R3 1-13 Rosehill R4 6-11 Rosehill R5 2-5 Rosehill R6 2-11 Rosehill R7 2-11BB Rosehill R8 3-7 BB Mornington R7 2-6 Good luck everyone thanks Saynomore as always hope its a good days racing.

Shane I agree. Good for the purchaser but not so good for those who initially invested in the horse when syndicated. I note that the horse was originally owned by Te Akau Fillies breeding syndicate, so why sell if the syndicate was to breed??.

Yes you are missing something. When i started my apprenticeship, I had never been on a horses back, so had no idea how to even post. I was just thrown on one and with my lack of ability about riding, pulled a horse over on top of me, breaking a collar bone and my arm, with tears in my eyes my boss, said you better walk down to the doctor, which was 2km away.It was 6 months or more before i was even close to being confident enough to ride. The point i have been attempting to make is, that trainers must have some form of certification that has been signed off my an accredited person/s that will protect them from any safety concerns that Health and Safety may have. Many kids have had pony experience, but as you will know, there is a huge difference between riding a pony and a racehorse. The one point that should be acknowledged is that many Trainers have never ridden, so how can they be held accountable to the ability of the rider and what would be acceptable to satisfy the authorities?

A small clarification on the rules - in races where there are only two place dividends, there will be no place points for the 3rd placed horse. Just spelling this out because the little points table says "2nd/3rd" while the text refers to "place", so some ambiguity in this situation.

Covid is having an impact on staff numbers Ed,back to normal soon although the temps are getting into the swing of things

Lochlinoch connections chose not to proceed with protest which looked the correct assessment, post came up to soon .... but yes these Stewards come up with some real head scratchers at times

Riccarton R4 1, 2 BB Riccarton R8 1, 5 Tauranga R6 1, 5 Tauranga R7 1, 2 Rosehill R2 3, 10 Rosehill R3 3, 4 Rosehill R4 1, 2 Rosehill R5 1, 7 Rosehill R6 1, 2 BB Rosehill R7 2, 11 Rosehill R8 4, 6 Mornington R7 1, 11 Another great weekend coming up. Thank you all for being part of it.

Let’s go with Rosehill R3 #4 Mount Popa Rosehill 9 #18 Maotai Thanks

Just watched it too, including the head on. I think there should have been an inquiry. Not sure it warranted a change of the placing however. I don't think the runner up was ever going to get there. The winner maybe shifted out "10 miles", but it didn't interfere with anything but fresh air for the first 9.5 miles.

Riccarton Race 8 No 4 Beneficial Rosehill Race 7 No 3 The Chosen One We love this competition.

Great concept. Tauranga R6 #1 Two illicit Mornington R8 #8 British Columbia Thanks for the comps guys. Much appreciated.

Rosehill Race 3. 4. Mount Popa Rosehill Race 7. 11. Duais

I just watched the race. I think there would have been just as much controversy if they had changed the placings. I don't know if there was an enquiry or anything. The second horse didn't actually get carted over much extra ground and the margin at the end was probably more than half a length. If it had been a nose or head there may have been a case to look more closely at it.

The TAB tipster The Shark also a joke, he picks a $1.90 shot tonight. Give me a break!

Rosehill Race 1: #9 Dalaalaat Mornington Race4: #11 Jump the Broom Cheers

You know more about the race than me mate but I doubt there will be emergencies? I guess the slot owners might have a backup horse in mind just in case their nominated horse goes lame etc? All Stars will be OK as they have a couple that could replace, Bettors Twist is one. At this stage I will probably back Spellbound for good money.

Totally agree. Clubs are supposed to aim for Good3 for the majority of the meeting. Irrigation decisions to achieve that must be at the discretion of the club, course manager and as you say, dependent on soil conditions and available irrigation and other course management resources. There should not be any dictate about how and when any of those things can be applied to achieve that. If irrigation is called for the night before the meeting then they should go for it. Can only base those decisions on the best available weather forecasting but best to act on the safe side.

Saturday sees World Cup Night at Meydan - the climax of the Emirates Racing season. Five Group 1 and three Group 2 races make it as strong a card as any in the year - rivalled only by the Arc and the Breeders Cup in terms of sustained quality. Will we see Godolphin dominate or will the Japanese, emboldened by their performance on Trials night and before that the Breeders Cup, come to the fore? Going through the Group 1 races first: AL QUOZ SPRINT: Run over 1200 rather than 1000m on the grass, a full field of 16 runners goes to post. The betting suggests a match between two Godolphin runners in MAN OF PROMISE and CREATIVE FORCE. The former was 50/1 when finishing eighth in this last year but he looked to have improved a lost when bolting up in a Group 3 three weeks - William Buick has chosen him but this is still a big step forward. James Doyle is on CREATIVE FORCE who was fifth in the July Cup and sixth in the Haydock Sprint Trophy before winning the Champions Day Sprint on slower ground. He's solid at 1200m but I can't help but feel a stiff 1200m would suit better than this flat track and the absence of a prep race is another concern. SUESA is better known as a 1000m filly but has form at 1200m - she was fourth in the Nunthorpe and fifth in the Abbaye but again has had no prep run - that said, I think she'll love the flat 1200m.A CASE OF YOU won the Abbaye in the Longchamp mud and I'm not convinced he's as effective on better ground. EMARAATY ANA won the Haydock Sprint Trophy but was a long way behind MAN Of PROMISE three weeks ago. It's the epic question of solid recent form against superior but older form. MAN OF PROMISE looked very good but has to prove it at this level. SUESA is no more than a tentative suggestion and this isn't a race for me to be having a bet. GOLDEN SHAHEEN: The Dirt equivalent of the above and the first clash of the night between America and Japan. DR SCHIVEL was second in the Breeders Cup Sprint but flopped in the Malibu though he might not have seen out the 1400m. He's clear top rated and has claims - the best of the Japanese looks like last year's runner up RED LE ZELE who has a decent draw and we know gtets a little further for all his recent Japanese form (up to 1600m) has been uninspiring. DUBAI TURF: Over 1800m on the grass. LORD NORTH won this last year and was having his first outing since when going down to ALENQUER at Lingfield in the Winter Derby. That may be decent form and I think LORD NORTH will go close - he faces, in SCHNELL MEISTER, a serious Japanese opponent who was runner up in a Group 1 over 1600m last time. He's won at 1800m and must be respected. MOHAAFETH looked good early last summer but had his limitations exposed in the Juddmonte while COLONEL LIAM won the Pegasus World Cup Turf last time and on that is right in this. There won't be a dry eye in the house if LORD GLITTERS wins but this looks a very tough renewal and I think LORD NORTH will follow up last year's success. SHEEMA CLASSIC: Worth £2.7 million to the winner and the top turf race of the card - over 2400m. A stellar field with six rated over 120. I mentioned ALENQUER and a win for LORD NORTH in the Turf would be a big compliment for this one who I rate very highly but he's got a lot to do on the numbers. YIBIR was a revelation winning the Voltigeur at York, the Jockey Club Derby at Belmont and the Breeders Cup Turf at Santa Anita on his last three runs. It's no surprise he's favourite but in his first run as a 3-y-o he was behind ALENQUER and ADAYAR at Sandown and that was very strong form. There's a strong Japanese challenge headed by Japan Cup second and third AUTHORITY and SHAHRYAR and the former won in Saudi Arabia four weeks ago. Hong Kong Vase winner GLORY VASE is top rated on 123 and his win at Sha Tin obviously needs to be respected. I've been waiting for DUBAI HONOUR to run at this trip and he's my idea of an each way type at 12s having run well through the line at Sha Tin. The likes of STELLA VELOCE and PYLEDRIVER are Group 1 winners but only have at best each way claims in this field. My idea of the Melbourne Cup winner, WITHOUT A FIGHT, is here at 50/1 and that tells you all you need to know about the quality of this race. As to who wins the Sheema Classic, ALENQUER could be underrated by the handicapper and I fancy DUBAI HONOUR each way but YIBIR probably is the one with the improvement. DUBAI WORLD CUP: Though now dwarfed by the Saudi Cup, this is the second most valuable race in the world with £5.3 million going to the winning Owner(s). 11 go to post but on all known form only two matter - LIFE IS GOOD was brilliant in the Breeders Cup Dirt Mile and equally impressive slamming KNICKS GO in the Pegasus. He wasn't stopping at 1800m that day but this is 2000m and that's the only question. Against lesser types, he might get away with it but he faces HOT ROD CHARLIE who was impressive in the Al Maktoum Challenge last month. HOT ROD CHARLIE was runner up in both the Kentucky Derby and the Belmont and was disqualified after being first pas the post in the Travers. The one real blot on his form was the fourth in the Breeders Cup Classic but his strong course and distance form puts him right in this and in a position to exploit any stamina flaws in LIFE IS GOOD. COUNTRY GRAMMER and MIDNIGHT BOURBON were second and third behind the local outsider EMBLEM ROAD in the Saudi Cup and there are questions over the value of the form of that race. I take HOT ROD CHARLIE to upset the favourite. As for the three supporting Group 2 races, AL NEFUD should be able to utilise his Dirt experience to win the 1600m. Chaudenay winner MANOBO was very impressive in a 2800m Group 3 and should relish the step up to 3200m in the Gold Cup.. Finally, PINEHURST and SEKIFU were first and second in the Saudi Derby four weeks ago and may well occupy the same positions in the UAE equivalent.

Legal definition of an expert is "someone who has worked in their field of "expertise" for a minimum of 20 years. Cant remember Mr Oatham being a jockey or track work rider for 20 years so what does his claim to fame involve and can he actually ride a horse at "more than a light trot" see expert definition also popularly referred to as "a drip under pressure"

Rosehill Race 5: #7 Annavisto Mornington Race 1: #3 Cirrina Thanks John & Scooby

Are you on some form of medication, or cannot understand where i am coming from? The point i am trying to get across is before apprentice jockeys can be transferred to an employee to continue on there journey, they have been accredited to ride racehorses .Not doing what they are doing now, saying they have done so many years at pony clubs etc and trainers believe what has been told to them. Can you point me to were you believe ,i was distasteful to any of the injured parties? I am suggesting that a better system is in place to protect the riders and trainers from injury and financial ruin, as these two run parallel to each other.

https://www.facebook.com/watch?v=510065390534563

A few more rules: Scratchings - you can replace up until closing time (separate post please), otherwise you go on TAB sub and then second favourite (lower saddle cloth number splits equal second favs). Abandoned races - comp run over remaining races - best bets on abandoned races can be shifted prior to closing time (again separate post please) but after closing time that's just the rub of the green. Dead-heats - uncommon but will allocate full Win or 2nd/3rd points for all dead-heating horses. Will use full Win dividend (not half) to determine points. Tie-breakers - there is a higher chance in a points comp that we will have a tie for first so will use the following to split any ties for first (in this order): - most winners picked - most selections earning points - most second placed runners If still tied after that then we just split the prize.