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Cup Day Tradition - ROOTED World Famous Jumps race over the HILL - ROOTED General state of Racing - ROOTED $55m Track - NOT ROOTED (apparently) Seems the Muppets can root everything except what they needed to .... Apparently this shot is from the meeting when they decided to send the Track developers home early

Foxton should be in play to, Central Districts struggling for surfaces as well, it’s going to be a long winter…..

I went to Karaka for the first time in 2017 and my pick of the sale of the horses I saw was Avantage. I went again in 2019 and my pick of the sale was Just Ben. It seems I have an eye for a good horse, but also an eye for a not-so-good horse. Unfortunately I don't know which eye is which.

Pak Star, your comments are appreciated. I think the problem is that in 2024 statements are vetted by public relations consultants. When they are trying to explain intricate details the public relations people get tied up in their own bullshit which most people use them to peddle. An organization"s credibility is inversely proportional to their spend on public relations.

Sheesh Paul Wilcox was discredited multiple times on pages 18 & 19, but then also had his quote used in an effort to make a point. Who knows what to believe Without wanting to wade too far into the ____ measuring contest of who can fit their schlong into the full depths of a 190mm cored Ellerslie surface hole to check how deep the matted roots are... Is ATR suggesting that the problem last week is the same problem they had on Karaka Million night? Pete quoted this piece from NZTR on Feb 2nd: Ellerslie Racecourse Immediately after Saturday’s race meeting at Ellerslie where some Jockeys experienced movement after 3mms of rain fell during the race meeting, Auckland Thoroughbred Racing (ATR) undertook a review which included Frank Casimaty from Strathayr. From that review, it was identified that a thick layer of roots had caused the issues experienced, it was agreed that Jason Fulford, Track Manager for ATR, would use appropriate machinery this week to break down that thick layer of roots just below the surface to ensure the horses get a better purchase on the track. Following the completion of this machinery work, jumpouts will be held at Ellerslie for Auckland based horses. The jumpouts are scheduled for Monday, 12 February. Mix the above with this here video showing how deep the root structure really is - in some instances 230mm (at this point I am definitely out of aforementioned contest) and one could be mistaken for thinking the problem quite deep below the surface - Update on the StrathAyr track project - Part 5 | Auckland Thoroughbred Racing (aucklandracing.co.nz) The strathyr video from Ohoka would appear to back up the theory that the matting would run quite deep into the cross section. But hang on, last week Wilcox was quoted as saying: “From what we can ascertain, it is the same issue where the grass is matted and joins the sand profile, which is causing the slipperiness. We thought we had that under control and we obviously didn’t,” Wilcox said. From what we can gather based on the ATR coring video AND the strathyr video, the grass meets the sand profile very close to the surface. So who knows what the hell to believe. Seems the reports change every time one is released... And they prey on industry participants like us knowing slightly less than what they seem to know (or not know) themselves. And they use terminology that confuses the issue even more. If they REALLY wanted to be transparent as they say they do, best thing they could do at this point is another one of their coring videos, and visually show us a cross section with the matting. To give us peace of mind that they actually know what the hell they are dealing with, and how to fix it.

Absolutely loved this! Not sure if it got any mainstream News coverage but it should have. Interesting all the comments around poor judgement from other riders. This was a 'freak' effort so pretty hard to point blame at the other riders in my opinion. Let's face it - we are all talking about it because of it's abnormality. 99 times out of 100 such a lead results in the horse walking over the line, so for POJ to maintain the strong gallop to the line was incredible. The only ride I would comment on is the brilliance of Declan Bates - in this instance his nickname 'Master' is fitting, rather than the funny connotations of it. Seemed to let her do her own thing, gave her a little rest before the rise and then they were history. One thing I do wonder is he she had wobbled up the straight, and finished out of the money, if Maher would have had a 'face like a half sucked Throatie' like he did with the Jimmysastar ride One of the great G1 wins of all time and we should celebrate the positive side of it

The 2.02 time is misleading. Look at the splits at the top of the replay and the first 200 is 15.14 despite her coming out of the gates like a bull!! Then she racks off mid 11s. I think the distance was circa 2040 (I have no idea why - the rail was out on the bend but that doesn't explain 40m). In summary; - This was an exceptional performance against quality opposition. Nothing the other jocks could have done. The race was over by the 1000! - In October Jenni was 3 wins from 22 starts. Now she's racked up 4 G1s and produced an amazing performance. I'd love to know the back story - on her third trainer and didn't race for 10mths at one point. - What amazing viewing! I backed a loser and was screaming for Jenni at the 300. Poetry in motion

Would love to see him crack it for a win one day.

Don't agree Insider. They need to follow through with renaming Government and other agencies in the normal language for most New Zealanders, ditch thousands of public service bludgers who were cynically positioned in "work" by the Ardern/Hipkins cabal late last year and marginalise Swarbrick and her coterie of queers. I'm picking most thinking NZers are delighted that the evil bitch Adern is gone and are even applauding the wonderfully lucid Shane Jones as he lines up the parasitic Waitangi Tribunal. It's tough to produce financial largesse for everybody when the incompetent previous lot have emptied the pot with their Marxist behaviour.

That Ozzie commentator was bloody awesome, really polished professional... Cheers Iraklis

They are not machines she has done a super job...lets hope not one run to many.

This horse is nuclear horse, no?

I thought he was very good, No magic men, no dressed up with nowhere to go, just called it as he saw it. And didn't try to mention that stupid passing lane name 6 times.

Quite the valedictory from Ellis and Te Akau---interestingly not a mention of the trainer who looked after her so well and produced terrific winning results in the mare's formative racing years. That would be Jamie Richards if anybody else has the same TA amnesia.

Paul Wilcox should leave his ivory tower for a few hours and stroll to the nearest bowling and golf clubs and get FREE advice on how to grow and maintain grass. He would learn more from them than the so called "experts" on racecourse turf management.

They got so much from selling the hill why in the hell did they not do it 100% correctly...the industry MUST have this as its show piece not a laughing stock.

And why will they not be transparent and say exactly what the issues are and exactly what has been done to remedy them instead of all this waffling and politically correct PC bullshit...all just covering their arses, mark my words.

No mate I mentioned this elsewhere and was told by a trainer I am just so anti the Ellerslie track ...that could not be further from the truth as we as an industry need this to succeed..it is after all the flagship....but hey lets all just keep quiet not speak out as we are the negative ones...and let the mediocre track and the people who spent the 55M on it take all the plaudits for giving us a track that we all just have to wait for it to "bed in" maybe a year or so...if this is the industry we have become where there is no accountability and everyone is happy with the shit show as it is well then no matter how much $$$$ Entain pour down the hole things will never get any better.

So... the issues was the 10m rail position so what the hell does holding trials with the rail on the inside prove??? Or am I missing something.

and Boncrusher races into tipping immortality , n0?

Well done Veandercross , good luck next week . Thanks to my teammates , Memphis , Pogo and Little Tramp , you guys have been great to compete alongside and I'm just sorry that I didn't hold my end up better , eapecially today . To John , massive thanks for your efforts running this comp , has been great fun , most of the time , and to Scooby for putting up the prizes . I think most would agree that we weren't competing for the prizes but the fun and glory , been great to be part of and hope it happens again . Cheers .

1. Randwick R2: 9, 11 2. Randwick R3: 4, 6 BB 3. Randwick R4: 3, 8 4. Randwick R5: 2, 8 5. Randwick R7: 6, 15 6. Randwick R8: 2, 8 7. Randwick R9: 6, 14 8. Morphettville R4: 2, 5 9. Morphettville R5: 10, 11 10. Morphettville R6: 2, 3 11. Morphettville R7: 6, 7 12. Morphettville R8: 2, 14 BB Tough again today so no single bets for me.. Had a look back to see how Veandercross went against McGinty in the round-robin. we were pretty well trailing them the whole way 3-2 and a couple of hundred $$ behind in the aggregrate, but then I got a BB quinella in the last race for over $1k collect and we won it 5-1.... would be nice to do that again today but not too hopeful, but in saying that I have saved a BB for the last race at Morphettville and have included one of the same horses from that big collect. Up against Pogo today so he's likely to pull out a big roughie somewhere...again. Good luck to everyone still alive in the comp and thanks John and Leigh...

On supposedly a major night for Harness Racing fu.....n greyhounds and their promotion teams Stothard,Rosanoski and Morris have taken over. Well how do the Harness fans fight back. Simple don't bet on dogs thereby your not supporting the budgets. Will be sky sport rugby for me tonight and I'll watch the Harness on Hrnz later on. Sad state of affairs for horse lovers! 10 to 5 and not even the Whale has surfaced. Probably some bugger dropped some plastic in the ocean and it's got into his blowhole.

I see Mick G seems to suggest Merlin is Barry Purdons first millionaire horse. He seems to have forgotten about Holmes DG or Chokin. Also there seems to be some confusion as to whether HRNZ put any money into the slot races. Greg O Connor says they didn’t but I thought I remember them putting some amount in so as to get the stake to $1m

Miss Jools in drag .

I would suggest that most in management are self interest welfare advocates first .

Scooby and Nerula, remember a few weeks ago I had to ban myself for 7 days from communicating with Leggy, otherwise I could have gone crazy. Guys, the same idea is probably worth considering

Not sure that comment helps your case Neil but it sounds like you have finally grasped that the issue is NOT surface thatch and that no-one has ever suggested that.

zelda dug up a kero tin this morning and was shouting " Jimmyisastar (nz), book the Brisvegas tickets Boris, i feel a win on saturday then its Jetstar first class to the farm n0? "" we just need willo to ride it quiet like mr brightside, .........................well not quite that quiet .

So Wilcox was saying on Weigh in they put 3000 tonnes of sand on the track...can anyone tell me what good that will do and how that will solve the rooting problem the grass has...when I was growing up we never grew grass in sand...do farmers or pasture experts grow grass in sand???......sounds like everything is getting rooted in this industry...including the track and that is not being done correctly...oh but geez I need to shut up and stop being negative...sorry but for 55M it should be perfect from day one.!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Te Awamutu which is purely a trials track at the moment and has been having a "renovation", isn't ready to hold the designated trials next week , pushed back one week , and a set of trials at the Cambridge Synthetic have been put in their place . They are a bit slow , they haven't worked out yet that the majority don't want to trial on the synthetic , especially their babies , so now owners have to wait another week to trial and hopefully get to the races and hopefully before they strike a heavy track . And what is the problem with Te Awamutu that one more week will resolve ? At least tell us , it's all Chinese whispers and it's getting f@#ken boring . I'm so over this crap , I have 3 horses at the moment but have made the decision they are my last here , things like the this and Ellerslie just reaffirm my decision .

And Ellerslie is listening...give me a break this is why Industry money has been poured down the gurgler as they thought they knew best and only followed advice for a portion of the 55M $$$ project...but hey we should not discuss the issues as that is just being plain negative...right??? and who made the decision not to follow Strathayrs full advice and try to grow the grass instead of lay pre grown grass in...as was the normal practice when doing these tracks...that person or those people need to be held accountable.

I know of two trainers that were there today and they walked onto the track and could not believe how hard it was sure they only walked on the outside 10 15 MTRs said it was like an all weather hockey field with sand on it.i do know that one of there horses came home jarred up.i still don't know why they did not follow all the right procedures and put on the strathayr grass ? apparently they were advised to put in two water ponds but only put in one and the one they have got is leaking so they are running out of water you get sugar lips on and he tells every one that they are doing the right thing and every one listens and think he knows what is right. And Leggy you should ask the CEO of NZTR if grass can root in the sand.As I have said before I like going to Ellerslie and won't it fixed.

That should be "WE" got so much money for the hill , it is industry money , what is our is yours and what is yours is ours . Perhaps some could have been spent getting Foxton a new grand stand .

Let's hope Team Bonecrusher can run like Pride of Jenni in today's QEII next Saturday And that Shane Dye is legged aboard Veandercross and thinks they're in the 1992 Caufield Cup

Brilliant. Win by Pride of Jenni. Just too good. Funny how folk have to find a fall guy for the rest of them.

Yes too good Veandercross. Good Whanganui stock. Well done today Pogo and Say No. Good tipping over the journey Little Tramp. And 3 mates bobbing up now and again(pun). Excellent team mates so we will regroup in the future. Thanks John for the operation and Scooby for running the site. Good luck next week in the final V tho Bonecrusher was my fav horse. Cheers

1. Randwick R2 -4,12 2. Randwick R3- 2,8 3. Randwick R4- 5,12 4. Randwick R5- 6,11 5. Randwick R7- 9,15 BB 6. Randwick R8- 8,10 7. Randwick R9- 1,14 8. Morphettville R4- 3,8 9. Morphettville R5- 2,9 10. Morphettville R6- 3,5 11. Morphettville R7- 5,16 12. Morphettville R8- 1,10 BB Go well team…..

Best of luck to Sunline opponents to set her usual strong pace. 'Roughie' over the Top Late on with his Straddie like finish burst is hopefully going to occurl Thanks John. (watch out for McGinty today mate, chock full of stars n0? ) 1. Randwick R2 / 7 - 9 2. Randwick R3 / 6 - 14 3. Randwick R4 / 1 - 12 4. Randwick R5 / 6 - 13 5. Randwick R7 / 9 - 12 6. Randwick R8 / 8 - 10 7. Randwick R9 / 1 - 6 8. Morphettville R4 / 1 - 8 9. Morphettville R5 / 9 - 16 BB 10. Morphettville R6 / 1 - 3 11. Morphettville R7 / 3 - 5 12. Morphettville R8 / 10 - 13 BB

After 2 poor weeks it’s time for me to pick up my game and contribute to Imperatriz. 1. Randwick R2 9,12 2. Randwick R3 2,10 3. Randwick R4 5,12 4. Randwick R5 1,13 5. Randwick R7 14,15 6. Randwick R8 2,11 7. Randwick R9 7,9 8. Morphettville R4 1,2 9. Morphettville R5 9,14 10. Morphettville R6 9,13 11. Morphettville R7 5 BB 12. Morphettville R8 2,9 BB

After consulting Luke Littler, the darts have been thrown for the day and . . . . . 1. Randwick R2 4,6 2. Randwick R3 5,8 BB 3. Randwick R4 6,12 4. Randwick R5 2,5 5. Randwick R7 13,15 6. Randwick R8 10,11 7. Randwick R9 14,16 BB 8. Morphettville R4 1,2 9. Morphettville R5 9,16 10. Morphettville R6 2,3 11. Morphettville R7 5,12 12. Morphettville R8 1,11 Good luck all - giddy up McGinty.

Another beauty. Major Beel apparently 'worked home late to finish close to placegetters' last time. It led all the way and was just nutted.

Tough going today. GL all 1. Randwick R2 3/7 2. Randwick R3 3/8 3. Randwick R4 3/6 4. Randwick R5 6/9 5. Randwick R7 5 bb 6. Randwick R8 2/8 7. Randwick R9 1/7 8. Morphettville R4 5/8 bb 9. Morphettville R5 12/14 10. Morphettville R6 1/6 11. Morphettville R7 3/15 12. Morphettville R8 13/14 Thanks for the great comp, Scooby & SNM

The Queensland Mail is in! Not sure if it's aided by 20gm Tungsten Tips or not, but here are #48 Pardon My Dust's (AUH) tips for Team Imperatriz 1. Randwick R2 2 * 5 BEST BET 2. Randwick R3 10 BEST BET 3. Randwick R4 5 * 8 4. Randwick R5 5 * 6 5. Randwick R7 11 6. Randwick R8 2 * 7 7. Randwick R9 6 8. Morphettville R4 2 * 4 9. Morphettville R5 5 * 12 10. Morphettville R6 3 11. Morphettville R7 5 * 10 12. Morphettville R8 9 * 11 Thanks John & Scooby @ Ohokaman - I'll be spoiling a good walk in the morning, so scratchings in your capable hands please. Good luck Team Imperatriz Cheers, Phil

Unless they are racing for $1.5 Million . $17k different rules.... faaark me, says it all doesn't it

Yes even I feel at a loose end this weekend with no tips to do...

yes the Queenslander Speak The Truth is up against it from that barrier out wide. There's a young fella smoking through from the second row who is the best in the Business. has won a few of these Big goes in his time Mark will be coming at them late with both 'OscarB' in the trot , and 'Self Assured' in the GrinsRace from their second row positions. Won't worry Mark drawn there , as do no work early and both are straight into the running line , with out even trying . so the Oscar Bonavena - Self Assured double is currently $120-1. excellent odds for the champion trainer/driver ? so have whacked a tenner on that. (and are at $5.65 for the place double so put a small cover on that too)

I think the result of the million dollar race will include Natalie and Mark. How could dont stop and self A. be denied. great race .cant wait .its only 3:30 and 3 cans down lol.

This is called an addiction , Scooby and John have a lot to answer for .

No longer in comp but I had a pretty good record in the head to head matches ….and did top the individual points table heading esteemed punters like Littletramp, etc etc So I thought I’d help out with your picks for this week …might give you some inspirational picks to include or maybe just a lot of picks to leave out full stop. here’s what I’d be entering if still in comp - 1. Randwick R2. 3/16 2. Randwick R3. 2/6 3. Randwick R4. 6/8 4. Randwick R5. 8/9 5. Randwick R7. 3/7 BB 6. Randwick R8. 3/8 7. Randwick R9. 2/17 8. Morphettville R4. 2BB 9. Morphettville R5 4/14 10. Morphettville R6. 4/8 11. Morphettville R7. 1/5 12. Morphettville R8. 11/12 and no cheating …I’m keeping an eye out for anybody who just cuts and paste this and if powers to be delete this post I won’t be offended