Fredd002

24https://www.racenet.com.au/news/international-riding-great-brent-thomson-back-riding-trackwork-for-the-ciaron-maher-camp-at-the-age-of-66-20240415?fbclid=IwAR3eAgQr0fZB-GK9aVcfMPnn4epYMWUkRPQqLw4St7xH-eND7hUlgoEPEMQ03-155081

Wasn't there a "competent" senior handicapper in the position who left, but still works in the NZTR/TAB organisation? Why wouldn't Dennis Quirke be suitable for this role again?

https://www.racenet.com.au/news/leading-queensland-jockey-kyle-wilsontaylor-scores-ride-in-group-1-new-zealand-day-20240305

Admittedly, his performance at Pukekohe riding 7 winners was a great achievement., but how long do we have to listen to our commentators and, Trackside announcers, refer to him as the Wizard of Waz given that since Pukekohe, his winning strike rate % has not been too great and even, prior to Pukekohe.

Off to Hong Kong I'm writing to let you know that David Eustace has taken up a great opportunity to train in Hong Kong, meaning he will be finishing up with Ciaron Maher Racing at the end of January. This is a real bittersweet moment for CMR - bitter because it will be difficult to replace someone with David’s skills and work ethic – and just a great human being. Sweet as it’s a fitting reward for David and at the same time gives us a great opportunity to continue to evolve and develop from within. In elite sport there is always fluidity at the top. The best and most successful operations recognise this and plan accordingly. We have a basic rule of thumb: everyone in a senior position must be replaceable - and that includes me. Even losing someone of David’s skills gives our highly talented group of assistants the opportunity to step up and have an even greater input, and with that will come new thinking and fresh initiatives. The reality is, there have been rumours for some time and a man of David’s profile and reputation was always going to be in hot demand. This has allowed for us to plan for this for over 12 months and I am confident that we’ve never been in a better position to absorb this departure. Joh Gerard-Dubord has been doing an outstanding job running our Sydney stable where we currently sit third in the NSW Trainers Premiership. Jack Turnbull has hugely improved our performance in Cranbourne, driving an elite high-performance culture, and my brother Declan continues to do great work in Ballarat in developing our next champions. Each supported by an elite team that represents the future of CMR. Of course we will miss David, but I am looking forward to the fresh input and initiatives that come with change, and am absolutely confident that we will continue to get better. On a personal level I just want to thank David. He has been alongside me from the early days through thick and thin. I know we couldn’t have reached our current position as Champion trainers of Australia without him - and his Hong Kong appointment is recognition of that. I am certain he will be very successful there. This is not the end of our relationship just a new chapter and both of us are confident that our relationship will continue in some form that will be to the benefit of both operations and their owners. David said, “As Ciaron said, it’s a bittersweet day. Obviously I am thrilled to be offered the position in Hong Kong, it has always been a dream of mine since I was a boy. It's exciting and a challenge I will relish, however I will miss being part of this extraordinary operation. I left a foreman’s job with the Snowden’s in Sydney to become Ciaron’s assistant in a small to medium sized yard at Caulfield and look at CMR now! I will forever be grateful to Ciaron for the opportunities he has given me, for teaching me so much, to opening my eyes to the importance of data and analytics and the fundamental importance of sports science. I have also had the pleasure of working with an extraordinary team of people and I want to thank them all for helping me get this opportunity. I particularly want to thank you, the owners, without whom none of this would be possible. Not only have you been exceptionally supportive and understanding but many of you have become good friends. I want to reassure you that CMR will not miss a beat when I leave. As a wiser man than me has said “judge me not by what happens when I am here but by what happens when I am not”. I agree with Ciaron this isn’t the end of the relationship, just the next step.” Since David joined the ticket in 2018, we have won over 1600 races, including 30 Group 1s, have won the Victorian Trainers Championship for four consecutive years, and are the reigning holders of the National Trainers Championship in 2022/23 – highlighted by the Melbourne Cup win of Gold Trip. The memories that we have shared together will forever be a part of Ciaron Maher Racing, but this is the reality of top sporting organisations, and that’s exactly what we are. We will continue to develop elite global training talent, with David’s Hong Kong opportunity following in the footsteps of leading trainers Annabel Neasham, Lucy Yeomans and Jack Bruce also serving their apprenticeships through the stable. I want to thank you all for your unwavering support and assure you that we will not miss a beat in the new year. David and I will be sitting down to do an interview that will air on Channel Seven’s Racing Broadcast this Saturday at 2pm (AEDT), which I encourage you to watch as it will be an opportunity for both a reflection on what we’ve achieved, and a look at what the future holds. Have a Merry Christmas and a safe and Happy New Year Ciaron Maher

Maher/Eustace charge just over $170/day AUD, which covers training, supplements plus Work Cover surcharge. Then there are track fees, race day staff, transport, agistment, farrier, dentistry, chiropractic and routine stable treatments from the vet. For a stakes winner, who raced 5 times for a couple of wins and a couple of 2nd placings in metro Victoria, I paid approx.$1,300/mth, from purchase until death, for a 20% share

Michelle Pickens is their TAB media manager. Her job is described as - Michelle currently works at the NZ Racing Board where she manages all the on-air talent, including presenters, commentators and radio hosts.

CMR (Maher and Eustace) have over 240 staff and over 1,000 horses on their books. This is spread over their training establishments at Ballarat, Cranbourne and, Warwick Farm with satellite -in-house training establishments at Bong Bong (NSW), Pakenham, Cavallino and Fingal. Every owner gets an in-depth weekly update of their horse plus weekly stable updates. Far superior ownership experience than I have received from NZ trainers

Zac I watched him interview Lisa after the Winter Cup. Instead of looking at her and acknowledging her answers or comments, so he could ask his next question, he was looking and concentrating on his mobile. Either looking at his next question or, reading a text from his admirer saying "I saw you on TV". Totally unprofessional. In a live environment an interviewers next question should be based on the answer just given.

https://www.racenet.com.au/news/revealed-racing-victorias-radical-plan-to-shake-up-horse-racing-20230728?fbclid=IwAR2xFQGFMWvhF83w55zesGdMi5TF-QX6_7_aP0XghMeDVkAPnpczlO3Wt1o

Knowing some of the participants on here, I thought some may have taken advantage of the typo.

Posting deadline?? Should that be 11.50am????

https://www.justhorseracing.com.au/news/australian-racing/ben-gleeson-to-head-te-akaus-cranbourne-stable/780953

RV have now issued show cause notices to owners and trainers of the horses ridden by Wiremu whilst he was riding with an incorrect apprentice allowance in Melbourne. Be interested in hearing how this confusion between NZTR and RV occurred. Does not appear to a problem caused by Wiremu. https://www.justhorseracing.com.au/news/australian-racing/stier-provides-clarity-on-rvs-show-cause-action/778246

Latest out of Melbourne relating to Wiremu. https://www.racenet.com.au/news/australian-trainers-flock-to-rising-star-kiwi-jockey-wiremu-pinn-ahead-of-winter-season-20230602?fbclid=IwAR3ET7m9fhMCzSFlLbdLdhwl_NjZq4tp0vuOMeYh0Fgj33wIIU1SahuO0Ds

Rode another winner yesterday, as well as a third. He was allowed by Racing Victoria to transfer his apprenticeship to trainer Michael Kent Sr, for at least 3 months. If he keeps performing well and keeps out of the eye of the stipes, I don't think he will return.

It has been a bad few weeks with falls in Victorian races. https://www.racenet.com.au/news/jockey-dean-holland-with-critical-injuries-after-shocking-fall-at-donald-20230424?fbclid=IwAR1NNnT79BKAkzftfIYyTnC1wrepJMebaIpIxolT7bAKRcsCq-6qquZ5NU0

to have had shareholdings in these smart gallopers previously or, are we not told about his unsuccessful investments?. https://www.racing.com/news/2023-04-10/news-gold-trips-cup-sells-for-$800k?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=rdcedm&utm_id=2023

Still some pretty good results out of the latest Inglis sales despite, some buyers advising they will be a little more circumspect, given the current economic environment. https://inglis.com.au/live

Over the past six months, TAB NZ has engaged with a range of world-class operators in relation to a strategic partnering arrangement to achieve TAB NZ’s objectives and growth ambitions. For some time, TAB NZ has faced increasing competition, rising costs, capital constraints as well as other challenges, which have impacted its ability to deliver adequate funding to racing and sports. These challenges are expected to increase. In order to achieve our objectives and growth ambitions, the TAB NZ Board and management considered that it was in the best interest of TAB NZ and its stakeholders to explore a strategic partnering arrangement with a world-class international wagering operator who would run the majority of TAB NZ’s operations. We received several compelling proposals and today, we have announced that Entain has been selected as TAB NZ’s preferred partner for a 25-year strategic partnering arrangement, subject to approval by the Minister for Racing. Entain was selected as our preferred partner based on a wide range of criteria, including operational expertise, cultural alignment with TAB NZ and their commitment to uplifting TAB NZ’s harm minimisation and responsible gambling efforts. To be clear the TAB NZ brand will remain in New Zealand. This signals an important step in boosting the futures of racing, sport and communities for a generation. TAB NZ faced an uncertain future in a David and Goliath battle with international wagering operators and a lack of capital to both compete and meet its potential. Today’s announcement is a significant milestone toward the transformation of TAB NZ and those who rely upon its growth and long-term success. This proposed strategic arrangement provides a certain, material and immediate uplift in the funding we can provide New Zealand racing and sports ensuring that these industries not only survive, but indeed thrive. It will allow us to greatly improve our harm minimisation and responsible gambling efforts, and provides immediate job security and long-term job creation in New Zealand to the advancement of our nation at large. Entain is a global and world-class operator who will deliver industry best practice and an elevated and safe experience for New Zealand punters, as well as racing and sports fans. We are deeply excited by their commitment to New Zealand and this opportunity. I appreciate as a valued TAB NZ customer, you may have a number of questions and I will share more with you once the Ministerial approval process has run its course. I can assure you that this proposed agreement will deliver you a world-class betting experience, utilising all of Entain’s expertise, while maintaining our deep-seated commitment to fuelling the future of New Zealand racing, sport and communities. Ngā mihi Mike Tod

https://www.racenet.com.au/news/2023-australian-guineas-result-and-replay-20230304?fbclid=IwAR02PG5hgV1I1U-W0GzTURI4fDavTq5gO90qZWO385pJhoQ5dvP96-jjxI4 Top young Victorian jockey. Rode our horse in Melbourne for several wins and placings, and is a gifted jockey. All the best for a speedy recovery. Maybe jockeys tried to take gaps, which were not quite there at the time

This is Mildura after a shower of rain recently. https://www.sunraysiadaily.com.au/news/6035901/mildura-raceourse-flood-pics

Hey Hi Ho. Your maths make sense but your logic certainly doesn't. 141 dwellings per floor??? Really??? That assumes one 6 storey building to get the 850 houses/units. Even common sense indicates this is a ridiculous statement. Perhaps the first fact you should obtain is - "where is the surplus land" then, maybe some realistic comment will follow.

What odds was the TAB offering for WnP to be the first at the post with a round to go? This sort of betting option could certainly be open to abuse especially, where the horse has little chance of finishing in the prize money.

Alf, I was at Flemington in September watching my horse, and after each race two groups, of about 10 in each group, came onto the straight with their wooden stamps and evened out the running lines as best they could. I suppose that's the difference between NZ and Oz racing and tracks .