Tauhei Notts

Guarav Sharma's comments about the Minister of Racing was the biggest Indian ambush since The Little Bighorn.

I am disappointed with the opinion put out by management of Auckland Thoroughbred Racing. Ellerslie is such a wonderful place. One of the few where it is possible to enjoy group one racing on the outside, and a great picnic race meeting if you are on the infield. I recall taking my parents there for the 2nd January meeting about 40 years ago. I parked in the infield and by the time we got to the underpass I was starving. We had been past people barbequing beef steak, lamb chops, onions etc and the smell was divine. Imagine you are a lowly earning Polynesian, so much of your income tithed to the church, and you want to enjoy New Year's Day; a day to celebrate all the optimism of a new year. In the old days you could buy your grog and all the barbeque stuff from the supermarket and enjoy a wonderful day out. At a cost that you could afford. But some far quit misbehaved and the "dudge" waved a wet bus ticket over the miscreant's head. ATR (in those days the ARC) management were forced to forbid bring your own grog to the infield. I had enjoyed the hospitality of some of the infield people after the last race on New Year's day. By that time of the day my hosts were suitably lubricated; what a fun time. All gone. A pity.

Okay, Ohokaman. Please explain how a gentleman, such as yourself, who writes such good sense on the thoroughbred blog, more particularly about European racing; how come such a seemingly wise man can write abject far kin rubbish on this part of Racecafe.

I read where Vin Scully, the most gifted story teller and master of the graceful phrase, one of America's best sports writers, has died. It is a pity that the son of Sportswriter, that bears his name did not rise to such heights. But it was a clever name to give a son of Sportswriter.

Gruff, those porous masks are about as good as a wire mesh fence to keep mosquitos out.

I am concerned about the funds our TAB pays to sporting bodies. I looked through the April - June 2022 figures for Points Bet Holdings, a listed Australian company. Their Canadian subsidiary held sports bets totalling CAD16,000,000. Their net win on that turnover was CAD200,000. Yes, that's right. 1.25% of turnover. Sports betting is nowadays hugely competitive and various sporting outfits will be looking for a big payout on all the huge betting turnover they generate. But that betting has a minuscule profit. In sports betting turnover is an irrelevant figure. Nett margin is a much more important figure, and really, the only figure that matters.

An interesting thing about the Buckland end is that it is in the Waikato Region. So if Auckland got another Covid-19 lock down trainers from the Buckland end could still attend Waikato race meetings.

Seven to one ON, in a group race and she got BEATEN!!!

Chris' comment on Waipa is interesting. I have always thought that Rotorua and Waipa are great tracks for 600 metre educational trials for two year olds.

I looked at the N.Z. Broodmares' sires list. I noticed that in the current (nearly finished) season Shinko King had 14 winners from 30 starters and Stravinsky had 35 winners from 79 starters. They seemed to have the best percentage of winners to runners.

Cubes, if she calls again tell her that the best and the most imaginative interior designers are bent blokes. Female interior designers are more tied up in menstrual and menopausal problems and so a split complementary colour scheme is beyond their narrow and limited judgment.

Awapuni would, of course, have public liability insurance. I get the impression the insurers have had the Awapuni Administration shut the fuck up and say nothing. That is a pity as we are unable to hear the other side of the story. From what we have seen it would appear that Gary Vile has been treated in a deplorable manner by reprehensible people. I would love to know the whole complete ugly unvarnished truth.

Last Monday I was critical of Frankie Dettori. But not as critical as the Gosden Yard. They have awarded Frankie the "DCM". And that is most certainly NOT the Distinguished Conduct Medal!!!

My review of Ascot 2022. Stradivarius would have won the Gold Cup if James McDonald had stood in for Frankie Dettori. Frankie, that was not a ride to be proud of. Holloway Boy in the Chesham Stakes; he looks like a bit of alright!!! The last race on Saturday; I thought the umpires would have called "bad light stopped play".

The winner of the last race run summed up the organisation.

I wanted to see $12,000 races stay at $12,000!!! BUT, for all $12,000 races all base riders fees to be paid by NZTR, together with a $200 starter's allowance for every starter. That way, it does not cost so much to find out that your horse is no good. And you will be encouraged to go and buy another one.

I think that fireworks display immediately prior to The Derby was damned stupid.

That video of the Oaks was filmed from cameras on the finishing line. I recorded the Oaks and the telecast on our Trackside was from a camera at the 2 furlong peg, and after that they switched to the camera at the finishing post. At the 2 furlong peg Emily Upjohn had cruised up and had a length on the hard ridden Tuesday. Tuesday may have gone too soon, and she was in front at the 1/2 furlong peg, judging by the shadows each of them showed on the track. Tuesday's effort to hold on, after having gone too soon, was that of another tough, hard and consistent performer sired by Galileo. In this instance I believe the plaudits aimed at Emily Upjohn are misplaced. I watched a replay of the Diomed Stakes this morning. The camera shot at the 2 furlong peg showed the leader, on the outside, clear by two lengths. The front on shot from the winning post camera, was very deceptive, at that stage of the race. Prior to goin to Te Rapa I set My Sky to record the races, so that, on course, I can go and watch the races live from the far end of the public stand. It gives one a different perspective of how the race is run.

I recorded the Derby and saw a mere two seconds of that. I thought it had been removed to avoid giving the protesters the thing they enjoy more than anything else; "publicity". It would seem that the feed we get here in N.Z. just shows the screen with no talking whilst the British endure 60 seconds of advertising. There was a similar break in the telecast prior to the Oaks.

When the Kaimai rail tunnel was opened in September 1978, Toby won the Tunnel Cup at Matamata on a horse with doubtful parentage. That horse had won its maiden at Matamata the previous month. Toby looks like a young bloke in that photo, which is still in my home office.

Hey, Stodge; brilliant quinella!

Interesting chat with my second brother, who is now 76 years old. In the third, fourth and fifth forms he played in the under 7 stone 7lbs grade. That is, under 48kg! Their team was very successful. We wondered how a school these days would find a team of runts to play in that weight grade. He tells me that the team included some aspiring apprentice jockeys. One of them fathered a good jockey named Shane Dye; another player was a full brother to Black Kirrama.

I saw Lester win on Milkwood at Scotsville, in Pietermaritzburg, about 1975. Lester wasn't ready at the start but the starter let them go anyway. He settled six or more lengths behind the second last horse and in the straight came through the middle of the field to win. Unbelievable.

Berri, could you be so kind as to post on here when Sun And Heir is nominated. After Emily Upjohn, your forward looking posts are appreciated.

I saw the Midget earlier today and he tells me the esteemed "Yaldie" is to be replaced by a huge shopping centre. The top deck of the public stand at Trentham = gone. The top deck of the public stand at Riccarton = gone. My favourite pub in Chch = nearly gone. My favourite drinking place in Auckland = gone. Nostalgia is not what it used to be.