gubellini

Good that turnovers are on the rise but hard to be totally positive when Saturday Maiden Races are still being run for a derisory $10,000. Even worse was a Maiden Hurdle Race at Ellerslie on Great Northern day for the same $10,000.

Thank goodness common sense has prevailed. Chris has nine rides at Ashburton tomorrow.

Debbie Harris has an extensive background in racing. She has worked for Robert Patterson and ridden track work in New Plymouth for some time.

On today’s ZB 8.30am News Chris is seeking legal advice and consulting a doctor who specialises in alcohol problems in an effort to get his licence back. He needs eight more wins to eclipse David Walsh’s record win total. According to NZTR and the RIU he is not at present “fit for purpose” to hold a Jockey’s Licence. Seems like a Mexican standoff. I hope it can be resolved sooner rather than later.

Gruff reality is for those who can’t cope with conspiracy theories.

Call me paranoid or way off the beam but are NZTR running an agenda to prevent Chris from overhauling David Walsh’s record of winning rides?

Why have TAB NZ appointed an International Recruitment Agency to select someone for this position? Surely an organisation of this size would have a competent personnel department to do this job and save a six figure fee? So much for cost cutting.

Bert and Dorothy trained at Takanini for a decade or so. Their first winner was the Barney McCahill bred and appropriately named McGuinness. He won his first race for them at Ellerslie on the 16/9/92. He went on to win 6 times from 59 starts.Erincorp was a handy mare for them winning 4 from 41 starts.

crustyngrizzly Exchequer raced 98 times for 10 wins and $126,295. Ray trained him for his first 6 wins then he was sent South to Garth Jackson who won 4 with him including the Greymouth Cup and the Kumara Nuggets.

Rev Super Comet won 7 races from 47 starts. His only win at Te Rapa was on debut on the 25/3/81 ridden by Grant Cooksley. He was 2/2 in the betting and paid $4.50 and $1.70. The race was over 1200m not 1600m. Later in his career he was trained by Harvey Wadham and Shane Laming.

Ray was a successful apprentice winning 55 races. His first win was on Le Plus at Awapuni on the 30/4/66. Four days later he rode a double at Marton on Chatty Girl and Le Plus.

pole Elmar raced 63 times for 9 wins. Dave O’ Sullivan trained her initially but Ray Cleaver trained her at four onwards. For him she won a Dulcie Stakes at Te Rapa and a Kings Plate and Clifford Plate at Ellerslie.

Ray Cleaver was the son of jockey Fred Cleaver. He was apprenticed to Don Grubb at Feilding and George Greene at Takanini before moving to Cambridge. Volare was another good horse he trained there. He trained many good horses at Cranbourne including Honest Politician and Dot Com. His best most recent runner was the Don Eduardo gelding Donarchie the winner of 8 from 74 starts and $187,193.

At last Tim Aldridge has listened to trainers. I refer to Page 7 of today’s RaceForm- he has announced that NZTR will introduce a R74 grade from 19 September. Better late than never.

I have a small share in a three times winning R67 sprinting mare racing in Canterbury. Because there are no R 70 or R72 races being programmed she can only race in Open entry sprints. Last start she ran a creditable fourth in such a race. The winner was winning his 10th race and was rated at 93. The second horse was rated at 80. Having to run horses of this type in open races is like putting a lightweight boxer in the ring with a heavyweight. You are on a hiding to nothing.