gubellini

Yes definetely Alan as confirmed in the 1977 DB Racing Annual.

Alan Thompson I think. He was a former President of the Counties Racing Club.

Rev yes Alf put on a masterclass last Saturday. Reminded me of his namesake Alf who was by Masterclass- very smart 2yo owned by Mark Chittick and Watson Bloodstock and trained by Dave and Paul O'Sullivan. He won three of his six starts at two including the 1998 Sires' Produce Stake at Randwick.

Lot 138 Indecision Lot 174 Lady Cartier Lot 224 Midnight Revels Lot 360 Rondinella

New selections Rosehill R7- 2,6. Thanks.

Wingatui R5- 1,10 BB Wingatui R7- 1,13 Wingatui R9- 1,2 New Plymouth R4- 5,7 New Plymouth R6- 11,13 New Plymouth R7- 1,3 Rosehill R5- 1,6 Rosehill R6- 2,4 Rosehill R7- 2,10 Rosehill R8- 2,9 Caulfield R7- 7,8 BB Caulfield R8- 1,7 Good luck all.

Ohokaman on the first day back racing at Ellerslie on the 14th of January they had the rail out 7m. In hindsight it may have been better to have it in the true position so the inside ground could be consolidated. They put it in the true position on the big day on Saturday on ground that hadn't been galloped on. Might have been a factor why three horses slipped?

Ohokaman Ken Kelso was misquoted when he was reported as saying Legarto "lost her footing". She didn't. Check the Stewards Report- it was Holymanz that "briefly lost its footing passing the 600 metres". Legarto was on his inside at that point. Check the video. It will confirm that Legarto did not slip.

BGP were very unlucky on Saturday. Also last year at the corresponding meeting. Prior to that they did very well. No argument that they have boosted turnovers dramatically and attracted a new generation into racing not only for punting but for future ownership and other involvements in racing.

Regarding my query about BGP getting a rebate on their investments on Saturday I have been informed by them that they didn't. The TAB offer rebates to individual elite punters but not to organisations. I sincerely apologise to BGP if I have caused any upset to them.

Two questions remain for me- Did BGP get a rebate on their massive bets? If so did they share the rebate with their investors?

Tony there are a multitude of reasons why horses run poorly. I was at Tauranga on January 12 and observed two well backed horses that were obviously sore in the birdcage. Both ran last. February and March are months when viruses thrive. Some well backed horses will fail because they are in the early stages of a virus. They will be eating and working well and have clear nasal passages but under the stress of racing they will fail. Punting is not for the faint hearted!

Over generations new racing punters have thought they could reinvent the wheel. The wheel is still turning but the new punters keep burning.

Tony check the Stewards Report. It begins Madame Giselle raced keenly in the early and middle stages. When horses do this they aren't breathing properly and go into oxygen debt at the end of their races. Stolen Decree didn't help her cause in the straight but she was never going to place. When she races more tractably she will be competitive.

Ellerslie R1- 1,5 Ellerslie R2- 1,4 Ellerslie R3- 1,9 Ellerslie R4- 10,11 Ellerslie R5- 2,12 Ellerslie R6- 10,12 BB Randwick R1- 2,6 Randwick R2- 1,13 Randwick R3- 2,4 Randwick R7- 8,12 The Valley R9- 3,8 BB The Valley R10- 6,8 Good luck all.

The rot set in about 25 years ago when Administrators with a thorough knowledge of horses and racing were phased out and gradually replaced by academics with freshly minted business, accounting or communication degrees who knew very little about racing and less about horses. I guess you reap what you sow.

Lady Potent was unplaced in her only start at Hastings over 6f on the 18/4/64.

The devil will be in the detail for these new elite races. What will the nomination and progressive payment fees be? Will they be no more than glorified sweepstakes ? I will await with interest.

A veritable bonanza for racing's elite. Meanwhile at the bottom end stakes will remain unchanged. At Matamata on Wednesday R75, R65 and R60 horses are going around for the same stakes as maidens- $25,000. I suppose we should be grateful that the stakes are not $18,500 as per usual for midweek days.

Flemington R8 New Selections after scratching - 7,14. Thanks.

Trentham R4- 3,6 Trentham R5- 1,2 Trentham R8- 3,4 Trentham R9- 7,11 Trentham R10- 9,13 Gore R9- 1,8 BB Rosehill R2 - 6,9 Rosehill R3- 5,8 Rosehill R7- 2,5 Flemington R7- 1,3 Flemington R8- 2,7 Flemington R9- 9,10 BB Good luck all. Thanks organisers.

Shugar also ran second to Star Harvest in the 1991 Auckland Cup.

Rex Sims trained Shugar a handy stayer who won seven races including two at Flemington.

Her sister Nicole is a Trackside presenter. Her mother Patsy Riley is a current trainer as was her late father Rex Sims.

Tony called the Trials at Foxton today. I can't see any reason why he can't call CD Trials in the future. Entain has no jurisdiction over trial callers as far as I know. Time for CD Clubs to step up and insist that Tony still call their Trial meetings.