We're Doomed

The Aussie commentators on both channels kept hyping up all the exciting racing coming up at Trentham. Bit embarrassing when they cross over and there are 16 people and 2 dogs on track. I feel sorry for the southern trainers and owners who went to all the trouble to sail across and none of the locals could be bothered. I bet some wish they had gone to Kumara instead, a lot more atmosphere.

I think they charge quite a bit to get in as well.

Or drunk a big bottle of wine.

Good to see the jockey get a decent win as well.

I watched the Bozo race and it never passed a runner the entire race. It was hardly as if the jock waited too long and flashed home late.

Largely NZ black type of course, which is a bit suspect these days.

Mark Walker effectively did that one day. Said the horse that had just won had probably reached its mark and didn't have much upside. Refreshingly honest I thought.

I don't really know that NZ racing administrators are in great demand overseas in recent times. Having said that I'm sure many of us would be quite pleased to see some of them go off in search of greater fame.

I am far from a fan of the AWTs. I am suggesting that NZTR view the AWTs as much more important to NZ racing than the likes of Wairoa, Gisborne, Marlborough, Hokitika, Banks Peninsula, Timaru, Oamaru, Waimate, Foxton, Paeroa, Thames etc etc. I am not saying I agree with NZTR's approach.

There are certain trainers who have kept some of the racing circuits going over the years, Wairoa, Gisborne, Nelson, Marlborough, West Coast etc. Despite their efforts the powers that be keep closing down those circuits on a whim. You can hardly blame those trainers for thinking why should we bother. They are probably just as well off training horses up for AWT racing which seems to be the way of the future.

3 wins and 3 placings, only out of the money once. SI riders not so bad after all.

I don't think I could be much clearer. I was referring to the WINNERS of the four classics and ever the Karaka. It is the winners people remember. I have no doubt some of the placegetters will go on to do great things.

I was preferring specifically to the winners of the 4 classics, 1,000 and 2,000 Guineas, Derby and Oaks. You could even throw in the Karaka race. Other than Legarto the others are either retired or out of form. I really was hoping Sharp N Smart might have given us our first Derby winner to go on with it for many years. I have no doubt some handy 3yos from last season will come up trumps and the two you mentioned do look the two most likely, but the Classics winners have a pretty ordinary record over recent years. From memory the only Derby winner over the last 10 years or more who has done anything much as an older horse would be Mongolian Khan with his Caulfield Cup.

It continues the appalling record over recent years of the top classic winning 3yos not going on with it as older horses. If any crop of 3yos looked like they might do it it was last seasons. Now it is down to Legarto and Sharp N Smart, and the latter looks a bit of a worry at the moment.

Looked like a good day's racing at Ashburton. My god they don't get past that Swedish girl when she's in front, she can certainly keep them going.

Certainly was impressive. I thought Pam's stayer went a great race at Invercargill on the weekend as well. Stable on a roll.

The race was very nearly won by a rating 65 horse, which wouldn't have done much for its status. As it is you would assume it would be under a warning after this season.

It wasn't too bad a call, although "the world is watching" might have been pushing it a bit. I think it might have been the first time the interdoms had been in Queensland for 20 years or so, so they would have been excited to see a local winner, and he was impressive. The great parochial race call older folks might remember was the famous Bob Lovett "Ben for the north" great northern derby in the early 80's, and he got beaten.

I don't think it was originally called the Captain Cook, I don't recall it called that anyhow. It must be the most travelled race in the history of NZ racing: been held in just about every month between Oct and March and had many names over the years.

Perhaps a bit harsh. I see the Riccarton AWT was used just yesterday. Thank god it was available. Obviously no traditional grass tracks available anywhere in Canty or nearby. The only low grade meeting in Canty for 7 weeks too. I have no idea how the SI survived before we had the AWTs.

Walker and Tata might be a bit bemused, 17 starters for the season and 35th on the trainers list by winners and they find themselves ineligible. Even Sharrock down at 21 on the list finds himself too good for the race in question. I suppose Lance Noble the lucky one, and even Roger James.

I have noticed a few random meetings scattered about the place where the whole card is $25,000 races. Riccarton on the AWT this week, then Rotorua on Sunday are just two current ones. There doesn't seem to be any logic about it. Riccarton is about as low a key meeting as you could possibly get. Is this a new grade of meeting that I have missed seeing discussed? Often meetings with $18,500 races seen to attract better fields, for various reasons. This Riccarton meeting is the only lower grade meeting in Canty for 7 weeks, at a peak time of year. Putting it on the AWT seems strange enough in the first place, then boosting the stakes seems unnecessary when I'm sure there are many trainers who would love a racing opportunity on a grass track for $18,500. It's almost as if NZTR is saying "we may not give you many lower grade opportunities, but when we do you can race for $25,000, and tough if you get balloted".

I have noticed that in Australia many of the top commentators seem to retire gracefully when they are still on the top of their game. We have seen this in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne over recent years. And their replacements have generally turned out to be just as good.

I have often meant to ask that myself. Sounds like some sort of in joke. I am sure many would be interested to know what it means. I always assumed the trainer must run a chicken farm.

Now that Tony has gone, surely they should get that commentator over to do the Wgtn Cup in future. Entain should be able to organise that.