poundforpound

My five cents worth It’s a bit sad to see VE going under these circumstances, she can’t really gain anything much here, the downside is enormous for her reputation, and well-being, and based on her last campaign here she’s no longer competitive at the elite level. It’s the owners prerogative though, they’ve got the gold so they make the rules, but they probably should’ve gone 18 months ago if they really wanted to win an Arc Her finest hour was undoubtedly the Melbourne Cup and she’s been on the slide since Re the two sprinters, Nature Strip will trot up in the Kings Stand, he’s a classic Ascot uphill powerful actioned type and will also be very competitive if he backs up in the Jubilee Home Affairs is top class too but he hasn’t yet handled the old horses ( am I right there ? ) so it’s harder to label him a good thing, but you know he’ll be set for it given it’ll double his stallion value

Good point, …..dementia clearly kicking in You do get decent horses running there ( July Cup ) but I still think that bloody big dip needs attention

Always happy to listen…..until you mention Wolverhampton, Kempton Park, any other all weather track British racing ( in my mind ) is limited to York, Doncaster, Newbury, Ascot, Epsom and Goodwood The rest are just for education, or practice runs for Cheltenham

Oh, makes sense I’ve known BerriFruit for about 40 years, and we both love the same woman, so I tend to defer to him by default when I need expert advice on these upper class / posh matters

I wasn’t aware Emily Upjohn could vote !! I did watch her Sandown win last night, she was quite resolute there, in an average sort of a race ……and Frankie was certainly enthusiastic about her…but he often is gushy As for Wolverhampton….spare me that rubbish I still think she’s a promising mile and half plus horse who needs a good gallop, give in the ground, and a decent flat track Why wouldn’t you be looking at the Arc if she’s improving and ends up good enough, she’ll get an off track there, or the Leger if she’s not quite up there with the best ?

Interesting filly I don’t doubt she’ll get the trip but she’s not really an Epsom type for mine, more of an Ascot type, not light enough on her feet for Epsom, and she won’t like coming down the hill with that action. She’s also a bit uptight early in her races don’t you think ?, and if they get a decent crowd she might just get fried pre race I’d be laying her if it’s good ground and a big crowd Are they much of a crop this year, the fillies that is ?.. BerriFruit, you know your English form Be fun to watch though, as the classics invariably are ( now she’ll probably trot up by ten !! )

I’m reliably informed that he had no peer Re EU, I’m not convinced that’s a top of the ground action …..any thoughts ?…..mind you Frankie seemed to suggest that ground didn’t help her action York is vastly different to Epsom too in my experience …BerriFruit, is she any good on decent ground ? or down a hill ?

Very hard to get anyone in government ( central or local ) interested in investing in a project of this nature given the issues confronting racing If however it’s privately funded then everything changes You could build a village as the Turner brothers ( Sleepyhead ) are doing at Tahuna, near Huntly, and build your racing facilities around that ….very English Berri, in the Wantage / Lambourn / West Ilsley style I note the Auckland area has a very progressive model underway ….something the new mayor will definitely be supporting

Clements is head of the RIB The R in RIB stands for racing Don’t be afraid to ask me for more life advice … like how to stand erect, and wear jandals

A concerned ratepayer just sent me this, knowing law and order is a big part of my mayoral campaign…in fact I own that space Look whose name is all over it….and now reflect on Auckland City, and in particular the Fort St precinct where this downtown station was …it’s fooked and in chaos Anyone worried about his ability to ( not ) deliver for racing ? Safety fears as police shut Downtown base - NZ Herald https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/safety-fears-as-police-shut-downtown-base/UNWGPVLCORTFUB4JLPU7KDIK7A/

If close inbreeding is a problem then Rangiora is in big, big, trouble 97% of people from North Canterbury only have one set of grandparents

I don’t think PETONE is a problem any more is it ? The issues of waste, 14 million dollars worth of waste, indulgence, incompetence, and ignorance seem to be centered on a building in Green Lane Auckland, with a big flash RIB written on the door I’d be taking 80% of that money off the Racing Incompetence Board and using it to assist in educating raceday staff, and young horses

I saw that penalty howler !!! I think Labour devised the plan on how to take that penalty.

Stipes / RIB usually do that wee job don’t they ?

Very good point Bobbit I didn’t want to point the finger ( Berri Fruit did it for me though !! ) but yes, there’s clearly a horse education related issue here I suspect we’re spending our industry money in the wrong places, 14 million on the RIB now, flash new offices for them, people are telling me the industry is funding equipment purchases for the privately owned racing laboratory … but the basics are being neglected and we’re all paying a high price Yesterdays fiasco was a symptom, the cause is arguably a scarcity of competent professionals running the actual day to day racing component of the industry

Seems a bit unfair to single any one out….babies kept waiting too long then feeding off each other’s anxiety…..however the bloke behind the gates swishing the rod / stick is putting himself at risk given the unfortunate recent treatment of Sir Mark Todd

Well wasn’t that a shambles …starting ten minutes over time …three late scratchings

She’s riding the same lengths you used to Midget

Exactly what I thought Something is rather odd about this case As I said earlier, animal abusers typically abuse all animals in their care ….not the occasional one or two

Seems odd though What’s Harris’ relationship with the lady Rae, where the horse had been spelling ? Would Harris have been in effective control of the horse during its spell ? Are their two properties somehow linked ? I simply don’t know but the article implies he wasn’t and that the mare was retired to another independent location…..however if he was in control then he should be accountable as clearly there should’ve been earlier veterinary intervention …much earlier It does still seem odd though given that animal abusers seldom abuse a single animal, they typically abuse all animals in their care, yet that doesn’t seem to be the case here

Further to this sad case ….does it concern others here that you have a non racing prosecutor, a non racing JCA panel, and RIB investigators who have no history in racing …..using an RIB contracted veterinarian to effect a prosecution Once again I reiterate…I’m not supporting PH, nor am I passing judgement…but surely we should have more representation from experienced racing people in what could be a career ending prosecution, if it’s successful of course At the very least the investigating body should use someone with expert racing experience to offer a balanced and fair approach shouldn’t they ? otherwise this becomes a bit of a kangaroo court, or to use a parallel, a bit like a Super Rugby judiciary made up of soccer players

There’s only one person being nasty here Scooby….you know who it is…..and one elsewhere….a fairly low achieving rival trainer from Chch ……..you know how to deal with them ( presuming they’re one and the same person ) so do it please If it matters my view is that these allegations are sad, and shameful, if they’re true, however, if there’ve been no other horses involved from that stable we should give PH the benefit of the doubt until it’s proved otherwise

I’m sure all other horses in his care have been assessed already

Shocking indeed, if it’s true I’d be just as shocked by the RIB using Steve Symon of Meredith Connell ( Auckland ) to prosecute the case though This is not murder, it’s animal cruelty, and whilst it’s reprehensible if true, does it really warrant the hugely expensive use of Meredith Connell……in other words is there no limit to the RIBs penchant for spending money the industry doesn’t have ? An RIB salaried investigator could have prosecuted this surely

But the new RIB / RIU is costing the industry 14 million per annum….surely things are getting better