Red Rum

Didn't meant to double topic up , got bit mixed up with buttons . Sorry

A few runners that I thought were interesting this weekend , India at Te Rapa . 3 time winner over 2400 at Catterick Bridge . Low level track but some big stables send decent maiden fillies there to get head in front . Valachi and Cambridge Studs seem to be getting a few of these fillies down here from good staying families so good on them . This one half sister to Big Orange from a Stud that has been breeding good horses to race themselves for years .Distance should be way too short today though on known form . I like High Bridge in Sydney today , trip ideal could be his turn. Mega Heart ex Oh Romeo here from South Island and Tangmere the Frankel Karaka Sale topper from few years back should go well at Sha Tin tomorrow . I see Big Blue been scratched tonight at Cheltenham , was 33 to 1 . Looked decent ew value . Poms might be dismissing him bit early . He is decent chance of winning somewhere up there and could be at big odds .No chance at festival though. Anyone else got something to look out for ?

A few runners that I thought were interesting this weekend , India at Te Rapa . 3 time winner over 2400 at Catterick Bridge . Low level track but some big stables send decent maiden fillies there to get head in front . Valachi and Cambridge Studs seem to be getting a few of these fillies down here from good staying families so good on them . This one half sister to Big Orange from a Stud that has been breeding good horses to race themselves for years .Distance should be way too short today though on known form . I like High Bridge in Sydney today , trip ideal could be his turn. Mega Heart ex Oh Romeo here from South Island and Tangmere the Frankel Karaka Sale topper from few years back should go well at Sha Tin tomorrow . I see Big Blue been scratched tonight at Cheltenham , was 33 to 1 . Looked decent ew value . Poms might be dismissing him bit early . He is decent chance of winning somewhere up there and could be at big odds .No chance at festival though.

Ryan Moore can come across as aloof at times , nothing can be further from reality , he comes from a legendary national hunt family , his grandad was a wheeler dealer and from down south of England made money from pulling off touches in selling hurdles with broken down cast offs he nursed back and ran on the Plumpton and Fontwell circuit , and Brighton on the flat . As in all good families the next generation was given a better start . Ryan's dad has had and still has some real nice horses ridden by Ryan's brother Jamie and is a very good trainer . Years ago I was at Plumpton and Moores granddad had a runner . An old fella in bar told me that he had odd horse with him over years . Once he said there was horse in the yard with dodgy feet . Charlie Moore had noticed that when he ate jellied eggs from seafront in Brighton his finger nails grew quicker so he started to dollop eel jelly into horses feed and mix it in , feet repaired over time races won .Might have been BS I was told but might be something in it .

JM certainly is class no doubt at all , he's done it in Brazil, Singapore and HK , it was only a language exam that stopped him getting long term Japan contract I think I read . Bar Brazil that's three tracks , no travel closed shop in main with smallish horse populations . Likes of Dettori and to lessor extent Moore now he has bagged the big ones here sometimes get a bad wrap in these parts which is odd . They ride the big money future stallions straight off a plane any jurisdiction , any surface , any distance then back on plane and repeat . Not saying JM couldn't do it , iam 100 pc sure he could with right backing but it's a whole new ball game than rocking up at Kranji and Sha Tin every day .

Racing is falling off mainstream news , I read article by decent sportswriter the other day about sport heading to Saudi for big money , sportwashing they are calling it ., As he listed the sport events hosted or due to be hosted including a small cycle event I thought he must mention the new big flash race meeting in Feb but not a mention . However he not paid to boost racing PR .

Dettori had his usual offshore nightmare you state . Have you had a decent look at his record of big race wins across many many countries all over globe , he transcends racing not many names do . He has had a couple of poor rides in Cup and suddenly his usual offshore nightmare comes out .Master Reality holds on its a top ride but still placed at decent odds . It wasn't his best ride ever late on but that's sport . If you get time enlighten me which jock has a better offshore CV currently riding ,or retired from riding , and why heavyweights of racing world want him on .He's been doing the business for years and will pick up a few more of the crown jewels of world racing before he retires . He has ridden some cracker races last few years . What's his offshore nightmares, Max Dynamite , Master Reality , did he balls up Almandin ride , I cannot recall I think that horse was past best .

I think adults who should know better letting very young children listen to doom merchants saying world ending soon might not be healthy mentally either . Different subject but why the Fuxx would people take young kids to such things when Iam sure a 10 year old cannot do a lot about it . What happened to adults with backbone saying ear little lad dont worry mate sleep tight and taking on the stress for them .I can see conversation in future " What did you do as a youngster mum and dad " " your nan and grandad worried me shitless" .

If MB was in HK tonight she would just about be favorite . Anthony Van Dyck, Arthero , Indy Champ and Magic Wand would be my 5p win Yankee tonight . The old bet I did as kid every week , 55p it cost . 11 bets two needed home for a collect .

Maybe a weaker Group 1 by internationals standards but seen worse would be my thoughts .The formlines around Melody Belle lifts it so she has done race a favour from lines leading in and if Magic Wand wins tomorrow or runs close MB will get further kudos . Some tough multiple winners too . I like Magic Wand tomorrow , getting head in front last time won't have done her no harm .

Who of those fighting the " war on drugs" have blood on their hands " .Drug dealers are scum who use vulnerable people to do their dirty work , that's my experience anyway .

Would all ex jock stipes panels be a problem with conflict of interest or perceived conflicts of interest . Ex stable jock chair of panel in protest against Derby winner from his ex stable might not look good . Not saying they would be bias but perception is important .

But a jury on a jury trial have hopefully never murdered anyone but they judge guilt in murder trial so have no experience in actually doing the deed , hopefully the rest of players in courtroom likewise bar the person in dock. Most courtrooms judge acts they have never done themselves so a stipes room similar , maybe an ex jock as SME might be idea .

Gravitelle looked very handy once she put her head down and got rolling in last 100 in later race . Comes from Lord Derby's stud , damside has Ouiji Board appearing in it , a globetrotting superstar and has produced a Derby winner as well as a few high priced yearlings . Good staying pedigree as Frontiersman who Godolphin brought another good stayer from family .

Stipes report up now on NZTR site with results .