matt

And the grandson, Kontiki Park, going well in Australia at the moment. Thorn Park ex Pretty Special (Octagonal ex Snap)

If he was an AUS or NZ bred, he would have been pushed early to show some trial form with the view to flick him off at a profit at a young age to Asia, never to see any races that would show his true ability and lucky to win more than a couple races at all. Perhaps this is where AUS and NZ are going wrong - we have the stock, just not the correct market orientation to support giving our horses the time to develop into what they are naturally predisposed to achieve. The naming, for example, of the 2YO sales creates a misalignment as to what these horses should achieve on the track .... 'ready to run' ... no, these horses aren't ready to run. They are ready for a short spell and some education to show their aptitude at classic and staying level. Marketing especially by the big companies is screwing up the end goal. IMO

what is it on this site with people copying and pasting screeds of garbled text and expecting it to keep the same format as the original site? Sheriff - can't we just have a policy of posting links ... bloody hard to read / keep interested in posts when you have to scroll through a bunch of rubbish!! Sorry ... my gripe for the day!

Big call ... Sale maiden mile to Flemington stakes company. Would be great to see him come up ... and looks a pretty soft stakes race. Could be a chance.

I like where some horses are dotted through his pedigree, especially His Majesty and Northern Dancer through daughters. And Roberto on the top line - Red Ransom anyone? Could nick with a multitude of mares in Australasia if placed well ... had some fast stamina to Danehill mares, etc

Gosh, at my count that's only 3 Aust bred horses in the cup, one of which is by a NZ based sire. Hopefully some NZ blood can come to the fore, but I suspect a first 10 finish to NH bred horses here!!

I hope he runs and wins, wouldn't it be great!!! Just don't know if he'll get a Gr.1 mile and a half though ... for me, he seems to have been coming to the end of it over 10f in Europe and wondering if something with a bit more stamina will be able to roll him?

In case anyone has trouble finding the video, here's the direct link: http://www.abc.net.au/austory/specials/painttownblack/default.htm

Here you go folks ... is available on ABC iView: http://www.abc.net.au/austory/specials/painttownblack/default.htm Enjoy

I think a lot of them get named early, some even if they're offered for sale at auction as yearlings. Lady Tavistock does/did the same a few times with yearlings for sale in NZ - presumably because this was a practice she employed within her UK operation. So in short, I don't think they will all hit the gallops as 2YOs, just named.

Gosh, he's going to have to do it the hard way!! Festival Sale sire ... tough.

Fantastic to see, gutsy win, and although lacking in numbers the race sure did have the quality. I think the thing that helped SYT this time was not having his own erratic pacemaker, and also not going too early. He ran like he's used to in Aus and he showed what he's really capable of. Ryan Moore ... think he needs to realise even champs can't go that that hard from that far out - would be interesting to see what the result would have been if he'd saved Workforce for a little longer. Damn pacemakers!!!! Still think SYT is an Arc chance ... keep him relaxed until the final 2f (bit like Montjeu in his Arc) and he'll be hard to beat. I see some talk of him returning to Aus for a 3rd Cox Plate. That would be great but for me, I think he deserves his chance to take on the most prestigious race in Europe. Balmerino was 2nd?? in the Arc in the late '70s (stand to be corrected as I was all but a twinkle in my mother's eye at that point in time!!!) ... maybe thirty-odd years later New Zealand can go one better and claim the first Arc hero for the (NZ) bred. PS. Great to see the Mapperley brand flying up the straight to take a Gr.1 in the NH - realise that NH horses don't get branded, but a great mark of quality and guts!

Another good win, but not great. Certainly weren't top Gr.1 class horses behind him (almost no horses behind him with only 5 taking their place in the race). Is interesting to consider, has the Melbourne Cup run made him a bit more dour? Or is it the new trainer and possibly the new racing conditions? He's finishing off his races but the 'zip' seems to be missing. Perhaps because his opposition is not pushing him to do so ... I can't wait until he starts races some proper quality horses - that will be the test of his measure. It would also be a great shame if the PR hype around the horse is scaring off other top liners - he needs these horses there in order to prove his superstar status in the NH.

So is he off to stud?? Is he off to Rich Hill?? I guess someone here is in the know ... nevertheless, regardless of where he goes, what's everyone's opinion of him as a stud prospect - Melbourne Cup winner and all??

I think you mean Carlton House. If he's as good as Carroll House QEII is onto a good one.