Scotch Thistle

The Aussies are far from perfect.  The coverage from marquee day at Randwick on Saturday provided comedy when the communications around the course with interviews etc kept breaking up or falling silent, with a variety of lame excuses. 
On the matter of intelligent raceday comments, I reckon Bruce Sherwin is brilliant before, during and after races he calls.  His observations during the races he called at Te Rapa last Saturday were spontaneous, accurate and perceptive.  Perhaps he has the advantage over other callers in that his talents are respected and rewarded in other facets of the industry, so he can maintain his dignity by overlooking the shallow and petty behaviours so enthusiastically followed one trick ponies. 

The Aussies are far from perfect.  The coverage from marquee day at Randwick on Saturday provided comedy when the communications around the course with interviews etc kept breaking up or falling silent, with a variety of lame excuses. 
On the matter of intelligent raceday comments, I reckon Bruce Sherwin is brilliant before, during and after races he calls.  His observations during the races he called at Te Rapa last Saturday were spontaneous, accurate and perceptive.  Perhaps he has the advantage over other callers in that his talents are respected and rewarded in other facets of the industry, so he can maintain his dignity by overlooking the shallow and petty behaviours so enthusiastically followed one trick ponies. 

The Aussies are far from perfect.  The coverage from marquee day at Randwick on Saturday provided comedy when the communications around the course with interviews etc kept breaking up or falling silent, with a variety of lame excuses. 
On the matter of intelligent raceday comments, I reckon Bruce Sherwin is brilliant before, during and after races he calls.  His observations during the races he called at Te Rapa last Saturday were spontaneous, accurate and perceptive.  Perhaps he has the advantage over other callers in that his talents are respected and rewarded in other facets of the industry, so he can maintain his dignity by overlooking the shallow and petty behaviours so enthusiastically followed one trick ponies. 

The Aussies are far from perfect.  The coverage from marquee day at Randwick on Saturday provided comedy when the communications around the course with interviews etc kept breaking up or falling silent, with a variety of lame excuses. 
On the matter of intelligent raceday comments, I reckon Bruce Sherwin is brilliant before, during and after races he calls.  His observations during the races he called at Te Rapa last Saturday were spontaneous, accurate and perceptive.  Perhaps he has the advantage over other callers in that his talents are respected and rewarded in other facets of the industry, so he can maintain his dignity by overlooking the shallow and petty behaviours so enthusiastically followed one trick ponies. 

The Aussies are far from perfect.  The coverage from marquee day at Randwick on Saturday provided comedy when the communications around the course with interviews etc kept breaking up or falling silent, with a variety of lame excuses. 
On the matter of intelligent raceday comments, I reckon Bruce Sherwin is brilliant before, during and after races he calls.  His observations during the races he called at Te Rapa last Saturday were spontaneous, accurate and perceptive.  Perhaps he has the advantage over other callers in that his talents are respected and rewarded in other facets of the industry, so he can maintain his dignity by overlooking the shallow and petty behaviours so enthusiastically followed one trick ponies. 

Smells of a cover up if O'Sullivan didn't direct his farm manager to fully cooperate with the RIU. 
Perhaps O'Sullivan did direct the farm manager, who refused to do as directed, and O'Sullivan said "tut tut" rather than sacking him?

One point being that it is a waste of time dim stewards asking lame questions of smart horsemen. 
Another being that form shown on official websites should be up to date and accurate.

You may be right Tom but I fail to see how the JCA could issue a lesser penalty than that in the Moody case. I also fail to see how the RIU did not make a similar charge under rule 801 (n) (ii), a serious racing offence, in the Wexford case as that which Moody was found guilty of. Very peculiar.

And if they had to drop one of the Tipsters why the hell was it Mark Claydon,the best of them all.

Backed Sofia Rosa but gone for all money with that head on.

It is Godber's crew who are the incompetents with this, not Purcell's, though God(ber) knows that they're as bad as each other.

It is Godber's crew who are the incompetents with this, not Purcell's, though God(ber) knows that they're as bad as each other.

gee the RIU are going ordinary aren't they.
Have they opened an inquiry into the Cambodian matter....???

JCA should have charged the RIU for wasting their time.

No person in NZ Racing could be in an Independent advisory role. We are a small Country where everyone in the Industry Knows or knows of someone. With todays technology worldwide and the speed of the internet and video footage , the decision making by a panel set up in another Country or Countries would be swift and final.
This would go a long way to help our credibility Internationally.
 

I like to think we have progressed a bit since the Flying Luskin/Horlicks days. I don't believe our judiciary are corrupt. I wouldn't have relegated the winner today.

I don't know that this Racing Minister is any more of a problem than each of his predecessors, except for Winston Peters (who achieved more for racing than the rest put together).
If the Minister isn't well informed of industry issues, the first question is how well is he supported/advised by his officials.  I think the department which supports him is Internal Affairs, which has a grab bag of responsibilities, most fulfilled poorly (passports being a possible exception).  The next question is how well, individually and collectively, do racing industry bodies represent their needs and issues to the Minister (and other Ministers), through coherent submissions and effective ear bashing.
Ministers in general can't miss seeing media reports of shambles after shambles within the thoroughbred portion of the racing industry.  Examples over the last few months are fiascos with starting gates, the incompetent watering of tracks, crude persecutions of small trainers (Morton), the chief handicapper sacked for punting, kid glove treatment of industry darlings (O'Sullivan).  Loads of other festering matters, not dealt with or unresolved, are chronicled on Racecafe.  
In the face of constant evidence of the failings of thoroughbred racing administrators, even a competent and energetic Minister of Racing would find it hard to get other Ministers and Cabinet to pay active attention to thoroughbred industry issues.  Except those raised by the breeders and NZ Bloodstock.

I don't know that this Racing Minister is any more of a problem than each of his predecessors, except for Winston Peters (who achieved more for racing than the rest put together).
If the Minister isn't well informed of industry issues, the first question is how well is he supported/advised by his officials.  I think the department which supports him is Internal Affairs, which has a grab bag of responsibilities, most fulfilled poorly (passports being a possible exception).  The next question is how well, individually and collectively, do racing industry bodies represent their needs and issues to the Minister (and other Ministers), through coherent submissions and effective ear bashing.
Ministers in general can't miss seeing media reports of shambles after shambles within the thoroughbred portion of the racing industry.  Examples over the last few months are fiascos with starting gates, the incompetent watering of tracks, crude persecutions of small trainers (Morton), the chief handicapper sacked for punting, kid glove treatment of industry darlings (O'Sullivan).  Loads of other festering matters, not dealt with or unresolved, are chronicled on Racecafe.  
In the face of constant evidence of the failings of thoroughbred racing administrators, even a competent and energetic Minister of Racing would find it hard to get other Ministers and Cabinet to pay active attention to thoroughbred industry issues.  Except those raised by the breeders and NZ Bloodstock.

I don't know that this Racing Minister is any more of a problem than each of his predecessors, except for Winston Peters (who achieved more for racing than the rest put together).
If the Minister isn't well informed of industry issues, the first question is how well is he supported/advised by his officials.  I think the department which supports him is Internal Affairs, which has a grab bag of responsibilities, most fulfilled poorly (passports being a possible exception).  The next question is how well, individually and collectively, do racing industry bodies represent their needs and issues to the Minister (and other Ministers), through coherent submissions and effective ear bashing.
Ministers in general can't miss seeing media reports of shambles after shambles within the thoroughbred portion of the racing industry.  Examples over the last few months are fiascos with starting gates, the incompetent watering of tracks, crude persecutions of small trainers (Morton), the chief handicapper sacked for punting, kid glove treatment of industry darlings (O'Sullivan).  Loads of other festering matters, not dealt with or unresolved, are chronicled on Racecafe.  
In the face of constant evidence of the failings of thoroughbred racing administrators, even a competent and energetic Minister of Racing would find it hard to get other Ministers and Cabinet to pay active attention to thoroughbred industry issues.  Except those raised by the breeders and NZ Bloodstock.

Admin, a qualified vet I'm not, but I do know enough about cobalt having mixed with the trotting fraternity in Sydney for some time, I also base my attack on the fact after all this time this is the excuse. I didn't come down in the last shower, nor did most on here, it's not like this stable, or one of them is Goldylocks either, I've done as much reading on cobalt [that time will permit me] to enhance the knowledge I had from [previous].........the red hots in Oz are far in front re this, always have been, since the Vinnie Knight days, and unfortunately Admin, I'll go to my grave not believing this. My business partner or one of them is a compounding chemist from a previous life, a bit like Bjorn you might say, and he doubled up with laughter when he read this.....translated into Espanol as it was.......many countries in Latin America are third world and yet when I chat to our contacts there they are astounded by what goes on here in NZ, as they perceive little old Godzone to be a 1st world leader in food and agriculture. Their take on this is proving comical to say the least, and no doubt it's proving comical to the majority here in NZ also. At the very least both of them should get a holiday and fine Admin, and seek help from professionals that might cure their stupidity for running dairy cattle and a maybe milk producer herd with a number of fancied racing stock and ask said racing stock to share a trough of water/cobalt infusion. I don't know what's worse Admin, the sheer stupidity of it all or the conceit.

Yeah midgie, the convulsion of science could be used to confuse the matter, but Cobalt is not new and this leave it to the experts is just more flotsam.
I know the racing community is rather small and no one likes to cause a fuss, but drugs and enhancements are used way too much and all most punters want is a level playing field.
I like Lance and have found him to be a straight up guy, but this tosh is just unacceptable in the real world and they and others should stand up and be counted. Far to often its who you know and not what, in this business and no wonder most of the public avoids anything to do with the game. 

Cobalt today. Lithium tomorrow. Most horses have only limited ability. Instead of resorting to drugging them they should be retired and given a second equine life. End of story.

I don't think Zinjite Moki will be on Livingstone again if the trainers have any common sense about them (and they are very good trainers), twice she hasn't even been able to stay on the horse and the other time she was 3 wide the whole way, I think she needs to stick to riding in the winter time when they are going a lot slower.
If they ever put a decent jockey on this horse it will win one soon, they have had Jason Jago, Marco Chui and Zinjite Moki on the horse so far, why they don't put a decent jock on who knows?

What colour? Maybe a nice cobalt blue?

Actually your wrong, they have presented a horse to the races above the legal cobalt threshold... Regardless of what happens with the JCA you cannot deny the fact the horse was doped, whether accidental or not it still ran 3rd in a derby and the horse should have been D/Q'ed straight after the positive. It's the trainers onus to present their horse DRUG FREE.