Rusty

1) 1 - 3 - 11 Thanks

Brilliant write up, thanks mate, appreciate your efforts.

Actually sorry, I did agree with you Janitor for a minute, then I thought about it again. It shouldn't come as any bloody surprise. Course The Met officialdom wouldn't, not do that. Can't help themselves.

Dead right. In the good ole days horses had to be open class. Not open class, no start. Now they let almost anything in and it buggers it up real good. Cox plate. Small field. Miracle Mile. Small field. NZ Cup. "Let's give the genuine 3 maybe 4, open class horses a go and fill up the other places with fast donkeys. And make it a field of 15 with 3 emergencies." It should be restricted to horses with a rating of at least 100. Or OC (open class in the old money). And while we are at it, what the hell is a maiden race doing on the card? Stakes of $25k haha my god what a joke, on the biggest day of trotting for the year. Oh but wait, at least there will be a $50k pick 6. Whip-dee-friken-doo. Make it a TERMINATING $100k pick 6 and give the punters what they want for christ sakes.

I approached the previous CEO with that and brought up other issues at AGM's. Nothing changed, other than me no longer being a member anymore (by choice). Asked them once what tangible things have they done or have in the pipeline to retain and attract the younger members. The silence was deafening.

Haha dead right Fartoomuch. Hit the nail on the head. And we all know he will bugger up the start. Always a complete and utter bugger up his NZ cup starts. He is too busy listening to the sound of his own voice and then he busts out that bloody "riiiiiiiiiight" before letting them go. Should get another starter, but they won't.

And if so, how come the overseas bookies aren't waiting until then? No balls the NZ TAB once again.

May be. But pretty poor excuse if so.

I didn't back the winner of the Cup yesterday, so I have turned the page. Quite a few pages actually and found this; Ladbrokes have The Autumn Sun at $41s ($61s boosted and quarter of that for each way). Could be value, could be stupidity, or could be worth a throw at the stumps at that price. Only 363 days to go.

Hey Amati Nidol any southern raiders to keep an eye out for during cup week? Now that Chicago Bull is a non-starter!

Can someone explain why the NZ TAB have removed the NZ Trotting Cup markets? Bloody ridiculous. Weren't up last night, not up this morning (at 11am) either, yet overseas bookmakers, real bookies not just wannabe bookies, have markets up on the race as I write this. Outsource the thing to an outfit that knows how to run a business and give the punters what they want.

I've made mention of this before; Addington always extending out the nomination times. Can they leave the cup noms open, or just extend it out a bit incase we have a few more of the favoured runners fall over? The club has absolutely no idea on most things and is going backwards quicker than Mahe Drysdale.

1) 7 - 14 - 20 Many thanks for the comp.

1) 1 2) 2 3) 1 4) 12 Many thanks

1. First three: 1 - 3 - 11 2. Last three: 4 - 8 - 20 Many thanks

M Purdon staying with Ultimate Machete.

Dead right chiknsmack, all of them will pay more on the tote on the day. Poor harness cousins, never seem to see a decent percentage on the fixed odds. TAB have stopped using the "you know the odds now beat them". Mainly because punters knew the odds and then invested offshore with better odds and bonus bets elsewhere. For mine Ultimate Machete is just not cutting it this time in, first time in open class grade if you can call it that, although his trainers can never be underestimated. Dream About Me is super consistent and if she doesn't get carted out of the race by a horse that shouldn't even be in the field again like last year, she's in with a real chance. Her and Tiger Tara are a cut above the opposition this year.

1) 14 2) 1 3) 1 4) 10 5) 2 6) 3 7) 15 8) 2 9) 1 10) 6 11) 3 12) 9 Many thanks

1) 1 - 4 - 10 2) 1 - 2 - 15 3) 1 - 2 - 7 4) 1 - 2 - 4 Many thanks

Dead right Iraklis.

This Jimmy whatsname trainer has not done the champ any justice. Is he dumb, stupid or under strict instructions from the owners? I find it incredible and beyond belief that none of the new connections, trainer included, contacted Mark Purdon and discussed Laz's routines or preferences post sale to the US. But this is what happened (or didn't happen), and these know it alls got what they deserved. More money than sense.

Bugger, that is a major blow. Feel sorry for the Bull and his connections. This year's cup will be the weakest field since 2005 when Mainland Banner won. It's the most open cup in a long while, with 6-7 genuine winning chances, but unfortunately the weakest in ages.

1) 2 Many thanks

RR - I was front row and centre at her stall and she never said a word the whole time I was there. To be fair, this was post race and none of the owners nor Mr Waller were within ear shot. Word on the street however is she pulled up well, a spell now then Autumn racing but to be confirmed next week. She will tell them what's doing.

Coming round the turn for home, I have never heard a bigger roar from a crowd like yesterday. AC/DC concerts and Bay 13 at the MCG on a Boxing Day test included. Absolutely amazing horse and dammit, for what it's worth, I'm calling her the best racehorse ever.