jack

Sad news about a top guy who did his bit and more for the racing game. 
He was a busy contributor on here and always had time for a chat away from the keyboard. 
RIP Gary.

I thought I'd start a separate thread for this.
Unfortunately, as the video explains, she got a nasty respiratory infection but all good now.

417bc5c52eb447de9a566132aa4e9db4.mp4    
 

By the way the answer to the original question was Taj Rossi.
 

Bruce your clinical wonderful race form analysis  continued over Melbourne Cup week.

Thank you,  on behalf of all viewers  and the race cafe forum ,for your astute contributions. And frequent references to NZ breeding and personalities. Your quick crosses, to the racing.com team ,to Franciscca and the racing.com ,team , certainly upsurted, anything the local nz presenter, Rodney, on course, did to inform us. We are lucky to have you, Bruce, the ex Macau race caller, back in NZ, making an enormous  contribution to our thoroughbred industry. We lost Tony Lee, Tom wood, Alby Gain, Hauby, Christopher McQyaud,  and Mark McNamara  ( and George Simon, to Singapore, all but temporary)   * hopefully, the AJC new south Wales, don't recruit Shirwin to sort out their  Issues with their pattern group races. And the issues with Arion pedigree, sales cataloged. Kindest wishes. Rev  

I believe that said person is reading this thread now 😂

Secret Squirrel messaged me and said that he only entered for fun and is happy for me to donate the money to charity. 
Thanks SS - very generous of you.
I will donate the $200 to the Huntington's Association, in memory of Joan.

Thanks very much SNM for scoring and updating us and congratulations Secret Squirrel. Thats pretty good going getting that many correct.

World Series won by the Dodgers and Half Yours wins the Cup.  With only the F1 drivers title to be decided I can declare Secret Squirrel the winner with a very impressive 21 correct results.
Currently Blaird and VC tied for 2nd on 18.   Blaird currently has the tie breaker (most gallops winners) but VC can grab second place off Blaird if Lando Norris holds on to win the F1 title.
SS, you have won a $200 bet.  Let me know what you want to place it on.  Single bet - W, P or E/W.

Congrats SS 
$100 up for 2nd place and going down to the wire!
Let me know when all is said and done John and i'll arrange the bet for either Blaird or VC.
Cheers

Can ride (was a work rider for Gai I believe). And gives good insightful preamble, then follows up with great interviews, post race. 

Racing needs to be on the front foot not standing back defending itself or doing nothing.
Fight fire with fire. Some lunatic says horse racing is cruel on the internet,sheep follow them in. They don't really care but they just want to be part of something.
Why can't racing get in first and put videos up of retired racehorses enjoying their lives,behind the scenes at the stables where the kids are busting their hump for the horses?
Horse hotel. The horses go for a run and a swim,room service turns up,cleans the room from top to bottom,provides a meal and snacks and fresh bedding.
Horse comes back gets a nice bath including a sponge bath,dried off and back into the hotel room. Or out in the paddock for the day.
Horse welfare is put first.
Someone turns up at 3:30am checks the horses welfare,any waste feed,signs of distress etc, temperature taken.
Horses get a nutritious meal,better than most people get, supplements for overall health,exercised , washed,feet trimmed , around the clock veterinary care,covered,fed,dentist, chiropractic treatment,provided with shelter and safe from predators.
A horse in the wild cuts it's leg open and dies slowly from infection. 
Why are we not telling this side of the story instead of bending over saying we probably should ban the whip,we better not advertise our great sport in case something happens etc
Alot of people,myself included dedicate our lives to these animals. Not to exploit them to make money,my accountant can back me up with that one, but it's because we love them and put them front row centre in our lives. I have 3 retired horses at home aged 20,17 and 12 and we lost a 23yo a couple of years ago.
They get covered,fed, farrier,vet check,teeth done and live in the lush grass of Putaruru. Nothing better.
But some blue haired lunatic on the Twittergram tells the world all racehorses are bashed and beaten for profit and shot the day they are retired.
It's just bullshit. Racing needs to do better telling our story.
I believe Nztr has a marketing department. Over to you ....
 
Also pony racing needs to be made bigger. It's the greatest way to get the young kids in ,the parents,siblings and friends come watch them race and while it may not make jockeys alot of these kids will end up trackriders or stablehands etc or fans of the great game.
It's called doing. Or we can just sit back and argue over the whip. Banning it will create 0 new racing fans,they will move onto tongue tied,jumps racing,2yo racing and so on.
Do be a do-er don't be a dont-er
Bending over to blue haired septum ring wearing people or the internet isn't going to help. We need to tell our story

'You've just got to ignore them': Gai says 'nup' to Cup protesters
  By Ben Dorries
03:01pm • 05 November 2025  Racing's legendary first lady Gai Waterhouse says the ‘Nup to the Cup' anti-racing crusaders are "un-Australian" and has given some strong advice on how to deal with them. 
Ignore them.
"Anyone who wants to knock the Melbourne Cup, they are being very un-Australian, they just don't understand life, they are so precious," Waterhouse said.
"I wouldn't even waste my time having these people down to my stable to show them how well we treat our horses, because you won't convert them.
"We shouldn't worry about them.
"They are a minority and people shouldn't be listening to them or worried about what they say, because you would go mad worrying about them.
"My advice to people is to do what I do – don't read it and don't listen to it.
"If you read some of the garbage, you would be so upset at the nonsense that you wouldn't be able to go to work in the morning."
Like they are at the same time very year, anti-racing types and the ‘Nup to the Cup' movement were up and about on social media making misinformed Melbourne Cup claims.
And they tried to manufacture a major scandal out of the fact that Melbourne Cup winner Half Yours returned briefly bleeding from the mouth after winning the great race. 
Racing Victoria officials quickly allayed any concerns when they determined he had suffered only a minor laceration and required no medical attention.
"Horses sometimes get a cut in their mouths or a bump on their leg," Waterhouse said.
"But we, as a society, can be over sensitive and we can overreact.
"We should pay absolutely no attention to the protesters.
"They will find something else to protest about tomorrow.
"You've just got to ignore them.
"Racing is a very positive thing and it brings families together.
"On Stakes day at Flemington, the place will be chock-a-block with children and with families and people in their teens." 
No serious injuries have been sustained by Melbourne Cup runners in the past five years, with Anthony Van Dyck the last Cup fatality in 2020.
There has been plenty of debate about stringent vet protocols since their introduction in 2021, but Racing Victoria chief executive Aaron Morrison said they had "played an important role in mitigating the risk of serious injury in the Cup."
Waterhouse, who was hoping to have boom horse Sir Delius race in the Melbourne Cup until he was ruled out with vet protocols, said she was proud of Vauban who finished sixth in the Cup.
It was his best Cup finish, at his third attempt, and Waterhouse indicated he would go to the paddock and could return for a fourth Melbourne Cup crack in 2026.
Waterhouse has only found one negative with Melbourne Cup week.
The legendary trainer, who is married to bookmaker Robbie Waterhouse, insists the bookies stands should be on the front lawn like they are at Royal Ascot.
"They have brought Fashions On the Field and other things to the front, but the one thing they forgot was the bookmakers," Waterhouse said.
"They have to be up the front.
"It takes away some of the flair and excitement, not having bookmakers out the front.
"What fuels horse racing is (wagering) revenue.
"We could not run horse races or have prizemoney or fill the stands without revenue."

Not quite as bad as buying Storm Boy. But wow. Ive offered to take Hostility fir couple hundred bucks. Just waiting to hear back

1,000 Guineas field now finalised.
Two observations in my mind:
1. Half the field is Australian bred: Well Written, Cool Aza Rene, LIttle Black Dress, Bona Sforza, Belle du Monde and Origin Of Love, with 3 of those trained by Te Akau.  9 fillies are eligible for the NZB Kiwi.
2. 3 are trained in Cambridge, 4 by Te Akau (you can argue if some are "South Island trained" or not), 1 other in Matamata, 1 in Rotorua for 9 (?) from the North; 1 from the CD and 2 trained in the South Island.

Tajana is going to run the 2000. The 1000 Guineas looks like being a cracker and if Well Written is as good as she seems she'll be very tough to beat. Got away with a bit at Ellerslie last start and the straight at Riccarton is a real tester..can't wait.

Cheers Rev, nice progressive galloper! 

Wasn't it fantastic for our Race Cafe trainer and no nonsense contributor  Chris Wood to get that win at Ellerslie ?
Box moss . 2400m race beating some hyped horses. 
Chris has always been a Good trainer and he is also the  Sire of an astute Hong Kong Race Caller and brilliant form analyzer, TOM WOOD. 
Go well Chris
Rev
 

RDYTY  ( our Ted  ) posted an amazing story on BGP  about Presage Nocturne 
so two of the best selectors in the business have gone for the Grey entire son of Wooten Bassett.
But can he give weight away to Half Yours and Valiant King ??

Tidbit to be aware of from the 27th Oct-4th Nov all bonus cash will expire after 24hours rather than the standard week. Due to the generosity shown by the TAB in this busy week. 

Crap!!

2YO Catchweight 800 2YO 800m   HEAD, NECK Open /Close Plc Horse Jockey Trainer 1 She's No Saint (AUS)
(2f Prague (AUS) - Poetic Diva (AUS)) George Rooke Michelle Bradley, Ruakaka 2 Dashing Dixie
(2f Alabama Express (AUS) - War Goddess (AUS)) Craig Grylls Lance O'Sullivan & Andrew Scott, Matamata  INSIDER 3 Lumumba (AUS)
(2f Ole Kirk (AUS) - That Girl (AUS)) Samantha Collett Cody Cole, Matamata 4 Sword Of Steel
(2g Sword Of State (AUS) - Miss Remington (AUS)) Opie Bosson Mark Walker & Sam Bergerson, Matamata Say No More 5 Katerina Petrova
(2f Savabeel (AUS) - Lady Tatia (AUS)) Joe Doyle Mark Walker & Sam Bergerson, Matamata 6 Only In Paris
(2f Derryn (AUS) - Only In Jakarta (AUS)) Jasmine Fawcett Alex Oliveira, Cambridge 7 Sweet Emotion
(2f Tivaci (AUS) - Fashionably (AUS)) Darren Danis W Hillis & R Cole, Matamata 2 10:42 2YO Catchweight 800 2YO 800m   ½ LEN, 1½ LEN Open /Close Plc Horse Jockey Trainer 1 Dreamtime
(2f Time Test (GB) - Toitoi) Jasmine Fawcett Simon & Katrina Alexander, Te Awamutu 2 Lara Antipova (AUS)
(2f Russian Revolution (AUS) - Artistic Lass (AUS)) Corentin Berge Mark Walker & Sam Bergerson, Matamata 3 Mayday
(2c Noverre - Oceans Eight) Matt Cartwright Tony Pike, Cambridge 4 Aerial Impact (AUS)
(2g Acrobat (AUS) - Iff Elle) Craig Grylls Mark Walker & Sam Bergerson, Matamata 5 Lawless Rascal
(2c Satono Aladdin (JPN) - Enchanteress) Joe Doyle Conor and Sarah Fahy, Pukekohe Park 6 The Queen's Sword
(2f Sword Of State (AUS) - Savoia (AUS)) Opie Bosson Mark Walker & Sam Bergerson, Matamata  DOPEY, Kloppite  BLACK CAVIER 3 10:54 2YO Catchweight 800 2YO 800m   DEAD HEAT, 2½ LEN Open /Close Plc Horse Jockey Trainer 1= Admiral Vos
(2g U S Navy Flag (USA) - High Tranquility (GB)) Jasmine Fawcett Tony Pike, Cambridge 1= Bourbon Time (AUS)
(2f Exceed And Excel (AUS) - White Thyme (AUS)) Matt Cartwright Stephen Marsh, Cambridge 3 Tardis
(2g Time Test (GB) - Payon Time) Wiremu Pinn Daniel Miller, Matamata 4 Love Rules
(2f Super Seth (AUS) - Loveable) Opie Bosson Mark Walker & Sam Bergerson, Matamata 5 The Rebel Within (AUS)
(2f Rebel Dane (AUS) - La Passe (AUS)) Joe Doyle Mark Walker & Sam Bergerson, Matamata  KLOPPITE< 6 Aquadream (AUS)
(2f Written Tycoon (AUS) - Seababe (AUS)) Craig Grylls Mark Walker & Sam Bergerson, Matamata 4 11:06 2YO Catchweight 800 2YO 800m   NECK, HEAD Open /Close Plc Horse Jockey Trainer 1 Ballerina
(2f Almanzor (FR) - Barbarina) Jasmine Fawcett Graham Richardson & Rogan Norvall, Matamata AL FEILDING  2 Vow Of Honour (AUS)
(2c Snitzel (AUS) - Zayydani) Opie Bosson Mark Walker & Sam Bergerson, Matamata PHEROZ< REV<SN MORE<RICHIE< KLOPPITE, AL Fielding, GUB<  3 Song Of Valor
(2g Sword Of State (AUS) - Judy's Song) Sam McNab Tony Pike, Cambridge 4 No Curfew
(2g Vanbrugh (AUS) - Supreme) Joe Doyle Mark Walker & Sam Bergerson, Matamata 5 Malikia (AUS)
(2f Snitzel (AUS) - Zavance (AUS)) Craig Grylls Stephen Marsh, Cambridge 6 Blondchen (AUS)
(2f Wootton Bassett (GB) - Soubrettes) Corentin Berge Mark Walker & Sam Bergerson, Matamata 5 11:18 2YO Catchweight 800 2YO 800m   HEAD, 2 LEN Open /Close Plc Horse Jockey Trainer 1 Perfect Pour
(2c Dundeel - Grace Augusta (AUS)) George Rooke Stephen Marsh, Cambridge  CHESTNUT<  2 Power Of Pleasure (AUS)
(2f Wootton Bassett (GB) - Pleasurable (IRE)) Opie Bosson Mark Walker & Sam Bergerson, Matamata 3 Hawea (AUS)
(2f Hellbent (AUS) - Idlewild (AUS)) Craig Grylls Graham Richardson & Rogan Norvall, Matamata CHESTNUT< MONTY DRUM 4 Elysienne
(2f Sword Of State (AUS) - Sternland) Courtney Barnes Mark Walker & Sam Bergerson, Matamata 5 Andalusia
(2f Bivouac (AUS) - Grand Soleil) Jasmine Fawcett Pam Gerard, Matamata 6 Lobera
(2c Sword Of State (AUS) - O'Carol) Matt Cartwright Chad Ormsby, Cambridge 6 11:30 2YO Catchweight 800 2YO 800m   ¾ LEN, LEN Open /Close Plc Horse Jockey Trainer 1 Via Fontanella
(2f Per Incanto (USA) - Sorrentina) Samantha Collett Tony Pike, Cambridge 2 Lassified (AUS)
(2f Stay Inside (AUS) - Exclusive Lass (AUS)) George Rooke Andrew Forsman, Cambridge 3 Raikkonen
(2c Savabeel (AUS) - Miss Scandinavia (AUS)) Craig Grylls Mark Walker & Sam Bergerson, Matamata 4 First Light
(2f Savabeel (AUS) - Early Morning Rise) Opie Bosson Mark Walker & Sam Bergerson, Matamata  SAY NO MORE 5 Spirit Of Ardsley
(2g Noverre - Kansas) Jasmine Fawcett Graham Richardson & Rogan Norvall, Matamata 6 Sign Here
(2f Wrote (IRE) - Atlanta Georgia) Darren Danis W Hillis & R Cole, Matamata

Well done Nerula , smart decision and not blinded by the lights .
Also NZ racing thanks you .
Hope you go on and win the Gns if that's where you are headed .
NZ racing needs more people such as yourself and partners .

Dream comes true for Crofskeys
Heather and Peter Crofskey with Robbie Patterson and Craig Grylls after the Gr.1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m).   Photo: Peter Rubery (Race Images Palmerston North) Joshua Smith, LOVERACING.NZ News Desk
30 October 2025 Heather and Peter Crofskey are pinching themselves as they prepare to hop on a flight to Melbourne to watch their pride and joy Leica Lucy contest Saturday’s Gr.1 Empire Rose Stakes (1600m) at Flemington. 
“It is a dream come true,” Heather Crofskey said. “It (dreaming of racing a horse at Flemington) started many years ago, just before we started breeding, and it has happened.” 
The Taranaki couple bred the daughter of Derryn and initially raced her with New Plymouth trainer Robbie Patterson, for whom she was a standout three-year-old last season. 
Patterson had a high opinion of Leica Lucy early on, and a plan was hatched to head towards the Gr.1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m) following her debut win at New Plymouth last November. 
“Robbie said very early on that she is the best horse he has trained,” Crofskey said. “Joe Doyle was the first jockey to ride her and he said ‘this one is a keeper’. 
“After the first win, Robbie said she was an Oaks horse and that’s what we headed towards.” 
Following a runner-up effort at Trentham in her next start, she went on to win the Gr.3 Eulogy Stakes (1600m) and Gr.3 Desert Gold Stakes (1600m) before prominent Australian owner Ozzie Kheir bought into the filly. 
She carried Kheir’s familiar silks to victory in the Gr.2 David and Karyn Ellis Fillies Classic (2000m), Gr.2 Lowland Stakes (2100m) and fulfilled their initial goal when taking out the New Zealand Oaks in March. 
Leica Lucy subsequently crossed the Tasman and joined leading Sydney trainer Chris Waller’s barn and ran fourth in the Gr.1 Australian Oaks (2400m) before heading for a spell. 
She returned to fill the same placing first-up in the Gr.2 Let’s Elope Stakes (1400m) at Flemington last month before finishing third in the Gr.1 Toorak Handicap (1600m), much to the Crofskeys delight. 
“She has done well,” Crofskey said. “We were thrilled with her run in the Toorak.” 
Lecia Lucy had a jump-out at Flemington last week to ready for the Empire Rose, where she will jump from barrier three with the addition of some gear. 
“They have put blinkers on her, that will straighten her up a wee bit,” Crofskey said. “It was proven at a run along on Wednesday morning and she was a whole lot better. She has been tending to lug.” 
The Crofskeys are heading over to Melbourne and they are excited to be trackside to watch their mare compete on one of the biggest days on Australia’s racing calendar. 
“We are over the moon that she is racing on Derby Day and we are going over to see her,” Crofskey said. 
“It is a bit unbelievable that we are there, but she is good enough to be there. 
“She has got a good draw this time. She didn’t have one in her last start (10), she was out in no man’s land, but she has drawn barrier three and has got Mark Zahra on her, so she is going to get the best opportunity.” 
While they can’t wait to reunite with their mare this weekend, they are also hoping to meet co-owner Kheir. 
“We are in touch a great deal, but we haven’t met him yet,” Crofskey said. “Hopefully we get to meet him over there because he is a good guy.” 
While excited to be trackside this weekend, the Crofskeys are trying to contain their expectations, but are hopeful of another Group One result. 
“It’s a Group One with an awesome field. We are not expecting anything on Saturday, but just to be there is going to be out of this world,” Crofskey said. 
“She is good and if we even get a place on Saturday, we will be absolutely thrilled. I know she will do her best.”

Damask Rose will not race in Sydney for the Golden Eagle but instead will take her Place in the Empire Rose at Flemington on the same day.
Blake Shinn has taken the ride, no doubt he had plenty of offers but will ride Damask Rose. She got no favours last start, Can Blake make a difference, I think so.