joblow

Yes poor poor old Franco Nelson - but has anyone had the foresight and bravery to actually pinpoint what the problem might have been throughout the series for him? Pretty obvious to me and that was the efforts of the man sitting behind him - our so called champion driver Mr Dunn. How many times have we witnessed his inability to make any luck with his drives in a tight situation? Put him in front all the way and there isn't anyone to better him. But throw in a few complications, a tight track, competitive opposition, a big race and more experienced drivers and he looks just like another junior driver.

Sorry folks but I just don't get the following that Kawi has - strikes me as the most overrated horse to race in this country for many a while. Backed and beaten on so many occasions and some of his runs have been very ordinary. Can't win at 1600 and I sit back in hysterics when his trainer(also in the overrated club) starts spouting off about taking him to Melbourne for the Australia Cup - laughable as he wouldn't get within 5L of the winner let alone staying 2,000 metres when he struggles to get past 1,400. However when it comes to ratings - Parkes and Auret showed the racing fraternity what it takes - two of the most talented professionals in the game. Good also to see Parkes stick it up them after losing the ride on Kawi through his suspension. Pity the owners of Kawi also with having to suffer the "talents" of Innes. The Kawi team need to stick to winning nothing races in their Taranaki backyard and leave the big races in the Metropolitan regions to the real winners.

Stewards Report J Parkes found himself in physical difficulty over the final stages as a consequences of his fall in race 2 and this resulted in him being unable to fully ride POROTENE DIVA to the line. Stewards were satisfied that notwithstanding the disability, POROTENE DIVA’S chances to finishing in a higher placing had not been compromised. J Parkes stood down from his remaining rides for the day. Would not expect Parkes to do anything too dodgy - one of the more "honest jockeys" about - possibly something of a rarity!

As I said at the start of this post - the wet bus ticket has come out yet again. The standard of riding in this country coupled with the abysmal efforts of the ankle biters who make up the Mutual Admiration Society that pretends to be Racing Administration, Governance and Stewardship is a complete and utter joke. In the last 24 hours we have seen the likes of Riddell and Grylls,and others cause falls through sheer incompetence, carelessness and laziness and all that happens is the stewards say,"bad luck naughty boys, take a holiday and make a donation to the cause and we'll see you again in a week or three". The whole industry needs to sharpen up its act and behave like a business rather than some sort of entertainment hobby.

Did others see this the same as I did? Craig Grylls the clear culprit as he badly chopped off the stable mate, De Kensington Oval. Could have been a lot worse. If so, will be interesting to see how stern the stewards will be here. Throw the book at him I say. If it was Australia he would be hung drawn and quartered and his pay docked for a long time. However, I suspect the Ellerslie wimps will bring out the wet bus ticket.

I'm going to harp on about this but yet again Coleman gets nutted in a close finish in a race he should never have lost on Breaking Dawn at Te Rapa today. Beaten by a 4kg claiming apprentice rider, whilst as usual the "King" was all arms and legs like a windmill. Unless he is at least 2 lengths clear with 50m to run you would never want to be on him. It is really quite pitiful and tragic to watch.

Interesting thread this one. Given the connectivity to the subject matter in more ways than one and in the interests of completeness can someone tell me what has happened to Paul Moroney?

Always felt Lisa was a better jockey amped up to the eyeballs than the "King" Coleman was drug free. Another beautiful ride by the "King" today on his one mount Beauty Giant. Drew a nice barrier at 7 and had a perfect trip seven wide the whole race and just peaked the last 50m. On the basis of one mount a meeting with limited success I can see him eventually getting to that 2000th winner sometime around 2030. Might be a better idea to take the pension now.

Yes it is a while since I was last here and nothing much has changed: 1. Racing is still in a poor state 2. There's none so blind as those that cannot see 3. As expected, there are endless racecafers supporting Mr Coleman and many of the other average performers involved in NZ racing. However what has changed is that the little man has gone; various trainers and jocks are either on the pipe or in rehab; and we have a new Minister of Racing and Chair of NZ Racing, neither of whom appear to know a lot about the industry. Back to the topic. 1. Not a disgruntled punter - in fact I backed the winner of Puntinato's race and was grateful the "King" was on that horse as any other competent jockey would have sensed the danger of the riderless horse and taken evasive action earlier to ensure his mount was first across the line. 2. There is no clear evidence to suggest Moochi Me's bleeding attack cost her the Breeders only the assumption of the media and racecafers. 3. Coleman's rides on Saturday were poor. Ryan Mark should have won and I am pleased someone noted the shocker on Persuasive. Not bad luck as you make your own. 4. Also delighted to see a Tasmanian remembers his pearler on Xcellent in the 2005 Cox Plate. 5. I am sorry folks but I don't, never have done and never will rate Coleman's ability. 6. He has had a privileged career riding for the "Matamata mafia" and if it wasn't for that his career statistics would have been very ordinary. 7. He never had any great success in Australia. Almost certainly due to his weak riding style and also because the Aussies don't like coming second. 8. I look at those riders ahead of him in the riding stats. All of them except Lance O'Sullivan (and to a degree David Peake) had to work hard to get rides and hence their records are far better earned. 9. Compared to someone like Chris Johnson whose success has been built on blood, sweat and tears and a big dose of humility - there is no comparison. 10. As for those of you who can't recall him being referred to as the "King", it is one he dines out on to the extent I recall a story told about him teaching one of his children to use the title and reminding the poor child that it was his Dad who was the "King" and not Leith Innes. The sooner he retires we can back what used to be his mounts with some confidence.

We constantly hear the reference to Michael Coleman as the "King". However, it appears he has long lost his crown (if he ever actually wore it) if recent and past performances are to be considered. I doubt if I can recall a jockey in history who has ridden more seconds - regularly beaten in close finishes. And it continues and the poor punters and owners suffer. Not me as I avoid backing anything he is on, knowing that in the long run I will stay ahead. Unlucky yesterday to lose yesterday on Puntinato? Was he? Or is this the norm? Evidence a couple of shockers in big races over the last week or so, when he was home for the money on Moochi Me in the Breeders and Ryan Mark yesterday in the Concorde (made worse by his judgement in hopping off the winner). Graceful retirement beckons.

Ja wohl, mein Fuhrer! It would appear there are remarkable similarities zzz between yourself and the tootbrush moustached dictator other than size. I don't have prejudices other than noting that NZ's racing industry and our rugby governance and management are run by self-serving miscreants and clowns. Your prejudices are clear for all to see with your tolerance of a general lack of tolerance by your subscribers with NZ's indigenous people, inter alia. However, what more can be expected of a bunch of Philistines, Hyprocites and followers of Onan. Push the button, zzz - I have clearly pushed yours.

zzz?

Is another of Henry's favourite sons. He is a joke and has simply not stepped up all season and in the tests he has played this year. You have to laugh also when Williams opens his big mouth and tosses on about how much he wants to play and how much respect and pride he has for the All Black jersey. Why then does he continue to wear it like a clown suit?

Didn't work for the old man Sanders did you? The general strategy - get the young two year old up for an 800m race even if he was by Headhunter out of a staying mare. No wonder they never raced beyond 3. Oh - by the way zzz - I tend to believe in freedom of speech or script as the case may be - so, sorry no can do to comply. I will continue telling the truth. You should understand that.

Deserves all the crap and bad luck it gets. Carter's injury is the payback for the incompetence of NZ Rugby's governance and management - which quite frankly is rubbish. The current coaches and management team should have been sacked four years ago and yet here they are with history repeating. I seem to remember Carter was also injured in the last World Cup. Face it folks, he and the rest of the team are a bunch of powder puff show ponies who head to the hospital emergency ward the minute they get an ache or pain. What happened to the days when the Grant Battys, Brian Williams and the like played through pain and manufactured up special braces and sleeves to get them through games? As for Colin Slade, Cruden, Weepu, Israel Dagg, Stephen Donald and the like and some of the other stupid alternatives that are being suggested - if NZ Rugby had any balls and common sense they would be swallowing humble pie and sending the call out for Nick Evans, who quite frankly has always been as good as, if not a better rugby player than Danny Boy. He should also have been selected in the first place if it wasn't for NZ Rugby's halfwitted selection policy. But then again he is not a "wonderful athlete and great human being" to quote Frankenstein Henry. Or a man of "huge strength of character'' and "probably one of the greatest players produced by this country and this was going to be his pinnacle". Nick also wouldn't have been capable of "focusing on this tournament for the last couple of years". For Nick this would never have been "...his scene really. A World Cup in New Zealand and it was going to be his big, big, big occasion if you like.'' What a load of old cobblers and more of the rubbish we have had to listen to from Henry for the last 6+ years. And, I forgot, he doesn't come from Canterbury. Karma.