TOM(the other Molloy)

all good points Tom. When a culture of excess exists at the top - it tends to trickle down ;-)

The same happens with the RIU.They send Stewards to different areas to work,eg Oathan to Timura, Davidson to Pukekohe etc etc.
When the inspired leader M Godber was questioned on this waste, his lame justification was that he would like the stewards to be familiar with other areas.
Well my reply to that would be , Would you see Victorian Stewards going to Sydney, Queensland Stewards to Perth etc etc, no you don,t not even days like the Melbourne Cup
If they had to pay for their own travel, like Jason Teaz has to, then i believe you would see this wastage cease and rightfully so. 

This is probably a minor example in terms of NZRB excesses but.........
I tune in today to Riccarton  and surpirised to find Marc Cookson presenting.  Then Jason Teaz doing the commentating.   Both very professional and both doing a nice job but........
Resident in  Christchurch are Matthew Cross, Greg O 'Connor and the Fahey girl all of whom have proven themselves able presenters on TS.  Now Mark McNamara had Addington tonight  so maybe did not want two meetings in one day ( though he has handled it before) but Matt Cross is a real talent in the commentary position so why not make use of him? Presumably he did the First Call in Auckland  this morning but for f*#ks sake is there nobody else in the North capable of dealing with it as a one off? And when it comes down to it could Mark not have dealt with a couple of Riccarton races while Matt got back? Matt is now doing comments at Auckland tonight - are Guerin and Thompson both crook?
So we have Cookson flying Auckland Christchurch return, Teaz either Dunedin Christchurch or Hamilton Christchurch return, Cross Christchurch Auckland return and Guerin, Thompson and O'Connor redundant for the day? All or most no doubt paid an allowance (as government agencies are want to do) for being away overnight.
What a way to see the world!
Incidentally it is notable how few opportunities Matt Cross is getting in the gallops now.  That is a fair bit of talent being ignored.

Yes he was at Hoki one time.  In fact I think Gene won a race on him in the deep mud ( I know I said he hated it but on class alone he did win an early race or two in the bog). On the second day he failed to take the tight corner on the bend out of the straight and that was the end of Gene as his rider.  With all due respect he was not really a kid's horse.  Headstrong and accordingly difficult to control especially around the corners on the Coast.  He really loved Riccarton where he won five or six I think but where the corners suited his style.
Another day at Hoki in the mud Gary Stewart rode him.  Went no good and when he came back the verdict was 'didn't handle it a yard'.  I remember looking at the welts on his bum and thinking 'if he hits an old handicapper struggling in the ground that hard how hard does he belt Bonecrusher?'
As with all horses you are or were close too there are plenty of stories.

I agree Tom - Start Wondering is one of my favs but from the draw at Hastings mile start I think he is unders.
Would love to see Consensus do the job for your family - left handed record makes me a bit nervous but class wise looks value at $9.
Devise maps for a trip - course and distance and track perfect - that's my major bet.
 

To be fair Savvy Dreams has wasted the very few good draws she has had anyway. Shes going back and hoping for speed. If they dont walk she can still win from there. Go Savvy Dreams!

If i make the cut for your March Box at Ellerslie, i will concede your where no 1in the SI, otherwise if I miss the cut i will say you wouldn,t rate in the top 20,in fact i would put the late Ray Hewinson and Bill Berry ahead of you,
Your choice,but if i do make the cut and those attractive ladies are not present, then you are a fair dinkum tosser

Course running around in the early years of Cappiemore's & Ocean Guard's careers was a fair nag called Grey Way who managed to win 51 or 52 so that puts the those horse's achievements into perspective.  They were merely good - he was in another class altogether.
What a great great horse he was.  Still reckon that Easter Handicap he won is one of my all time favourite racing memories.  Raced a cast of stars the wrong way around and simply would not be beat.
Back on that Kevin Doolan he actually gave Chris Johnson his first South Island win(well sort of).  Chris was apprenticed to the Hammersley's at Woodville and came to Nelson.  Rode a horse called Union Chief for the Doolans, won but got relegated for interference.  Rode him again the second day but got galloped on so badly he had to be put down.  Another great South Island racing chapter(CWJ) commenced.

Whether he should have lost it or not it is history(33 years ago) and both horse and owner/trainer are now passed on.  His mother was apparently a tiny mare and generally left small foals though he was a big horse probably 16.5 hands. I saw his full sister once and she would have been 14 hands high and not one little bit like him.  One of the advantages he did have was as much tucker as he would eat shoved into him.  I know it is a long time ago and things have changed but he also never saw a Vet.  My uncle, a bloody good farmer, relied on his own skills to gauge the horse's state of health.  The Vet came only twice - to geld him and to put him down.  He did go to another stable to get his jumping ticket(though he had been taught on the farm) and his first hurdle race and wasn't the air blue when the bill arrived with 'pre race vitamins' detailed.  No sense of humour my Uncle!
The horse was as likely to be poking around the scrub being used to chase black cows as on a race course.  He was a competitive prick and the breeding bulls in particular used to hate him.
His mother's(mixed Herbs correct and by Kurdistan as you say) family was reasonably successful - Old Thymer being a notable who won an NZ Cup.
Ah nostalgia!

Course running around in the early years of Cappiemore's & Ocean Guard's careers was a fair nag called Grey Way who managed to win 51 or 52 so that puts the those horse's achievements into perspective.  They were merely good - he was in another class altogether.
What a great great horse he was.  Still reckon that Easter Handicap he won is one of my all time favourite racing memories.  Raced a cast of stars the wrong way around and simply would not be beat.
Back on that Kevin Doolan he actually gave Chris Johnson his first South Island win(well sort of).  Chris was apprenticed to the Hammersley's at Woodville and came to Nelson.  Rode a horse called Union Chief for the Doolans, won but got relegated for interference.  Rode him again the second day but got galloped on so badly he had to be put down.  Another great South Island racing chapter(CWJ) commenced.

Course running around in the early years of Cappiemore's & Ocean Guard's careers was a fair nag called Grey Way who managed to win 51 or 52 so that puts the those horse's achievements into perspective.  They were merely good - he was in another class altogether.
What a great great horse he was.  Still reckon that Easter Handicap he won is one of my all time favourite racing memories.  Raced a cast of stars the wrong way around and simply would not be beat.
Back on that Kevin Doolan he actually gave Chris Johnson his first South Island win(well sort of).  Chris was apprenticed to the Hammersley's at Woodville and came to Nelson.  Rode a horse called Union Chief for the Doolans, won but got relegated for interference.  Rode him again the second day but got galloped on so badly he had to be put down.  Another great South Island racing chapter(CWJ) commenced.

A lot of bloody good horses came out of Ikamatua and a lot of credit goes to the brilliant training track on the property of Bill Kennedy(who trained plenty of them himself).  Unfortunately now turned into cow paddocks but Roger Hampton, the O'Malleys, Kevin Doolan and the Kennedy's themselves all produced plenty of winners from there.  It was a six furlong plough and grass track and only ceased usage a year or so ago when the O'Malleys gave up training themselves (when Peter went dairy farming).
While Cappiemore was from 'Atarau' Kevin Doolan's farm was only a couple of miles down the road from Kennedy's which in turn was only a couple of miles from Ikamatua
Re the winningest horse in NZ at the time Cappiemore was in a ding dong battle with Ocean Guard another from those great southern families and trained by Rex Cochrane.  Every time Cappiemore would get one ahead Ocean Guard would catch up (or vice versa).  I think Ocean Guard won a National Hurdles - he was a bit more adept in bad ground that was Cappiemore.  They raced one another on several occasions.  Pretty much even results. Ocean Guard might have ended up with 20 wins maybe versus Cappiemore's 18(it would have been more I am sure but a crook batch of feed badly affected him and when he dropped his rider in a hurdle race at Riccarton on his comeback Kevin Doolan pulled the pin) .
He wasn't the classiest horse ever but you knew when he went to the races on a decent track you would get his very very best effort.  Won a highweight at Riccarton one day under 69 when the minimum was 57.  the Old Boy could hardly carry the saddle with all the lead.
 

As always I'm looking forward to the races at Riccarton tomorrow.
I am slightly surprised by the Dead 5 track update this afternoon. The track was a good 3 start of the week - copped 70mm + of rain - got to heavy 10, and bounced back....
Mmmm I am a bit suspicious but hope they have it right.
Having said that its a lovely evening now and an ok day tomorrow with no rain at all forecast - so we shall see.
Might do the form with an open mind and await the first race with interest.
Good luck Cubes and others who have runners 
 
 

A lot of bloody good horses came out of Ikamatua and a lot of credit goes to the brilliant training track on the property of Bill Kennedy(who trained plenty of them himself).  Unfortunately now turned into cow paddocks but Roger Hampton, the O'Malleys, Kevin Doolan and the Kennedy's themselves all produced plenty of winners from there.  It was a six furlong plough and grass track and only ceased usage a year or so ago when the O'Malleys gave up training themselves (when Peter went dairy farming).
While Cappiemore was from 'Atarau' Kevin Doolan's farm was only a couple of miles down the road from Kennedy's which in turn was only a couple of miles from Ikamatua
Re the winningest horse in NZ at the time Cappiemore was in a ding dong battle with Ocean Guard another from those great southern families and trained by Rex Cochrane.  Every time Cappiemore would get one ahead Ocean Guard would catch up (or vice versa).  I think Ocean Guard won a National Hurdles - he was a bit more adept in bad ground that was Cappiemore.  They raced one another on several occasions.  Pretty much even results. Ocean Guard might have ended up with 20 wins maybe versus Cappiemore's 18(it would have been more I am sure but a crook batch of feed badly affected him and when he dropped his rider in a hurdle race at Riccarton on his comeback Kevin Doolan pulled the pin) .
He wasn't the classiest horse ever but you knew when he went to the races on a decent track you would get his very very best effort.  Won a highweight at Riccarton one day under 69 when the minimum was 57.  the Old Boy could hardly carry the saddle with all the lead.
 

Well put CC
The most frustrating thing dealing with small business people(as clients) all the time is how government departments, councils and other 'authorities' (and big companies get like it too) have no consideration that everything costs(whether it be in monetary terms or in time terms).  When you are paying the bill yourself you appreciate where the money (or resources) go 
 

A lot of bloody good horses came out of Ikamatua and a lot of credit goes to the brilliant training track on the property of Bill Kennedy(who trained plenty of them himself).  Unfortunately now turned into cow paddocks but Roger Hampton, the O'Malleys, Kevin Doolan and the Kennedy's themselves all produced plenty of winners from there.  It was a six furlong plough and grass track and only ceased usage a year or so ago when the O'Malleys gave up training themselves (when Peter went dairy farming).
While Cappiemore was from 'Atarau' Kevin Doolan's farm was only a couple of miles down the road from Kennedy's which in turn was only a couple of miles from Ikamatua
Re the winningest horse in NZ at the time Cappiemore was in a ding dong battle with Ocean Guard another from those great southern families and trained by Rex Cochrane.  Every time Cappiemore would get one ahead Ocean Guard would catch up (or vice versa).  I think Ocean Guard won a National Hurdles - he was a bit more adept in bad ground that was Cappiemore.  They raced one another on several occasions.  Pretty much even results. Ocean Guard might have ended up with 20 wins maybe versus Cappiemore's 18(it would have been more I am sure but a crook batch of feed badly affected him and when he dropped his rider in a hurdle race at Riccarton on his comeback Kevin Doolan pulled the pin) .
He wasn't the classiest horse ever but you knew when he went to the races on a decent track you would get his very very best effort.  Won a highweight at Riccarton one day under 69 when the minimum was 57.  the Old Boy could hardly carry the saddle with all the lead.
 

Whether he should have lost it or not it is history(33 years ago) and both horse and owner/trainer are now passed on.  His mother was apparently a tiny mare and generally left small foals though he was a big horse probably 16.5 hands. I saw his full sister once and she would have been 14 hands high and not one little bit like him.  One of the advantages he did have was as much tucker as he would eat shoved into him.  I know it is a long time ago and things have changed but he also never saw a Vet.  My uncle, a bloody good farmer, relied on his own skills to gauge the horse's state of health.  The Vet came only twice - to geld him and to put him down.  He did go to another stable to get his jumping ticket(though he had been taught on the farm) and his first hurdle race and wasn't the air blue when the bill arrived with 'pre race vitamins' detailed.  No sense of humour my Uncle!
The horse was as likely to be poking around the scrub being used to chase black cows as on a race course.  He was a competitive prick and the breeding bulls in particular used to hate him.
His mother's(mixed Herbs correct and by Kurdistan as you say) family was reasonably successful - Old Thymer being a notable who won an NZ Cup.
Ah nostalgia!

I think the fact NZTR  & NZRB seem to both  have cultures of excess doesn't invalidate criticising either or both.
I find all the travel examples raised by SMD and yourself in this thread as troubling.
The problem with any organisation such as these (and Govt/Councils etc etc) is they spend what they want as the bottom line result has little impact on the individuals etc working there.. Contrast that with business owners who understand every dollar spent in their business is a dollar less that goes into their pocket - so it needs to be well spent. At the moment I am trying to decide the cost benefit of a trip to an industry conference in Palmerston North (!!!) later this year just to put that in context.
Your point regarding the Racing Act stands alone and is well to be heeded

Cappiemore never started at Waimate I don't think(in fact I am certain) but you are right he was a very handy horse and a very hardy horse as well.  He was one of few in NZ history to win an open handicap an open hurdle and an open steeplechase in one season.  His biggest problems with jumping were he hated wet tracks and he was trained at Atarau on the West Coast and the travel in the winter was hard work with the passes.  I did a hell of a lot of travelling with him and you are right he did start in the St Leger of1982 - pulled his head off(he was very free going) and faded out in a race won by Secured Deposit.  He won 18 races alltogether.
Those starter lists have a few notable parents as well as jockeys - Judy Hawes(Collett) the mother of Natasha, Jason and Alesha, Jim Collett the father of Sam of course, Peter McKay the father of Jacob and Shaun. Snooky Cowan the father of Kate, Danny Frye the father of Ashley and Paul Richards the father of Jamie.
All achievers themselves as riders and all gone on to produce notable offspring in the game.
Surprised KW Morton was not down for a mount - probably suspended for some misdemenour at the time
I note the legendary Maurice Carl Thornley down for a couple of neddies.
  

Great storys from the past, always enjoy them, and good to share them with other cafers who probably would not have known the horse, Certainly he was one of my favorites, i do tend to live in the past, but they were great years, and some very smart horses of that era. Thanks for sharing them.

Whether he should have lost it or not it is history(33 years ago) and both horse and owner/trainer are now passed on.  His mother was apparently a tiny mare and generally left small foals though he was a big horse probably 16.5 hands. I saw his full sister once and she would have been 14 hands high and not one little bit like him.  One of the advantages he did have was as much tucker as he would eat shoved into him.  I know it is a long time ago and things have changed but he also never saw a Vet.  My uncle, a bloody good farmer, relied on his own skills to gauge the horse's state of health.  The Vet came only twice - to geld him and to put him down.  He did go to another stable to get his jumping ticket(though he had been taught on the farm) and his first hurdle race and wasn't the air blue when the bill arrived with 'pre race vitamins' detailed.  No sense of humour my Uncle!
The horse was as likely to be poking around the scrub being used to chase black cows as on a race course.  He was a competitive prick and the breeding bulls in particular used to hate him.
His mother's(mixed Herbs correct and by Kurdistan as you say) family was reasonably successful - Old Thymer being a notable who won an NZ Cup.
Ah nostalgia!

Cappiemore never started at Waimate I don't think(in fact I am certain) but you are right he was a very handy horse and a very hardy horse as well.  He was one of few in NZ history to win an open handicap an open hurdle and an open steeplechase in one season.  His biggest problems with jumping were he hated wet tracks and he was trained at Atarau on the West Coast and the travel in the winter was hard work with the passes.  I did a hell of a lot of travelling with him and you are right he did start in the St Leger of1982 - pulled his head off(he was very free going) and faded out in a race won by Secured Deposit.  He won 18 races alltogether.
Those starter lists have a few notable parents as well as jockeys - Judy Hawes(Collett) the mother of Natasha, Jason and Alesha, Jim Collett the father of Sam of course, Peter McKay the father of Jacob and Shaun. Snooky Cowan the father of Kate, Danny Frye the father of Ashley and Paul Richards the father of Jamie.
All achievers themselves as riders and all gone on to produce notable offspring in the game.
Surprised KW Morton was not down for a mount - probably suspended for some misdemenour at the time
I note the legendary Maurice Carl Thornley down for a couple of neddies.
  

I know you are only explaining why this 'anomaly' occurs.  But if they are going to be ranked higher because of group one placings why are their ratings not boosted to reflect that?
Or alternately why is Scapolo not dropping like a stone in the ratings because he is running in inferior races and often not managing to win them?  K Myers would be entitled to expect substantial weight relief if this were a handicap(yeah right!).
Makes the handicapper look like an idiot in my opinion(and I know most of Racecafe think he is so lets not get started on that)
 

Well that cannot be it because Savvy Dreams hasn't won a stakes race in that time and Scapolo has(Sweynesse Stakes at Rotorua).  I thought he whole idea of WFA was to get the best(ie highest rated) horses showing their class at set weights.  He is only two away from the ballot list for God's sake!

Thank you for your welcome Mr Much. 
Please give my regards to your cousin, Eaten Too, who I dated in High School. I hope her recent stomach staple operation has been a success.
Mr Cave, would I be correct in assuming your recent arrival from Melbourne has coincided with the Australian Goverment's policy of returning all penal discards to their place of birth. You need a slap for being caught in the first place, but that aside, it is glaringly obvious that you are enjoying the freedom of access to a computer. One could also assume it is most likely at your local library.
You need to learn a thing or two about Karma. It is very closely related to Karma Sutra, and as sure as God created beaten odds on favourites, the fickle figure of fate will fxxx, come up behind you and teach you a lesson of a very painfull nature. You of course, know this already after your weekend in Auckland at the Pride Festival. Make sure you continue to apply the ointment.
In this instance, I agree whole heartedly with Ounceforounce.
C Rutten, as owner, can do what he pleases with each and every one of his horses. In this case he is yet to be proved wrong in his decision, but I have a gut feel that if the horse wins the Derby, Rosie may well be remunerated for her efforts to date, which would make your Karma wish very misguided, and nasty in the extreme.
Have a great day.