Blue

I'm not sure there's anyone prepared to ask the hard questions on air.

I seem to think it was at Te Awamutu and the horse was Ra Pointer though I could well be wrong.

Maybe put away the irrigation and let a long spell of winter weather do it's thing seeing there are no plans to race over winter anyway. If you have to race 10 metres out should you even be racing? And would yesterday's problem have been there had they raced against the rail?I notice a comment from Stephen Marsh referring to upcoming Easter start for Provence said the 'track is perfect' or words to that effect. Difficult to know the true picture.

Winston won't be doing any track renovations that's for sure. Ellerslie, Avondale, Te Aroha all on the 'injured list' for one reason or another. What odds the next Auckland Cup runs on the poly at Cambridge? Don't seem to have any slipping problems at least.

Couldnt agree more. I'm sure anyone could have done a better video on a smart phone without the freezing, stopping and starting. Certainly did the occasion or the sport no favours.

They have the investment and goodwill, it's the knowledge and expertise that's in question. We'll certainly never see racing on a 'hard and fast' surface again, or two year olds who have twelve or fifteen races in their first season but that was then and this is now and as previously noted, the track is one aspect, the other is the marketing side to generate interest and attendance.

Plus she has a big piece of Riff Rocket - the gravy on the KFC.

Several northern horses trialled down that way last week. Obviously filled the floats that went to Trentham. A good float trip away and a trial is good education for a youngster.

It had us all guessing originally but when the American said he'd go to $9 mil it became a bit of a comedy (read 'pissing contest'). At the end of the day isn't that the foundation of the racing game? You pays your money and you takes your choice. Good luck to them.

Depending what business you're in or how well heeled one is it's probably a tax deductable transaction anyway. Apart from the pedigree it certainly looks like a well balanced filly. It has a leg on every corner.

Yes Idol. Self Assured just nowhere to go the last 30 metres. On your big screen it probably looked like they were going to run right through your lounge. Better than being there.

Have to call it the "Powder Poof" derby today.

Just sacked one that wasn't making the grade. Opportunity to invest in something new but now I don't even think I'll bother.

You forgot to mention Mr Whippy !!

The thread refers to a 'promising horse'. A second and a win from two races doesn't neccessarily suggest anything more than promising. $1m in the hand speaks volumes.

Ellerslie has yet to have anything but a good track. Once it's been through a winter of shitty weather (regardless if it races or not) and the vagaries of spring weather maybe this time next year a different and more stable pattern will emerge.

If thats the best that was offered it seems like most are just accepting it as is. I thought there might have been closer scrutiny after the initial hoo-haa.

There still appears to be some negativity regarding the state of the Ellerslie track. Has there been any official or even unofficial feedback as to improvement on Cup day. Couldn't care less about 'leaders bias' or that stuff, just the actual track itself.

82/83 won the Great Northern Hurdles by 12 from Greek Boy and Kanamint. Laurie Cavanagh's second win in the race he won on Leylend in '78. Owned by Terry Foote and George McRae. Following season (but just two months later) he won the Grand National Hurdles by 7 lengths but between the two wins he had run and fallen in the Grand National Hurdles in Melbourne. Tough buggers back then.

Stepping a little sideways Gruff, instead of crying about losing their jobs, why don't some of the well paid mouthpieces buy the company from WB and carry on themselves? Or do they not have any confidence in their own business acumen.

Exactly. It's long been said in harness racing, the horse in the death seat actually controls the pace. Punters especially complain if a horse leads, slows things down then sprints away leaving little chance for back runners. In actual fact that's good tactics by the leading jockey if it comes off.There are no rules to this otherwise it would be easy to pick a pattern. Just back the horse you think will win for whatever reason.

Well that would be the funniest post everrrrrrrrr...................

Good point. Summer races could easily start 11;30 or midday. Connections could then all be home at a reasonable time.

In his apprentice days Nigel Landers was known as 'Long Shot'.

Will have to wait until the rail is in the true place again to compare to KM raceday. Six mtrs out doesn't prove a he'll of a lot imo.