bernard

Anyone know why he is scratched on Friday ?

Only three other drivers have been able to achivie the 2 million mark , those being ..David Butcher , Ricky May and Mark Purdon I thought AGH would have been on that list. Talking of Ricky May, I would like to see him get to 100 this season but he is not down to drive this weekend, away on holiday perhaps?

A 'new track' in Christchurch or Addington ....mile start may not be suitable....then race 1950m . One of the unusual aspects of the Jewels is that the concept of the event was almost perfect right from inception. We must be careful therefore that any changes made are for the better and not just change for change sake. Moving away from the mile distance will rob the event of much interest, seeing Smolda go a record over 1950m is not the same as a great mile time. Our top horses don't get a lot of opportunities over 1mile and changing the distance would be a giant leap backwards for the Jewels. I would like to see Southland have a turn. The Jewels don't necessiarly need a huge city population base in close proximity (If it were held in Wellington how many people would turn up?). What it needs is a population base where there are a sigificant amount of people involved in the industry. Southland has a strong breeding industry established there.

My criticism was not about the horse. It was about Mark Purdon, who, in my opinion, conserved the horse for when the big stakes were on offer this week. This will obviously come as a surprise to some, but horses can get sick or just have off days just like humans. They havn't got bionic legs and pacemakers installed. With the ability Smolda has, even if MP had tried to give him a soft run last week he would still have won easily had he not had a respitory complaint, that is obvoius to see. To say he didn't win because he wasn't driven out is simply ridiculous, can't be substaniated and just the ravings of a blind conspiricy therist.

I'm pretty sure it was Lancaster Park

The discussion is all a bit academic because there are too many personal agendas that will prevent it gaining any sort of traction, Agree completely with that. I don't really care where NZ Cricket goes (Lancaster Park is fine with me) just leave Addington where it is

The argument for Not developing Hagley park is the issue of granting exclusive access to what is one of Christchurch's true taongas. Why would it be any more exclusive than it is now.? It's already a cricket oval. Can't anyone go to a cricket match if they want? I am not a cricket fan but I don't feel excluded by the facility being upgraded for those that decide to attend.

As I said in a previous post, there is no doubt there will be savings in operational costs and the use of capital. I take your point there but those benefits could eventually accrue mainly to Canty Racing as they would be the landlord and in the stronger position. The Met would only be a tennant club. There is the future of our sport to consider, not just the immediate cost structure. I note you do not attemp to mitigate points 1 - 4. in my previous post

Although it may seem on the surface that there would be significant savings for the Met in operating at Riccarton, through sharing operational costs of the facilities, the reality is we would be handing the future of our sport in Canty over to the CJC or Canty Racing. The problems are 1- Whatever lease was negotiated, a time could come when the CJC could up the rent to an exorbident amount. 2- You cannot get around the disadvantage of racing inside the galloping track, thus moving the action further away from oncourse patrons. Many people have their 1st experience of Harness Racing on Cup Day and lowering the quailty of their experience is not a recipe for growing our industry, even if many people do watch on T.V. 3- The Met is now in a position to take advantage of it's location to increase non racing revenue through operating bars around the rugby games next door and carparking etc. No such opportunity would exist for it at Riccarton 4 Whatever price The Met got for the land at Addington, a significant amount is likely to be swallowed up by developing a new track and installing lighting. Although this is beside the point, for the life of me I cannot understand why people are so opposed to enhancing the Oval at Hagley Park. It is not as if NZ Cricket wants to take extra land they just want to improve an already existing facility, can someone explain what's wrong with that?

I am heartly sick of politicians, or in this case an ex politican taking our industry for granted. Currently in ChCh, Canterbury Cricket is looking for a new venue that will be able to attract games when the World Cricket Cup is held in Aussie/NZ in 2015. Lee Germon has suggested upgrading the cricket oval in Hagley Park which seems like a good idea to me. Leading the charge against this is Jim Anderton, fair enough, he is entitled to his anti development backward ideas,but his brilliant alternative to Hagley Park? Well apparently Addington Raceway could relocate to Riccarton where they could use the same track, after all neither venue according to Jim attracts many people. (Funny Jim that a new cricket venue has to hold up to 15,000 people to be eligable to hold world cup games while every year 20 -25,000 people cram addington each year for the NZ Cup.) NZ Cricket estimate it will cost up to $15mil to upgrade Hagley Park. Has Jim considered the ground at Addington is worth about $20m and thats before you build the facility, or does Jim expect Addington Raceway to perhaps gift the ground to NZ Cricket? Of course the is no possiblity of Addington shifting to make way for Cricket but I just wish these so called civic leaders would think before they say stupid things that show there contempt for our sport. Thank God he never became mayor of ChCh

I don't think you can blame Butt's drive on AR. On that run he was never going to win no matter how he was driven. It made sence to have a few lengths on ITMQ turning for home. ITMQ is a true champ and the best in Australasia at present. AR's run well below his best. Maybe he can't take 4 races in two weeks or just can't take the pressure of racing against the very best?

Gomeo Romeo has never been longer than $13.00 on fixed odds and never beaten a quality feild like this cup field while Pembrook Penny, a noted good stand start performer and the cup trial winner is still at $21.00 I would have thought GR'S price should have been more like 20 to 1 and PB a $12 dollar shot. Or does someone know something I have missed?

Does anyone else think Gomeo Romeo is a bit short at $12.00 on the odds?

I think Changeover is worth a punt at $4000 considering the success of other IN THE POCKET stallions. Art Offical is another worth a go at $6000 as it seems he was a genuine top 3yr old in the States and if he is sucessful in his first few crops his fee will rise rapidly. The worst value for money has to be Gotta Go Cullen at $6000.He is not in the same class as Art Offical but ID expects the same service fee. Also Changeover proved to be a much better horse on the track and yet is $2000 cheaper. I can't understand anyone that would sent a mare to GGC at that price. I would think $2500 would be a fair stud fee

I thought GGC was cheaper than that. If he is at $6000 he is waaaayy overpriced. Especially with the likes of Art Official at $6000 also, a much better prospect in my book