rdytdy

Is it a coincidence that the RIU announced a couple of weeks ago a step up in their testing regime of jockeys and track work riders?

Raised my glass and toasted the little champ who brought so much joy and elation through his racing deeds. Like Sunline, he was of very ordinary pedigree but left the royally breds in his wake. He was never able to trot and could barely do pacework yet at full gallop was sensational. 74 starts , 29 wins, 16 seconds and 7 thirds with 11 of those wins at G1 level. He became a legend in Queensland with his winning exploits and who can forget his win at New Plymouth with 71.5kgs on his back. Don't forget he ran 5th in a Japan Cup and also went to the States and ran in the Hollywood Gold Cup. Horses such as Roughie is what makes this game great and why one becomes so involved. RIP Roughie

Great betting fields there at Te Rapa Biff, some really nice horses going around. Just wish Scoobs had selected three from there for the comp tomorrow.

I walked the Te Rapa track about 4pm. It is in excellent condition considering the rain the past few days. The track is on the better end of dead and the weather is fine and breezy. It will probably come up dead first thing in the morning and by race start could very well be a good 3. Should be some good racing there with some nice fields.

M2 R10 Waikato Races Te Rapa CHRISTMAS AT THE RACES R65 1600 Rating 65 Benchmark* (Te Rapa) 1600m $17,500 FF Win 210 FF Place 1210 1 63523 Apachee Taat (6) 59 Brendan Hutton (a3) 2 401x3 Handsome Hermes (7) 58.5 Samantha Collett 3 78x51 Liquid Asset (5) 58 Sam Spratt 4 10x33 Longbeach (11) 58 Cameron Lammas 5 2221. Packing Chaparral (8) 58 Michael Coleman 6 43x12 Marcelle (17) 57 Reese Jones 7 170x2 Rasa Lila (9) 57 Vinnie Colgan 8 4x600 Jimmy Hoffa (12) 57 Shaun McKay (a3) 9 58x1. Roc That (3) 56.5 Josh Oliver (a3) 10 43x10 Mystic Man (13) 56.5 Michelle Wenn 11 51 Puntinato (16) 56 Danielle Johnson 12 5186x Astardia (15) 55 Lynsey Satherley 13 43x59 High Viz (2) 55 Anna Jones (a3) 14 020x7 Tiara (18) 54.5 Lee Magorrian (a3) 15 418 Our Daisy (1) 54 Mark Du Plessis 16 0x693 Mrs Sin (10) 54 Lisa Cropp 17 x3858 Savabella Rose 54 Scratched 18 04x93 Dezignator (4) 55.5 19 027x7 Chipandchase (14) 56.5

What is probably not realised is that these thoroughbreds have had the best care and attention since the day they were born. They have been fed, watered, rugged, boxed, nurtured and given every attention imaginable. Feet done, teeth done, groomed, any slight illness or injury immediately tended to and as individuals loved. The high profile loss of both horses, one through health and the other from a freak event, should not be used to give any leverage to the small minority. What needs to be pointed out to these people is, by banning racing, what would the future hold for a number of the horses. Do you then ban gymkhana's and every other horse event? Centrofold, TBHunter's last sentence is his best.

Centrofold What a rubbish post. He was simply drawing a parallel for these idiots who want to ban racing to compare with. They jump and and down about something that happens very rarely, both in horses and humans. It could have happened in training, running around his paddock etc. Giving credence to these nutters by the media is to sell papers but it gives the nutters traction also to keep jumping on the band wagon. They protested at the street parade in Melbourne before the Cup but were kept well away. They will be fired up next year for sure. Sure, it is a shock as is any death, but is needed to be put in complete perspective of just how isolated this type of thing is. Knee jerk reactions and giving credence to the nutters is not what is required here.

Lloyd, you are thinking of Rocket Racer who was given "Elephant Juice" etorphine which is a stimulant to make the horse run faster. He was near collapse but did recover.

It is a real shame and first reaction to anything like this is one of shock. However, instead of any speculation, innuendo or guesses let's be prudent and await the result of the autopsy.

Well there you go Pogo!! First Australasian horse home in the Cup. 3rd!! He will be back again for the race next year. Won't be at $81 then.

Get a grip Meomy. Laughable.

Did he get on with Waterhouse. Winner tipped out here.!!

Thanks Zelda!

Can someone please post this clip from You Tube here. We really must let Pogo view this brilliant clip. "Hitler Previews The 2014 Melbourne Cup" Thanking you in advance.

Squeezed out like a pimple. Pulling harder than a school boy reading his first Penthouse. Oh, whilst I remember Des and Tom are doing a show on Radio Trackside from 5pm today on the Cup. They have several guests and are doing an indepth analysis from 6pm I think. Dean Lester etc.

Don't forget they stuffed up the Melbourne Cup live draw last night switching over to too late (had been advertising it all as on at 9pm.) Replayed it half an hour later. In view of that, plus the channel switching I had to show you this classic piece put together by Tiger on Channel 2. Thanks Tiger brilliant! PRESS RELEASE FROM NZRBBS Wednesday 5th November We are very pleased to announce an increase of 3% on our Melbourne Cup day turnover on last year. This FANTASTIC increase can be attributed to our MARKETING IDEAS and our split channel coverage. By advertising that we were going to show the Melbourne Cup draw live and then not doing so was a plan from our Marketing Department that got our customers locked in for the 3 days leading into the Great Race. But the main reason for the FANTASTIC INCREASE (3%) was that by changing from Trackside 1 to Trackside 2 half way through the race we doubled the number of patrons who could watch the race live. Due to the AMAZING SUCCESS of todays experiment we will continue to not show programmes that we promote and we will also continue to confuse our clients by changing channels during races. As always we will not listen to any correspondence because we know best and we get paid not to listen. Y I Earnplenty Head of Good Ideas NZRBBS

Porky It is Thursday and Fridays that they are switching channels half way through the meetings.

If you placed you transistor next to lamp post you could get good reception.

I've heard one of them Gubellini: "FFS!!! At the 400m the idiot has the hot pot back last on the fence with a runner on the outside. Unless there is a parting like the Red Sea it will need a miracle to win from there."

Exactly Gubellini. I would put her out and then bring her back to win a couple of "soft" races and get her confidence back.

From Saturday 1 November: Suffire: Squeezed up at the start losing ground, got heels at the 800m and held up early in the run home and then got on the second horses heels 100m when that horse shifted out. Silverdale: Never got a go in the straight. Villars: Also held up in the run home. Cast King: Badly hampered at the 900m losing ground and had to come wide in the straight. Awapuni: Waikaka: Badly held up in the straight and not clear until the 100m Gwynethanne: Caught wide so moved up and sat outside the leader against normal race pattern. Durie Hill: Blocked for a run all the way down the straight.

Australia's richest race,the Melbourne Cup and they have just two Australian breds lining up. Where's Pogo?

Just for you Gubellini back on the fence in last place with a runner on your outside is one of the worst postions in a race. I would have thought that a person with your racing back ground would agree. Look, the ride by Michelle Payne at Caulfield was a shocker, the filly should have won that day. End of story. The field that she ran against today was a huge step up from what she raced against at Caulfield and I agree she was too short against those others. Yes, I was surprised to see her back on the fence where she was as I can't really recall Joao Moreira riding a horse like that. I rate him as one of the best riders in the world and have stated that previously and 99.9% of the time Joao places his mounts to best advantage. Unlike Michelle though, he was able to extricate the filly off the fence but she never let down at all when in the clear. Again comparing a Group race on Derby Day to her previous start is like comparing apples to plums, a different day, different field and different track and I wouldn't have thought I would need to comment. If you believe today justified Michelle's ride you need to think again.

Aussie breds faint again!! Cry me a river.

Connections have the option of putting a rider on a half kg over. I am picking that they agreed for Leith to ride a kalf kg over when the weights came out. Would never have beaten the first two home anyway, they are very progressive types. Unbelievable quinella of $9.00 for them!