rdytdy

I wouldn't be putting anything on Azkadellia in the Myers Classic. A 3yo filly has never been able to win the race!! Come on, do your home work. PS. Tap me on the shoulder next time you see me at the races.

Don't try and tell me I am wrong Fasthorse, you have absolutely no idea. I have two in work at present. Just for you here is the cost for one. Month of September: Daily training charge 30 days @ $75.90 per day = $2277.00 Shoes = $155.00 Track Fees = $138.00 Sundries - supplements = $72.00 Total $2642.00 Now take note the horse hasn't been to the trials or races so that is basic monthly cost. You add on race expenses, transport costs etc, say the horse lined up twice in the month and you will see that will exceed $3,000 for a month easily. The cost to race a horse is easily $25,000 - $30,000 for the year.

Is it me, or has anyone else noticed Gubellini has gone awfully quiet on this thread?

She was quite excited when she knew that she was going to Australia as we all know the place is full of pussies.

Fasthorse forgets all the extras, track fees. gear hireage, supplements, shoeing, noms, acceptances, race day strapper fees, vets, transport, trial costs, manipulation etc

You have no idea Fasthorse of costs I suggest. I have horses in work regularly in the Waikato and you won't get any change from $25,000 - $30,000. I suggest you, as an owner trainer are out if touch of racing costs in the North. Don't forget from that $12k winning stake he only receives $10,200 after percentages are taken out.

$25,000 - $30,000 for a year Fasthorse. Now go back and revise your figures for the number of months as per your post on Racing Bonanza! Ie Ellersie 3-4 months & Trentham just under 6 months (half the number of months you quote).

Still used by Anne and a few others to condition their stayers.

Good points Lindsay, especially regarding the uphill work put in by the Northern trainers and I note TB Hunter's comment re the uphill treadmill in Japan. This is the ground work of any endurance athlete. As an athlete I know the importance of hill work and ran the fire breaks of the Hutt Valley hills, Blue Mountains and Belmont Trig (highest point in Wellington) regularly. The strength that this work provided in distance races was vital. It appears in recent times with big barns that a lot of the Southern stayers now just come out and do their work on the flat only and wouldn't know what a hill is and struggle at the end of distance races.

Once again Michelle Payne is in denial. She denies she did anything wrong in the Azkadellia ride and now denies she was to blame for the fall. It was a shocker, you could see her looking across to get out off the fence and she angles out and attempts to find a gap that was never there for her. Straight after the race using My-Sky I watched it at least six times and knew she was going to get a decent suspension. 20 meetings. I did not see the Crystal Mile (the following race) so cannot comment on her ride but another 10 meeting suspension. After the past week she needs to take a good long hard look at the way she is currently riding.

Cantina San Padre Sacred Falls

Fasthorse, it is imperative that stake money increases signifcantly however why do you embellish the returns? Win a R65 at Ellerslie and cover 7 months training fees, win a R85 at Trentham and cover almost 1 year. What rubbish. The monthly cost of having a horse in full racing work is between $2500 - $3000 Winner's cheque at Ellerslie is $12,000 less trainer's and jockey's percentages = $10,200. Winners cheque at Trentham is $18,750 less percentages = $15,937. So how about just 5-6 months.

Bloody Ridiculous!! Waipa should have been all on the same channel today. Talk about pissing your customers off!! Whoever schedules this has absolutely no idea.

When Des Coppins interviewed various people later in the day didn't one person state that a trainer demanded that irrigation take place on the Sunday?

This horse is doing things wrong at present, thus making it difficult for his riders. When the penny drops he will win a few races, probably in row.

Gee you get excited Gubellini. Not one person on this thread has said, "Sack her from the horse." Not one person has said ride the filly on the speed. These ideas have come from you! Come on, it was a bad ride. for all the reasons I stated above in my post at 8:43pm that night. The reason being where the filly was placed in the running. But, hey, I don't have a jockey's licence, what would I know! Mind you, I don't have a pilots licence either, but I can tell the difference between a good landing and a bad one. Michelle has tried to defend the ride by stating that she couldn't get to the outer because of the runner on her outside. Does that not fully justify my take on the ride. Bad placement which then caused Michelle to search for a run in the straight. She was a beaten a head. How much extra ground did the filly have to cover in that endeavour. How much forward momentum did it cost the filly by having to switch ground in the straight instead of being able to propel forward in a straight line? Remember. the margin at the line was a head. Both Australian and NZ Retro Shows lambasted the ride, as have the press and huge number of the punting public. One would think that there would be a number of those who have done so would be well qualified to judge. I note also that the stewards took her into the room and questioned her re the ride. Do you note a consistent theme here? In my opinion Michelle should have put her hand up and said, sorry, I fu*#*#ed up. I'll do better next time. Just as Mark Du Plessis did on his ride on Bounding in the 1000 Guineas last year ( ride widely condemned). Came out and made amends by winning the G1 Railway at Ellerslie with a lovely ride. On this ride you are defending the indefensible. However good luck to Michelle and Azkadellia in the future.

Yes great to see. Retirement was over the top instigated by the press. He will be riding a couple at the trials tomorrow and resume at Ellerslie on Saturday and then on to ride the good colt at Te Rapa on Monday.

Craig Williams’ hopes of adding the $A6 million Gr.1 Melbourne Cup to his CV will rest with the European contender Cavalryman. He has picked up the mount on the Godolphin runner following the suspension of English jockey James Doyle. He was to have combined with stablemate Willing Foe at Flemington but his ban resulted in James McDonald moving to Willing Foe from Cavalryman with Williams taking that vacant ride. Trained by Saeed Bin Suroor at Newmarket, Cavalryman was unplaced in the 2012 Melbourne Cup and he has been a dual Group Two winner during his three-start preparation for a return trip. Champion big race rider Craig Williams has locked in his ride in the 2014 Melbourne Cup where he will be attempting to win the final leg of Australian racing’s grand slam. Williams, who’s tasted success in the Cox Plate, Caulfield Cup and the Golden Slipper is trying to win his first Melbourne Cup and he’s picked up the ride aboard the Saeed Bin Suroor-trained Cavalryman. The Godolphin ride became available when British jockey James Doyle was suspended at the Champions meeting at Ascot last weekend. Doyle was booked to partner Cavalryman’s stablemate Willing Foe but his suspension has resulted in Godolphin switching James McDonald from Cavalryman onto Willing Foe. Williams has become the recipient of Doyle’s misfortune and takes the reins of Cavalryman, a $26 chance in the Melbourne Cup while Willing Foe is at $17. Clinton Payne Two more reports of James switching mounts. There are more also.

McDonald switches Godolphin horses for 2014 Melbourne Cup Nic Ashman - 20/10/2014 Sydney’s premier jockey James McDonald has switched Godolphin horses for the 2014 Melbourne Cup. McDonald was booked to ride Cavalryman but will now partner Willing Foe in the $6.5million feature on the first Tuesday in November. Racing Victoria’s international recruiter Leigh Jordon last month described Willing Foe as "the horse to give Godolphin its first Melbourne Cup”. "Interesting runner with an unusual form profile considering he's only raced three times in the past two years,” he said. "He bolted away with the Ebor Handicap in 2012 and was recently an unlucky fourth in the group 1 Irish St Leger.” McDonald remains on standby for Criterion in Saturday’s Cox Plate should Hugh Bowman not win his appeal against a careless riding suspension incurred last Saturday at Caulfield. Nic Ashman

Tauranga Friday: Katy O'Beal: Lightly raced mare who hit the line strongly fresh over 1600. By Zabeel, will appreciate stepping up over ground and will win one pretty quickly. Rotorua Saturday: Showstopper: Over raced early and was back last on the fence turning in, held up and hampered but ran on strongly to finish right behind the place getters in cramped quarters. Funhouse: She was crowded at the 1000m and then in the straight had to be eased when getting on heels in the straight. Will improve quickly with that run under her belt. Survived: Settled back second last on the fence, still back there turning in and held up for a few strides. Finished very well for his fourth placing and looks a big improver especially when stepping up in distance. Caulfield Saturday: Azkadellia: We all saw her get slaughtered by the jockey and she should have won by panels. Very promising filly. Leebaz: Found a brick wall in front of him in the straight. Forget he went around. Just follow him in his next few starts.

Well, the ride was shown on Weigh In tonight and rounded slated by all three. Butch Castles quoted Bruce Clark who must have commented on it. "I've seen a lot of poor jobs but this was Hall Of Fame." Paul Shailer said that Michelle is a good rider but that ride was unforgiveable, it was horrible. Was the ride discussed on OZ Retro?

James has switched Godolphin horses for the Melbourne. Was booked for Cavalryman but now riding Willing Foe. @21FF

My understanding one horse was worked this morning in the middle of the track. Saturday's meeting was abandoned due to horses slipping further in. In my opinion a couple of horses should have been galloped this morning where the horses were likely to be racing in front of the stipes and the track inspected for marks after that gallop and the riders questioned. I heard David Walsh state on Radio Trackside that Weissmuller's back legs slipped when he went out onto the track and I note that in the race call it was mentioned that Weissmuller, who was in front, was racing three wide off the rail. All in all it has been rather unfortunate two days have now been abandoned.

As far as stake money goes most owners and trainers would prefer to win the Melbourne Cup I'm sure. It's the world's richest handicap race at $6,200,000. The Cox Plate is worth is worth less than half, $3,050,000. From a breeding aspect then the wfa Cox Plate would probably take precedent.

I would say that plans would hinge around the way RR has come through yesterday's race Hesi. When Donna left this time with RR the Caulfield Cup was the main target she was set for and everything geared for that race. The McKinnon may be a bridge too far and a trip back home to freshen and get ready for the Autumn may be the best option for the mare. I'm sure Donna will make the right decision.