mckenzie

Yes I noticed when trying to bet on Hong Kong racing that the NZ TAB had incomplete form and missing information (e.g. didn't have any of Dubai Honour's Australian runs listed). Checked the Australian TAB and they were able to provide all the correct information on their website. How can the NZ TAB expect people to use their services and products when they're so poor?

Yes interesting data and shows how quickly numbers can fall if you don't get some good results on the track. Conversely breeders can change their minds quickly and jump on board a stallion like Satono Aladdin. I thought Shocking might get more support.

This is how the harness race works: The first race of its kind in New Zealand, The Race by Grins is a slot race whereby 10 slots were sold securing the slot holders a spot in the race for three years. They then liaise with owners and trainers to fill their slots with independent deals done on the distribution of any prize money won. Efforts are being made for there to be a trotting one next year alongside the pacing event such is it's success.

Slot races seem to be growing in popularity with the $1 Million harness race at Cambridge on Friday and the $4 Million Quokka in Perth on Saturday. I haven't heard any discussion of one for our local thoroughbred code but seems something that could be looked into to generate some interest and provide a race with decent stake money for our top horses to target. Any thoughts on this idea?

What about Imperatriz?

While Legarto in my opinion put in the best performance by a NZ 3YO this season in the Australian Guineas I'm guessing Sharp N Smart will win champion 3YO because of his overall record for the season. Legarto has already secured NZ Bloodstock Filly of the Year. Maybe Prowess gets the middle distance award and Pennyweka the champion stayer award?

Horror watch for Levante fans. I wonder if the new owners will race on with her. The jockey last start said it was a career best effort. She seems to be going as well as ever.

Interesting in hindsight that the 2022 G1 Levin Classic was given a warning by the New Zealand Pattern Committee because the top 4 didn't rate highly enough. The race was won by Imperatriz and I Wish I Win was third.

Getting held up around the turn really killed his momentum and chance of catching the leader. If they had their time over I think they would go forward with the lack of pace in the race and try to tough it out.

Yes I was curious about the future of Trackside too. How will it operate going forward? Will there be improved coverage under this deal for local racing?

Just a shame the spring racing here isn't worth more. Think how good for local racing it would be to have Prowess, Legarto, Sharp N Smart and others at the Hawkes Bay carnival like our top horses used to do when the Livamol/Kelt was worth $1-2 million.

Mo'unga scratched, Campionessa now gets a start!

Seems the problem is not her overall prizemoney, which she is ahead of the others on, but this other rule: Horses in Victorian weight-for-age races, excluding the Cox Plate, are balloted by whether they have received more than $30,000, $60,000 or $90,000 for being placed first to fifth inclusive in any flat race over the previous 24 months. Campionessa's biggest pay day of $77,507 from the Herbie Dyke placed her underneath Yaphet (who collected $90,225 when second in 2022 South Australian Derby) and Virtuous Circle (who collected $90,000 when second in 2022 Moonee Valley Vase). https://www.racing.com/news/2023-03-22/news-preview-campionessa-may-miss-australian-cup

Exactly. Where can we see these "forecasts" in more detail? "It is believed the proposals all guarantee there will be no forced job losses from the TAB’s 450 fulltime employees in the first 12 months" "The minister has said factors he will consider are whether any partnership will allow the TAB to fulfil its statutory obligations, while he will seek information on what effects a partnership would have on New Zealand jobs." Well what happens after 12 months? What will be the effect on NZ jobs after that period? The journalist doesn't seem to have asked many questions about this whole proposal.

Trackside programming is a total joke. Cutting away one minute after the Golden Slipper to go to some nothing race in Western Australia. And following that still no Slipper aftermath because they're off to Doomben. They can't move these races on Trackside 2 because they've decided to programme the Sapphire Coast, Singapore snd Pingrup in the ten minutes after the Slipper. Now it's onto the All Star Mile. Surely we'll get some post-race coverage of this race we've been building up to for months? Nope, almost no post-race coverage because Trackside have decided Kembla Grange is more important. It really is an insult to racing fans, but Trackside don't seem to care. it's all about cramming in as many races as possible.

Yep hats off to them, the coverage is top notch. It's great to get the full pre and post race coverage and be able to take in the atmosphere of the day.

The fact Prowess denied two well fancied runners La Crique and Defibrillate a chance of winning or getting a better placing in a Group 1 must have left a sour taste in the mouth of those horses connections as they watched the winners celebrate. Look at how La Crique kept fighting back at Levante last start, she's a tough mare who may have had more to give and as the commentator said she was just starting to warm up. Carrying 4.5kg more than the winner makes a difference when your momentum gets stopped and you have to pick yourself up multiple times. Not to mention poor old Defibrillate who nearly fell and would have finished much closer.

How long can the Auckland Cup justify a $500,000 stake when it's a Group 2 and the Group 1's on the day are worth quite a bit less?

Great performance today, very rare for our fillies to go over and beat their boys. Look forward to seeing what she can do in the spring, especially once she gets to 2000m. Well done to Ken & Bev on their first Australian Group 1.

Based on her trackwork connections are not confident that she's a 2400m horse so she's now being aimed at the Bonecrusher.

The Bonecrusher Stakes is also a possible target for La Crique, they are not keen on going to Sydney https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/horse-racing-aussie-plans-shelved-as-la-crique-looks-to-home/ESWVJZCTMZB4XL4PWHKVKZEV74/

Yeah it seemed crazy to stick with the R88 race in Australia that was running quite late and miss any build up to the highly anticipated Group 1. No interviews or shots of them parading. Surely they could adopt a policy that local Group Ones get 5 minutes minimum of lead in coverage to show some respect for the local industry. Don't we have two channels so we can do just that?

Hopefully a few of the less favoured ones go forward and we get a properly run race... you wouldn't think they have much chance at all if they go back and try to outsprint the two mares. I think they'll try and position Levante as forward as possible. As you say she can't afford to give La Crique a big head start. Will be game on from the 600m.

Levante was beaten less than a length in the Champions Sprint at Flemington though