Maximus

The main thing here is Sarah, I hope she is doing ok. Is there any news ?  For what it's worth both jockeys involved were on the track when Sarah was being attended to, and both were visibly shaken. Mistakes happen, but like I say the only thing that really matters at this stage is Sarah.

Laughing meself silly reading this thread ...CeeTee you even managed to 'stop' Probabeel's career. Oustanding work, bro.

True, but so long as our stakes are poor, and the big dollars to sell to HK are on offer, or your horse is competitive in Australia for their fantastic stakes then sadly it’s an impossible hurdle to overcome, especially with the idiot management that we have had running the TAB and NZTR for the last 15+ years. 
Liz

So sorry to hear this, Frank was always there at Trentham when I was growing up, wherever we looked there was Frank  , and later he worked for Dad on the track.   Bless ya Frank x 

Frank rode Marand to win a 2yo race at Wairarapa on the 9/4/66 for my friend Dave Richardson. On behalf of Dave and myself we wish Frank and his family all the best. Dave and I have a small share in Wey Too Cool who races at Tauranga on Sunday. If she earns a stake we will donate our share to Frank’s fund.

There's a lot of emotive nonsense in these posts. Yes, the famous Ellerslie Hill has history on its side ...but the future of NZ racing depends on a viable, sustainable model in Auckland for the 21st century - and that means realising the asset value of underproductive land. Avondale, take note, Swallow yer pride, sell the land and invest in the greater good while taking a seat or three at the table for the next 100 years, instead of moaning about injustices of the past. That grandstand at Avondale is in itself a huge indictment on your previous and current leaders/management strategy, what an eyesore.
The loss of the Ellerslie Hill is sad - a relative pf mine won a McGregor Grant Chase ad was [placed in the GN Steeples when only a teenager. But he wouldnt want the Hill to stay there just for history's sake, whennn the future of our great sport is at this crossroads. Well done, ARC and Counties RC. Show them the way forward.
 

There's a lot of emotive nonsense in these posts. Yes, the famous Ellerslie Hill has history on its side ...but the future of NZ racing depends on a viable, sustainable model in Auckland for the 21st century - and that means realising the asset value of underproductive land. Avondale, take note, Swallow yer pride, sell the land and invest in the greater good while taking a seat or three at the table for the next 100 years, instead of moaning about injustices of the past. That grandstand at Avondale is in itself a huge indictment on your previous and current leaders/management strategy, what an eyesore.
The loss of the Ellerslie Hill is sad - a relative pf mine won a McGregor Grant Chase ad was [placed in the GN Steeples when only a teenager. But he wouldnt want the Hill to stay there just for history's sake, whennn the future of our great sport is at this crossroads. Well done, ARC and Counties RC. Show them the way forward.
 

There's a lot of emotive nonsense in these posts. Yes, the famous Ellerslie Hill has history on its side ...but the future of NZ racing depends on a viable, sustainable model in Auckland for the 21st century - and that means realising the asset value of underproductive land. Avondale, take note, Swallow yer pride, sell the land and invest in the greater good while taking a seat or three at the table for the next 100 years, instead of moaning about injustices of the past. That grandstand at Avondale is in itself a huge indictment on your previous and current leaders/management strategy, what an eyesore.
The loss of the Ellerslie Hill is sad - a relative pf mine won a McGregor Grant Chase ad was [placed in the GN Steeples when only a teenager. But he wouldnt want the Hill to stay there just for history's sake, whennn the future of our great sport is at this crossroads. Well done, ARC and Counties RC. Show them the way forward.
 

There's a lot of emotive nonsense in these posts. Yes, the famous Ellerslie Hill has history on its side ...but the future of NZ racing depends on a viable, sustainable model in Auckland for the 21st century - and that means realising the asset value of underproductive land. Avondale, take note, Swallow yer pride, sell the land and invest in the greater good while taking a seat or three at the table for the next 100 years, instead of moaning about injustices of the past. That grandstand at Avondale is in itself a huge indictment on your previous and current leaders/management strategy, what an eyesore.
The loss of the Ellerslie Hill is sad - a relative pf mine won a McGregor Grant Chase ad was [placed in the GN Steeples when only a teenager. But he wouldnt want the Hill to stay there just for history's sake, whennn the future of our great sport is at this crossroads. Well done, ARC and Counties RC. Show them the way forward.
 

There's a lot of emotive nonsense in these posts. Yes, the famous Ellerslie Hill has history on its side ...but the future of NZ racing depends on a viable, sustainable model in Auckland for the 21st century - and that means realising the asset value of underproductive land. Avondale, take note, Swallow yer pride, sell the land and invest in the greater good while taking a seat or three at the table for the next 100 years, instead of moaning about injustices of the past. That grandstand at Avondale is in itself a huge indictment on your previous and current leaders/management strategy, what an eyesore.
The loss of the Ellerslie Hill is sad - a relative pf mine won a McGregor Grant Chase ad was [placed in the GN Steeples when only a teenager. But he wouldnt want the Hill to stay there just for history's sake, whennn the future of our great sport is at this crossroads. Well done, ARC and Counties RC. Show them the way forward.
 

the reason is called Cook Strait.

You are a fuckwit

I think the 'pole' must be stuck up his rectum

It's posters like you that kill debate or stop people posting on sites like this.
 
 

Very hard to compare mares of different eras and generations...I was lucky enough to be with Malcolm Smith when he had La Mer she was an absolute machine...so I say enjoy them for what they are and why does one have to be better than another...they are all champions in one way or another.....anyway thats my 2 cents worth.

Melody Belle has been an outstanding , talented  and  tough racehorse however on her veey best day with everything going for her , even in those circumstances I cannot see that she would have got anywhere near Zaaki yesterday , excuses for SD coughing and Mugatoo lame I have read , maybe Avilius too far back again , not enough give , excuses excuses but Zaaki double brained them , shut the gate , donkey kicked them yesterday .

agreed!

Most reasonable people would agree that the law is (sometimes) an ass - and the way that the law is applied by the judiciary is (sometimes) appallingly bad.
However, the fact that Leo sometimes takes one for the team does not mean that he can break the law with impunity. What I would like to see is evidence that the law-breaking act (for which he has bee convicted) was part of a campaign to change the law for good ie the betterment of society, a more just/fair system. And what, if anything, is Leo doing to expedite this law change post-conviction?
Given his own assessment that he has 'absolute total support of 99% of the population', there must be some kind of lobby group/advocacy/movement gathering huge momentum after all this time - something to rival Me Too or BLM, perhaps?
Time for someone to 'go public' on this very important issue, Leo?

Any person seriously concerned with changing the 'name suppression' law(s) in NZ would have adopted different tactics than merely thumbing his nose at it by knowingly breaking the law.
IMO Leo just got caught out and was made an example of -fairly or not. Can't say I've seen any evidence of him attempting to effect changes in the 'name suppression' laws
IMO Leo 'called out' the system and got.whacked over the head by it for his trouble. Lucky to avoid a jail sentence.

even against innocent men like Joe Parker 
How do you know he is innnocent? He remains innocent in the eyes of the law (and reasonable people) until proven guilty.. He has been charged with a crime - as has, for instance, Manu Vatuvei, and until that charge is withdrawn by the Police (on behalf of the Crown), we should all keep a open mind. The public is entitled to know who has been charged - but if a Judge orders ongoing name suppression there  had better be a good reason for it - in the Millane case it was because other serious charges were oending,  - knowledge of which may have jeopardised the accused's right to  a fair trial.

who would share in decision making by way of democratic vote
you gotta be joking TM ..the vast majority of MB's 'owners' would have NEVER had a say about where, when, or in what company she races. They'd have just sat back ad enjoyed the ride and/or turned up to the races to see it unfold. Yes, there's a hit of Greed about the final campaign, esp if her feet are not right, but she is a fighter and on the right day could possibly win her finale.
I am one who thinks she has cried 'enough' and she should have been retired after that fabulous win over Avantage at Ellerslie in March/ IMO she'll sell for much more than $2M

who would share in decision making by way of democratic vote
you gotta be joking TM ..the vast majority of MB's 'owners' would have NEVER had a say about where, when, or in what company she races. They'd have just sat back ad enjoyed the ride and/or turned up to the races to see it unfold. Yes, there's a hit of Greed about the final campaign, esp if her feet are not right, but she is a fighter and on the right day could possibly win her finale.
I am one who thinks she has cried 'enough' and she should have been retired after that fabulous win over Avantage at Ellerslie in March/ IMO she'll sell for much more than $2M

Totally agree with you Not Cricket. I did not realise this about her feet yesterday. Surely she has done enough for her group of owners.Like you say why are they continuing to race her. I think she is showing she has had enough and wants to be a Mum. It is bad enough she will probably be lost to New Zealand as a broodmare and it is just so sad for us Melody Belle fans. Let’s hope she ends up at a lovely stud where she can enjoy the retirement she has well and truly earned. 

I have always believed that the people who own the horse and take the risks get to make the decisions, and not the casual observers. Obviously being owned by a syndicate they want to get whatever return they can out of her, and they don't get to share in any residual benefits once she starts breeding.
She may be a good NZ group one horse, but she isn't up to genuine Aussie Group One class. I was astounded she was only paying 6s yesterday as I gave her no chance from that draw and on those track conditions. I am always amazed how the Aussie commentators hype her up, purely on the basis of her winning all those weak NZ Group Ones.
My memory isn't all that great, but I don't think she has had to tough it out very often in her NZ races, which you usually have to do in Aussie. And she has never had much luck with barrier draws over there so she has needed to be tough or always make runs from the back.
On the subject of toughness, what about the SA Derby winner yesterday, three wide the trip and won easily.
And back to MB, her sale price might be interesting. Anything over $2m will be a good price, although I suspect some casual observers expect her to fetch much more.

I don't know about you mob but Melody Belle has been an amasing mare. She's done everything asked of her, may not be as good as everyone in NZ thinks but she's been a truly good racehorse for years. She's retiring but started in the Hollindale as her swansong race. But seriously pissed me off when I found that her feet has been bogged up for the race and trainer said she was vulnerable because he was having problems with her feet.
Fortunna, take a smack you greedy buggers. You are what is wrong with the industry, if you think it's smart, caring, intelligent and honorable, to try and squeeze one more pay check out of your mare. 
I don't care what people think about what I am saying as I don't normally critisize the check payers in the industry but this is wrong. You should be saying what can I do for my horse instead of what can my horse do for me. Take the smack.