Contentious 616 Report post Posted January 12, 2021 Group 1 Telegraph - 12 noms Group 1 Levin Classic 11 noms all other race nominations remain open Come on Big Al from Race group do something to attract owners and trainers to your premier course and meeting. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Huey 2,037 Report post Posted January 12, 2021 Big Al gone hasn't he? Even though the fields are light some pretty interesting races , I'm looking forward to it can't wait! Insider 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Insider 3,961 Report post Posted January 12, 2021 It will be super racing, on a great surface. The two Group Ones are run at equal weights so 12 in each is pretty good. If the Telegraph was still a handicap, there would be 18 in it, but it wouldn't still be rated as a Group One...as simple as that! Liz scooby3051, soliloquy, Huey and 1 other 3 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
We're Doomed 4,868 Report post Posted January 12, 2021 As Liz says, the Telegraph is WFA, so 12 noms is pretty good, and the 3yo race comes a week before a $1m race at Ellerslie. Certainly not ideal for the pattern of racing, but that is the way Auckland does things. They have always wanted to interfere with Wellington's Cup Week and these days they are allowed to do what they like. nomates, Insider, Huey and 2 others 5 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Contentious 616 Report post Posted January 12, 2021 17 hours ago, Huey said: Big Al gone hasn't he Just read that on Stuff website - bit strange? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trump 2,741 Report post Posted January 12, 2021 12 hours ago, We're Doomed said: As Liz says, the Telegraph is WFA, so 12 noms is pretty good, and the 3yo race comes a week before a $1m race at Ellerslie. Certainly not ideal for the pattern of racing, but that is the way Auckland does things. They have always wanted to interfere with Wellington's Cup Week and these days they are allowed to do what they like. Strange. I didn’t realise that the ARC controlled the Programming of races. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mr_gee 417 Report post Posted January 13, 2021 3 hours ago, Trump said: Strange. I didn’t realise that the ARC controlled the Programming of races. they may as well they can control wheo has maiden races Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
voice of reason 91 Report post Posted January 13, 2021 the weakest telegraph for some time. would have thought trentham would suit levante's style of racing perfectly chevy86 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Huey 2,037 Report post Posted January 13, 2021 21 minutes ago, voice of reason said: the weakest telegraph for some time. would have thought trentham would suit levante's style of racing perfectly Still a very interesting race Tavi Mac vs Avantage va Marscapone vs Enzos Lad The 2 & 3yo races are super exciting ( no way the K million 2yo race will have as a good a field as the Wellesley this year) all taking place on the best track in the country! Baz (NZ), nomates, Pam Robson and 2 others 5 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike28 182 Report post Posted January 13, 2021 1 hour ago, voice of reason said: the weakest telegraph for some time. would have thought trentham would suit levante's style of racing perfectly thats what i would of thought. if it gets onto a big roomy surface like trentham or riccarton it will be winning especially down the chute. thats a shame will have to get used to finishing in the fastest 600 and running second Insider 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Huey 2,037 Report post Posted January 13, 2021 1 hour ago, mike28 said: thats what i would of thought. if it gets onto a big roomy surface like trentham or riccarton it will be winning especially down the chute. thats a shame will have to get used to finishing in the fastest 600 and running second Going for Westbury classic isn't she, $100k race just up the road compared to big trip away to Trentham, extra week prep, she is only 4yo plenty of time to get a G1 on CV you can't tell me she is going to run into horses of the quality of the 4 I've mentioned in Telegraph in that race. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
We're Doomed 4,868 Report post Posted January 13, 2021 9 hours ago, Trump said: Strange. I didn’t realise that the ARC controlled the Programming of races. If you go back to traditional dates, Auckland used to hold the Derby on Boxing day, the Auckland Cup on New Year's day and then the Rich Hill mile a day or two later. Mid Jan they held a very low key meeting with $10,000 races, they used to muck around with a low key meeting on Anniversary Day, then the Air NZ Stakes a few weeks later, and the Easter Handicap at Easter. Marton used to hold a decent enough lead up to the Wgtn Cup meeting mid January and then Wgtn used to race Saturday, Monday (Anniversary Day) and Saturday (Cup Day). Now Auckland have retained their Boxing Day and New Years Day meetings without their traditional features. They have added a brand new meeting mid January clashing with Wgtn, with two races that aren't even group races, but still receive $600,000 of industry funding. Wgtn has had to shuffle their meetings and races around to their detriment. The Group 2 Wakefield has had to be moved (attracting a terrible field and in danger of losing its status) and replaced with a listed race, which has attracted a better field than Auckland's $1m race. Auckland then hold a brand new week of racing in March with the Derby and Auckland Cup, and a few weeks later try to hold the Easter Handicap as far away from Easter as possible. So, some may suggest that Auckland has no control over programming, but whoever the mystery person is who has initiated all of these changes they are certainly having a significant impact on the whole pattern of racing in NZ. I'm surprised the Aussies haven't poached them and moved Melbourne Cup Week to January. chevy86, Pam Robson, dock leaf and 5 others 6 1 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Houlahan's Dream 541 Report post Posted January 16, 2021 It was strange to see such a lack of hype around the Telegraph, for me one of our greatest races. But how good was Avantage! It looks like they are hyping the Wellington Cup meeting next week more. Sitting in the public stand reminded me of a mid week meeting I attended at Geelong last January. But we had a good day. Average cup of tea, terrible food, but really good punting. So it goes..... JJ Flash 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
scooby3051 10,943 Report post Posted January 16, 2021 Awesome win by a really top class racemare.... too classy. She just does not know how to run a bad race. JJ Flash 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blue 1,099 Report post Posted January 16, 2021 And Waisake is a potential star of the future too methinks. Very impressive. JJ Flash 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
TurnipOrange 149 Report post Posted January 16, 2021 Bring back Group 1 Handicap sprints, We don't have the depth of horses in this country! Fillies and mares still get the 2 Kilo advantage. JJ Flash, Huey and Baz (NZ) 3 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
We're Doomed 4,868 Report post Posted January 16, 2021 1 hour ago, TurnipOrange said: Bring back Group 1 Handicap sprints, We don't have the depth of horses in this country! Fillies and mares still get the 2 Kilo advantage. Very sensible comment, which most people don't seem to have latched onto. The winner was thrown in at the weights. Half the field had no chance. It didn't even attract a 3yo, so there seemed to be little point it being WFA. I'm sure a full field of handicappers would have generated more turnover. Huey, chevy86 and Baz (NZ) 3 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
TurnipOrange 149 Report post Posted January 16, 2021 Telegraph should be a full field of 16 runner with most horses having SOME chance! That's what ratings are for. JJ Flash, Baz (NZ), THE TORCH and 1 other 4 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...