https://www.facebook.com/reel/1412184829969281 Is this for Real ?!!!  

Yesterday morning there was another NZ Harness story on the PP site, it is always a concern that he knows more about what is happening here, than is reported by NZ media. This story relates to the IRT 2YO Young Guns Final Mobile Trot, and the inclusion of the winner, Duchess Maria, in the field, even though she had not raced in either of the two heats. The Final should have consisted of the first 5 home in each of the heats, the heats only had fields of 5, and 3 horses competed in both heats, with the resting of Suttle that left a field of 6 for the Final, except it didn't, there were 7, with the inclusion of the new entry Duchess Maria. Apparently HRNZ changed the rules, without public notification or consultation, and then proceeded to tell a small number of connections that they could enter their horse in the Final without having competed in one of the heats, obviously the connections of Duchess Maria were part of this "select" group, and were the only ones to take advantage of this. In my opinion when you enter a heat in a series like this, it is essentially a contract, and I don't see how you can change it after the running of the first heat. The Mark Jones trained Redpark Warrior, won both heats and was second in the Final, I believe he has a great case for claiming the extra $20,000 he should have won if the late comer was not there, as well as the other runners claim to additional stakes, one place higher than they received.    

ooh just sneaked in .. that's what I call an economical performance..  

You are playing whoever you are drawn with, so first thing you need to do is beat them.

With the H2H draw done last week, what happens to that?

What the latest deal really means - $96B Boeing/GE deal = LARGEST aviation order EVER • 150,000+ American jobs ANNUALLY • Million+ jobs total impact • Real paychecks for REAL Americans BUT THAT'S JUST THE BEGINNING...  Think that's big? Just wait... • $8.5B McDermott energy deal • $97B Parsons infrastructure projects • $1B quantum computing investment And this is just the START MASSIVE defense wins: • $3B Raytheon/General Atomics deals • First international buyer of FS-LIDS anti-drone system • MQ-9B aircraft exports America LEADING again!  Let me break this down: We're not talking theoretical numbers These are REAL JOBS in: • Kansas • South Carolina • Ohio And dozens more states!  The FAKE NEWS or Hoki media won't tell you: • $2B trade SURPLUS with Qatar • $3.3B Qatar investment in US (2023) • 20+ years of positive trade balance   CRITICAL CONTEXT: Trump secured $1.8T in foreign investment in just 48 HOURS! • Qatar: $1.2T • Saudi Arabia: Yesterday's massive $600B deal America is open for business! And that means JOBS  Remember when they said he couldn't do diplomacy? Now he's: • Rebuilding American manufacturing • Creating MILLIONS of jobs • Securing energy independence What did Biden do? Just give Afghanistan to the Taliban, let Russia invade Ukraine, and close our oil fields  The Left is PANICKING because this proves: • America First works • Trump's instincts were right • Strength gets results  The message is clear: Peace through PROSPERITY Not through APPEASEMENT And American jobs FIRST   CHOO CHOO

Avoriaz at Riccarton down from the James stable….

We had one run at Matamata yesterday on a (unfair) bog track. Jockeys said it was a Heavy 11.  Fast Lane/Slow Lanes Bah!  It aint romantic  

In an era when trainers are loathe to run their horses on a short amount of rest, Hall of Famers Bob Baffert and D. Wayne Lukas are the gold standard when it comes to running in and winning the Preakness Stakes (G1) on two weeks' rest.View the full article

Until they do actually stand up and say that sadly the way that it's heading will just continue....The industry only has 1 rule, follow what head office tells you, we dont care what shareholders think, we know best as we have all the "experts" advising us.......🤣

Once again South Island trainer/owners missing out on all the extra money….when will it stop? When will the Sth island participants say enough is enough and make a stand.

Group 1-winning mare Benedetta (AUS) will head to the Queensland Winter Carnival with the 5-year-old's trainer Jason Warren looking forward to starting the 2024 Goodwood (G1) winner off in the May 17 Doomben Ten Thousand (G1).View the full article

I'm sure Southern trainers/owners will be thrilled about the stakes boost, for the steeplechase, but maybe Oamaru might have been a smarter benefactor of extra funding.

Not going to Turkey, sending one of hs puppets, seems hes hiding, if he shows his face needs to be nabbed, maybe he's fearful, what a wimp but history or time will catch up, always does.  

Marton on July 5 has no venue yet, not many options left so will it be Trentham or maybe Whanganui?

Riccarton Race 7 – 1200m Best Bet – HIVARI Caught the eye last week in a small field when steaming home late after giving the winner 4kg – a serious effort. Carries 60kg this time, but the engine’s there, and if the tempo suits, should be right in the thick of it. The one they all have to hold out. Main Danger – FLOWER MOON Drawn sweetly in gate 4 and a real fan of the Riccarton turf. Consistent stats and rarely far away – the type that sneaks under the radar. Keep very safe. Roughie – FOREVER BABE Loves this kind of going and knows how to win here. Same gate, same trip, and while it’s a step up, she’s shown enough at the grade below to warrant serious roughie respect. Not without a shake. Riccarton Race 8 – 1200m Best Bet – JUSTADANCE Last-start 6th better than it looks – ran on strongly and looks to be peaking second-up. Up in grade but trending the right way. One to follow this prep, and this could be the start of something. Back with confidence. Main Danger – BUOYANT Fresh off a strong win at the course and carries momentum. Sain Kirkland has them ticking over nicely – when this stable lines them up, they rarely miss. Genuine threat. Roughie – SPARTAN Gate’s awkward, but has the toe to offset that and should press on early. Light weight helps, and if he gets a soft sectional or two, he’ll dig in for the fight late. Not out of it. OTHERS TO WATCH R3 EL ULTIMO, unlucky on the grass 2 back, forget run in the wet last start.  R5 INTERLAGOS, ding best work late when 7th, watch R5 QEEN OF NAPLES, eye catching run when 4th, can win.  

I find it quite surprising the differing views from trainers at Awapuni on the synthetic track...some like it...some hate it and never use it...seems one size does not fit all. But from the ones using it they say since the maintenance was done on it recently it is riding extremely well...The key to the seems to be how and how often they are maintained. I personally find the racing on them quite boring.

As we now have no suitable mare (s) for Shocking and nothing in the future..... We are keen to sell our Shocking Stallion Share... As note Syndicate members do have pre-emptive rights prior to full confirmation of sale.... Link to Shocking below...... Keen to move on this ASAP so please message direct with all questions, interest and offers.....  https://www.richhillstud.co.nz/stallions/shocking

Tuesday 29th April  Punchestown Festival, Ireland The final big jump festival of the spring took place at Punchestown Racecourse in County Kildare. The meeting saw the final test of the season form with the Cheltenham and Aintree form under the microscope. A strong British raiding party came to take on the might of the Mullins and Elliott battallions in their own back yard. The opening day saw the ground Yielding but improving under dry conditions. Supreme winner KOPEK DES BORDES went off 3/10 to follow up in the KPMG Novices Hurdle over 3250m ina  race where Willie Mullins trained four of the six runners. You know how it is, if your top horse flops, one of the others steps up and that's what happened as IRANCY took full advantage of an uncharacteristically lacklustre effort by KOPEK DES BORDES to lead home a 1-2-3-4 for the master of Clonsutton. The small matter of a form reversal of over 40 lengths from Cheltenham raised a few eyebrows but IRANCY had won at Fairyhouse after failing at Cheltenham and is clearly on a steep upward curve. Mullins has a stranglehold over the novice hurdlers and it will be interesting to see where the likes of SALVATOR MUNDI and KARBAU go next season - will they stay over hurdles or switch to fences? BALLYBURN had cost me serious money when failing in the Brown Advisory at Cheltenham and went off 11/8 for the Champion Novice Chase over 5000m. He faced a strong opponent in IMPAIRE ET PASSE who he had beaten ten lengths at Leopardstown at Christmas. However, the latter had won the Manifesto over 4000m at Aintree last time and came into the race in fine form. Mullins had five of the eight runners. The race changed at the fifth when IMPAIRE ET PASSE was brought down by his falling stablemate LECKY WATSON. You might have thought this would give BALLYBURN a real chance to atone for his Cheltenham failure but once again his jumping failed to convince and he was decisively outpointed by another stable companion, CHAMP KIELY, who scored at 22s and secured a 28 length form reversal from Christmas running with BALLYBURN. The feature of the opening day was the Champion Chase over 3250m which saw the Champion Chase winner from Cheltenham MARINE NATIONALE, up against Ryanair winner FACT OR FILE and the 2023 Arkle winner EL FABIOLO. Supporters of IL ETAIT TEMPS may disagree and they'd have a valid argument but MARINE NATIONALE has been the top speed chaser of the 2024-25 season and followed up his Cheltenham win but his success was facilitated by EL FABIOLO's departure at the second last. EL FABIOLO has now fallen in three of his last four runs so there's a problem. This was a brutal race and the only one on the card run faster than standard. MARINE NATIONALE jumps and travels at that speed and there are few speed chasers who can do that and he was far too good for CAPTAIN GUINNESS and SOLNESS.

We have the final declarations for Friday's card at York and just five go in the Group 2 Yorkshire Cup over 2800m. Two stand out on the figures - REBEL'S ROMANCE is rated 123 and is a serious global racehorse. On his last run in Britain, he was third in the King George at Ascot last July behind GOLIATH. He won the Breeders Cup Turf, the Amir Trophy in Bahrain and last time was fourth in the Sheema Classic on World Cup night at Meydan. He has won over £10.5 million in win and place money which I don't imagine Godolphin or Sheikh Mohammed need but like to have. Here he is in a Group 2 over a new trip of 2800m - I think it may be they don't think he can quite cut it at 2400m with the very best but as there are only five and it's likely to be a steady gallop it may not matter. SWEET WILLIAM is from the other side of the fence - a confirmed stayer who was third in last year's Ascot Gold Cup, second in the Goodwood Cup and won the Doncaster Cup. The further basically the better for this one and I can't see him having the tactical speed to cope with REBEL'S ROMANCE at this trip. CONTINUOUS represents the hugely in-form Ballydoyle stable of Aidan O'Brien and this one won the 2023 Leger but hasn't really lived at the top table since. The trip is probably his optimum and they have put blinkers on for the first time which could spark improvement but they'll have to. We'll get the final runners for the Group 1 Lockinge tomorrow but it looks like a field of nine or ten with ROSALLION and NOTABLE SPEECH hugely interesting on their seasonal debuts as 4-y-o.