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So is that not true then?

A well-related son of Harry Angel provided a late highlight in the final hour of the 2024 NZB Ready to Run Sale at Karaka on Thursday when he was knocked down to a $520,000 bid from bloodstock agent Morgan Carter. The colt was catalogued as Lot 372 and was in the draft of Ohukia Lodge, who bought him for A$300,000 as a yearling in Sydney. He is out of the Exceed and Excel mare Florabella, which makes him a full-brother to the well-performed Australian sprinter Arkansaw Kid. Previously the winner of the Inglis Banner (1000m) and placed in the Gr.1 Blue Diamond (1200m), Arkansaw Kid has added victories in the Gr.2 Bobbie Lewis Quality (1200m) and Listed Regal Roller Stakes (1200m) since the catalogue went to print. The Ben, Will and JD Hayes-trained Arkansaw Kid has had 18 starts for four wins, six placings and A$1.4 million in stakes. Bidding began at $100,000 on Lot 372 but was fiercely contested from that point on, breaking the half-million barrier and finishing up at $520,000. “We knew we’d have to go strong on this colt,” Carter said. “Our original assessment was somewhere around the $400,000 range, but after seeing how strong the sale has been, we knew it wasn’t going to be easy. “We’re very happy to have bought him. He looks like the type of horse who’s not going to take long. He’ll have a couple of weeks in the paddock now, and then we’ll assess him and make a plan for him from there. He’ll eventually end up in Hong Kong.” The colt was one of just two progeny of Darley Stud stallion Harry Angel to go through the Karaka sale ring during the Ready to Run Sale this week. The other was Lot 306, a son of the Epaulette mare Cambric from the draft of Kilgravin Lodge, who fetched $400,000. Lot 372 headlined a series of strong results late on Thursday. Just a few minutes earlier, Lot 369 was bought by Waikato Bloodstock for $400,000. The Castelvecchio gelding was offered by Kilgravin Lodge and had been bought for A$10,000 from the 2023 Inglis Sydney Weanling Sale. Not long afterwards, a Hellbent colt catalogued as Lot 385 was also knocked down for $400,000. View the full article

Foxton mare Marotiri Molly(NZ) (Per Incanto) will make her long-awaited stakes-level debut on Saturday at Pukekohe Park, taking her place in the Gr.2 Dunstan Horsefeeds Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1400m). The daughter of Per Incanto caught plenty of early attention when winning her first trial in dashing style as a four-year-old last April, and since then she has produced that form on the track, winning five of her 10 raceday appearances. Her trainer, Matt Dixon, was given a vote of confidence to take the step into black-type company when she went three on the bounce this preparation, most impressively last-start on an unfavourable Heavy10 surface at Trentham. “It was quite a courageous run there, she definitely prefers better footing, so I was concerned about the track, but her class got her through,” Dixon said. “She’s just kept improving this whole prep, it’s been very pleasing. “She’s always shown plenty of ability but we’ve just had some niggles along the way. That’s why it’s taken until she is a six-year-old before she fully matured and furnished, but she’s always shown that speed.” Marotiri Molly has been partnered in all but one of her career starts by Central Districts hoop Kate Hercock, and in her absence, Dixon has called upon the services of Sam Weatherley for Saturday’s fillies and mares’ feature. “Sam Weatherley will be riding her, Kate would’ve been there but under very sad circumstances (passing of partner Daniel Champion), she is unable to ride her this time,” he said. “She (Marotiri Molly) galloped right-handed on Tuesday morning at Foxton against the rail and went very well, so I couldn’t be happier with her really. She’s going there pretty much 100 percent.” View the full article

Warrnambool hoop Harry Grace has quickly become a trans-Tasman jockey and is set to continue that role when he rides at New Plymouth and Wanganui later this week. Grace first arrived in New Zealand in September to partner Australian raider Rolls in what was meant to be a Group One mission, and while that campaign hit a few snags, Grace has enjoyed forming relationships with local trainers and has accepted a number of invitations to continue to ride in New Zealand. “I have been getting good support and I have been riding some nice winners and making some good contacts over here in the Central Districts,” Grace said. “I have been everywhere between Otaki and New Plymouth riding work. I have had some good trainers here supporting me between Lisa Latta, Chrissy Bambry, Allan Sharrock, Janelle Millar, Bill Thurlow, Kelvin Tyler and a number of others. “I met Kelvin down at Otaki and he has supported me the whole way through. We didn’t have any joy down at the Riccarton carnival, but he has continued on with me and hopefully we will have Lightning Jack again soon.” While intent on making the most of his opportunities in New Zealand, Grace has continued to commute across the Tasman where he has maintained his riding engagements back home. “I still get the rides back home, they are quite happy with what I am doing over here. They are pushing me to get more winners while I can,” he said. “Spring is over back home and there are still some really good races over here to pick-up. I have got a few really nice up-and-coming horses I have been putting work into over here as well.” Grace has already travelled extensively throughout New Zealand and is particularly looking forward to riding at Trentham and Ellerslie over the summer months. “I have ridden everywhere from Christchurch to Auckland. I quite liked Wellington and Ellerslie,” he said. “I have got a lot lined up over here from December to about February, so I have got to decide how long I am going to stay here.” Grace is looking forward to his book of rides in New Zealand this week, kicking off with New Plymouth on Friday where he has four rides. “I have got a nice book of rides,” he said. “I have had a bit to do with Janelle Millar’s (Tiny Diamond) horse at the jumpouts and that is a nice ride, and Allan (Sharrock) has given me two nice chances (Swingit Our Way and Belle Tribute), and I also have one for Bryce Newman (Blue Jeanie).” View the full article

Chad Ormsby has enjoyed plenty of racetrack success this year with pinhooks that he has been unable to sell at the Ready to Run Sale, but the multi-talented horseman had a very different outcome with the standout member of his 2024 Riverrock Farm draft at Karaka on Thursday. Ormsby trained passed-in 2022 Ready to Run lots Pulchritudinous and Outovstock to win this year’s Gr.1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m) and Gr.3 Manawatu Classic (2000m) respectively, with Pulchritudinous subsequently sold to Australian-based powerhouse Yulong Investments. Rivverock Farm’s Chad Ormsby Photo: Trish Dunell On Thursday, Ormsby struck gold in another role. He secured the highest price of the Ready to Run Sale’s second day with the $775,000 sale of Lot 288, a colt by Churchill out of the unraced Pierro mare Bagitol. Ormsby had paid only A$25,000 to buy the colt from the Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale in March. “We honestly couldn’t believe we were getting such a high-quality colt for that price in Melbourne earlier in the year,” Ormsby said. “We rated him so highly from the moment we first saw him, and he’s turned out exactly how we hoped he would. There’s so many stages where things can go wrong in this business, but all the way through his preparation, he’s just kept on developing. He’s really become the horse we always thought he’d be.” The colt won a trial at Waipa on October 1, after which Ormsby took a big risk and turned down a significant offer to purchase him privately. Lot 288 subsequently impressed in his breeze-up at Te Rapa later that month, in which he clocked 10.42 seconds. “He trialled really well before the breeze-ups, and we knew after that performance that we had a pretty special individual,” Ormsby said. “We turned down good money after that trial. It was a lot of money and not easy to say no to, especially for a small operation like ours with only about 10 horses every year. “But we wanted to promote ourselves and our brand, and we thought the best way to do that was to take the risk, turn down that offer and carry on into the sale. This Ready to Run Sale is our home ground too, it’s our local sale and we believe it’s the best sale of its kind, so we wanted to support the sale as well.” While Ormsby went into Thursday with high hopes of a price above $500,000, he admits to being blown away by the final price of $775,000. The colt was sold to Patella Bloodstock and is destined for Hong Kong. “It’s an amazing result and it’s just a credit to the horse, he’s an absolute weapon of an animal,” Ormsby said. View the full article

Hong Kong bloodstock agent Willie Leung had a big hour at Karaka early on Thursday afternoon, spending more than $1 million to secure two well-credentialled colts at the NZB Ready to Run Sale. Leung paid $400,000 under his Magus Equine banner to buy Lot 271, a Russian Revolution colt from the draft of Ohukia Lodge, then followed that up with a $625,000 purchase of Lot 288. The latter colt was offered by BMD Bloodstock and is by Toronado out of the Zabeel mare Attractive, who is a half-sister to Gr.1 Goodwood Handicap (1200m) winner Velocitea. “I rated that colt one of the best horses in the sale,” Leung said. “Toronado is going very well in Hong Kong, and it’s great to secure such a high-quality son of that stallion for Francis (Lui, trainer).” Toronado stands at Swettenham Stud for a service fee of A$88,000. He has sired 22 winners from just 37 runners in Hong Kong, headed by Gr.1 Centenary Sprint Cup (1200m) winner Victor The Winner, Hong Kong Classic Mile (1600m) and Hong Kong Classic Cup (1800m) winner Helios Express, and Group Three winner and Gr.1 Champions & Chater Cup (2400m) placegetter Senor Toba. Leung hopes his new recruit could develop into a candidate to join that black-type list. Lot 283, a colt by Toronado out of Attractive Photo: Trish Dunell “The type of horse that he is, the dream is a race like the Hong Kong Derby (2000m),” he said. “He’ll probably stay here in New Zealand through until the end of next winter, and then we’ll take things from there. “Francis and I have had some great luck at this sale in the past with horses like Golden Sixty, so let’s hope for some more.” Golden Sixty was a $300,000 purchase from the 2017 Ready to Run Sale and went on to win 26 of his 31 starts including 10 Group One triumphs. He broke Hong Kong’s all-time prizemoney record with more than HK$167 million (NZ$34 million). Leung added another purchase to his list not long after that big-priced double, paying another $180,000 for the Embellish gelding catalogued as Lot 299. Leung spoke highly about this week’s 2024 edition of the Ready to Run Sale. “It’s been a strong sale,” he said. “There are some very good quality horses here, and you have to be prepared to pay quite a bit of money to get the ones that you want.” View the full article

The connections of the talented and patiently handled mare Imprevu(NZ) (Wrote) are aiming high this preparation with their pride and joy. The daughter of Wrote has already acquitted herself well in black type company and will have an opportunity at Pukekohe Park on Saturday to break through ahead of a tilt at a top-flight sprinting target. Imprevu will step out in the Gr.2 Dunstan Horsefeeds Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1400m) following a strong performance when opening her current campaign earlier this month in the Listed Legacy Lodge Sprint (1200m). Also placed in last season’s Gr.3 Rotorua Stakes (1400m), the six-year-old rounded off well to finish runner-up at Te Rapa behind the well-performed Babylon Berlin. “She’s a happy horse and has come through her first run really nicely. She had a good draw and a good ride, I’m very happy and her work has been lovely,” trainer Janenne Dalley said. “We’re hoping the Railway (Gr.1, 1200m) will be her go this time and it sits well for her with the shift back to January 25. “I can freshen her up a bit more and find a nice lead-up to that, she doesn’t need a lot of racing.” She will be ridden on Saturday by apprentice Tayla Mitchell, who rides her in work and was reunited last time out after winning a race aboard the mare earlier in her career. Bred by part-owner David Lunn, Imprevu has put together the tidy record of five wins and 11 placings from her 23 appearances. “She’s a talented mare and she’s from a very good family that goes back to Pure Lust and nice people to train for,” Dalley said. Second dam Pure Lust was a multiple stakes winner, who also finished third in both the Gr.1 Doomben Cup (2020m) and the Gr.1 Championship Stakes (2100m). “David doesn’t like to get them up and going too early and she had a trial as a late three-year-old and kicked off as an early four-year-old, the family just needs that bit more time,” Dalley said. “She was a little bit wayward in her first couple of starts, they just take a little bit to get their heads in the game.” View the full article

With one of the world’s most exciting sprinters flying the flag for David Hayes in Hong Kong, it has been no surprise to see the trainer’s sons zeroing in on progeny of Windsor Park Stud stallion Shamexpress during the Ready to Run Sale at Karaka this week. Hayes trains the Shamexpress gelding Ka Ying Rising, who has made an enormous impression winning eight of his 10 starts including all of his last seven in succession. Previously the winner of the Gr.3 Sha Tin Vase (1200m) in June and the Gr.2 Premier Bowl (1200m) in October, Ka Ying Rising added last Sunday’s Gr.2 Jockey Club Sprint (1200m) in a scintillating performance. The four-year-old romped to victory by three and a quarter lengths and broke the Sha Tin track record with a time of 1:07.43. When he returned to Hong Kong a few years ago, David Hayes left his Lindsay Park operation in Australia in the hands of his sons Ben, JD and Will Hayes. That trio has been on a recruiting drive for Shamexpress two-year-olds at Karaka this week, securing two of them for a total of $540,000. Lindsay Park Racing paid $260,000 on Wednesday to buy Lot 66, a colt from the draft of Lilywhites Lodge. He is a son of the Savabeel mare Mia Rose. The team struck again on Thursday with the $280,000 purchase of Lot 332. Offered by Phoenix Park, he is out of the unraced Pins mare Up A Ghia. “Off the strength of what Ka Ying Rising has been doing, we’ve been pleased to come over here and find another two nice sons of Shamexpress,” Will Hayes said. “Both will be heading for Hong Kong, and we bought them for Dr Peter Lam, who’s a big supporter of Dad’s stable there. “The one we bought today (Thursday) is a lovely big, athletic gelding and a very easy mover. One of Ka Ying Rising’s best attributes is his effortless speed, and we saw some similarities in the way this guy moves. “Parading out the back here can be quite a stressful environment for young horses, but we were impressed with how well he handled everything. “We’ll take him back to Lindsay Park now. We prepare a lot of horses for Hong Kong there. He’ll go into our system and we’ll put him through all the processes. Horses come out of this sale very well educated anyway, but we’ll see how he goes and then decide when he gets the tick to head up to Hong Kong.” Ka Ying Rising is emerging as one of the very best progeny of Shamexpress, who stands for a service fee of $8,000 at Windsor Park Stud. The O’Reilly stallion has been credited with a total of 147 winners from 224 runners, with 13 stakes winners headed by the multiple Group One-winning mare Coventina Bay. Shamexpress has also spent time in the black-type spotlight in Australia this year with Grinzinger Belle’s victories in the Gr.2 Let’s Elope Stakes (1400m), Gr.3 The Vanity (1400m) and Gr.3 Ladies’ Day Vase (1600m). Hayes has been impressed with the selling at Karaka over the last two days, pointing to the impressive honour roll of previous Ready to Run Sale graduates. Among those is Lindsay Park’s nine-time Australian Group One winner and A$16 million earner Mr Brightside, who was passed in when offered with a $50,000 reserve at this sale in 2019. “It’s been a very good sale, which I think is a reflection of the quality of horses that have been coming out of it over the last few years,” Hayes said. Lindsay Park continued to be busy through the early part of Thursday afternoon, paying $260,000 to buy BMD Bloodstock’s Per Incanto colt out of the Medaglia d’Oro mare Alternative Fact, which went through the ring as Lot 265. View the full article

The thoroughbred racing industry is in mourning following the passing of respected horseman Danny Champion. The 52-year-old, who hailed from Taranaki, was based in Hawke’s Bay with his partner Kate Hercock, having spent much of his life in Canterbury. In 22 seasons of training, much of that time in partnership with Kezia Murphy, Champion won 139 races, highlighted by victory in the 2013 edition of the Listed Canterbury Belle Stakes (1200m) with Orovela, who he had sourced as a weanling for just $1,200. There would be few who knew Champion better than Murphy, who was by his side from the moment he kicked off his training career. “He was a really significant person in my life,” Murphy said. “I met Danny when I was 17 and he had been involved in racing all his life, but he was looking to start up as a trainer himself. “I was basically with him from day one when he got his trainer’s license, and we got into a lot of breaking in and pre-training. “I had no involvement in racing. I loved horses but I had come from an eventing and dressage background. Danny really introduced me to the world of racing and starting young horses. “When the operation got a bit bigger, we had the opportunity to move to Ashburton. I worked for Danny for quite some time and then her offered me a partnership around 2010 or 11, which I was very grateful for and duly accepted.” Murphy said Champion had a great eye for horses, and while the stable didn’t have the budget to purchase top-end young stock, Champion was able to secure some bargain buys and got the best out of the horses he trained. “He had a real gift for finding a bargain. Many of his horses were cheap purchases who went on to do well above what you would expect,” Murphy said. “The thing that I most enjoyed with Danny was the challenging horses that perhaps some of the bigger stables might not have been interested in. Danny was a brilliant horseman and farrier, and he really liked a challenge, and he definitely instilled that in me.” While a natural horseman, Champion wasn’t introduced to the animal he would come to love until he went to school and struck up an association with the son of a renowned Taranaki trainer. “He grew up in a non-horsey family and when he was in primary school he became friends with John Wheeler’s son, Ryan,” Murphy said. “They were best mates and he used to go up to John Wheeler’s and he loved the horses. “John and his late wife Lyndsey had a huge influence in Danny’s life and he loved going there to ride their ponies, which eventuated into riding track work.” Champion was intent on a career in the saddle, but it soon became evident that he would quickly outgrow a jockeys build. “I think Danny was pretty devastated when he got on the scales one day and he was 52.5 kilos and John said to him he wasn’t going to make an apprentice,” Murphy said. With his riding hopes dashed, Champion turned to harness racing, but the love of the thoroughbred swiftly drew him back and he worked for a number of Taranaki trainers before eventually moving to Christchurch after a successful southern campaign in the early nineties. “He was working for Max Northcott and he came down (to Riccarton) with a horse called Sir Barton for the Grand National Carnival in 1991, and he won the Grand National (Hurdles). “Danny did quite a lot of schooling with jumpers, he was quite accomplished in everything he did, he was a gifted horseman. “When he came down it was apparently really beautiful weather compared to Taranaki, where it rains all the time, and he thought what a great place to be. He went back home with the horses and then decided to move down to Riccarton.” Following 20 years training in Canterbury, Champion moved to Hawke’s Bay last year to be with his partner Kate Hercock. “It was bittersweet (ending the training partnership) having been involved with each other for 20 years, but I was really happy for Danny that he had met Kate and he was doing what he wanted to do,” Murphy said. Champion continued to have success in the north and it was fitting that he was victorious with his last runner to the races, Makkaldee at Tauherenikau earlier this month, with Hercock in the saddle. Murphy said it was a pleasure to be mentored by Champion and he will be sorely missed. “He was a strong, courageous and loyal person and had a great sense of humour,” she said. “He was always happy to help a stranger, he loved helping people. “When he was in a grand mood, there was no one else you would rather be around. He was one of a kind, a really funny guy and had a lot to offer.” Champion’s funeral is set to take place at 2pm next Tuesday, November 26, at Riccarton Racecourse. View the full article

An interesting charge here and i am not defending the proven charge. I found it interesting that the President of the Reefton Jockey Club called J Oatham a liar regarding what he had said about canceling its New Year meeting. Brian Molloy is an unpaid official of the club.I struggle to see why he was not charged IF WHAT HE HAD ACCUSED Mr Oatham was the truth and any charge may have been embarrassing to him and the RIU.

What Kembla Grange Races Where Kembla Grange Racecourse – Princess Highway, Kembla Grange NSW 2526 When Saturday, November 23, 2024 First Race 12:35pm AEDT Visit Dabble The sixth renewal of The Gong (1600m) headlines the action at Kembla Grange Racecourse on Saturday afternoon, with a bumper 10-race program lined up for the Illawarra’s marquee card on the calendar. The rail is in the true position the entire circuit, and with clearing conditions forecast leading into the weekend, punters can expect a track upgrade into the Good range. The opening event is scheduled to get underway at 12:35pm local time. Check out HorseBetting’s preview of The Gong 2024 here. The Warra Tip: Iowna Merc There will be speed to burn in The Warra (1000m), with a field of 11 assembled for the Group 3 sprinting feature. It should setup nicely for the Bjorn Baker-trained Iowna Merc returning from a 126-day spell. The son of Winning Rupert has never missed the frame first-up and trialled like a bomb at Warwick Farm on November 8 heading into this assignment. Rachel King gets the opportunity to lob into a handy position with cover throughout from gate seven, and with 53kg on his back, punters can expect Iowna Merc to be putting in the big strides late. The Warra Race 9 – #7 Iowna Merc (7) 5yo Gelding | T: Bjorn Baker | J: Rachel King (53kg) +500 with Neds Next Best at Kembla Grange: Pisanello The James Cummings-trained Pisanello is on a hat-trick heading into this BM78 contest. The son of Ribchester couldn’t have been more impressive securing back-to-back wins, with his latest victory coming down the Flemington straight course on November 9. He’s rock-hard fit heading into this third-up assignment, and provided Adam Hyeronimus can get off the inside running rail turning for home, Pisanello should prove too classy for this lot. Best Bet Race 3 – #4 Pisanello (1) 4yo Gelding | T: James Cummings | J: Adam Hyeronimus (60kg) +200 with Picklebet Next Best at Kembla Grange: Gilded Water European import Gilded Water makes his Australian debut after a 156-day spell and appears primed for a first-up assault. The Fastnet Rock gelding has only been seen for one official barrier trial at Warwick Farm on October 29, with the three-year-old hitting the line well to suggest he’s acclimatized well since joining the Ciaron Maher barn. There’s real intent kicking off the campaign over 2000m, and with gate four allowing Jason Collett to stalk his rivals from the one-one, Gilded Water should get every chance to make an impression at a good price with BlondeBet. Next Best Race 5 – #11 Gilded Water (4) 3yo Gelding | T: Ciaron Maher | J: Jason Collett (54kg) +400 with BlondeBet Best Value at Kembla Grange: Saltcoats The Chris Waller-trained Saltcoats represents terrific each-way value with horse racing bookmakers as he returns after 238 days off the scene. The New Zealand import is yet to capture victory across his five Australian starts; however, the four-year-old seemingly does his best work fresh, highlighted by his runner-up performance behind Infatuation at Rosehill on February 3. Tommy Berry will need some luck negating a passage from gate 10, but if the breaks fall his way, the $10 about Saltcoats will prove too big to ignore. Best Value Race 6 – #3 Saltcoats (10) 4yo Gelding | T: Chris Waller | J: Tommy Berry (60.5kg) +900 with Dabble Saturday quaddie tips for Kembla Grange Kembla Grange quadrella selections November 23, 2024 2-3-11-13-14-15 1-3-9-11 3-7-10 3-7-9-11-12-16 | Copy this bet straight to your betslip Horse racing tips View the full article

Veteran handler is optimistic Irish import continues to improve after rebounding from first-up flop.View the full article

Only place in the world I think. We are probably second to only them on animal welfare matters.

Don't think they must carry one now must they? So, if connections offer the ride on the basis they not carry one, no need for a new rule.

So the Te Akau business model works!

What a surprise...not!

@Huey looks like you missed out on a share in the sales topper. The syndicate is full.

What Doomben Races Where Doomben Racecourse – 75 Hampden St, Ascot QLD 4007 When Saturday, November 23, 2024 First Race 12:18pm AEST Visit Dabble Racing will return to Doomben for a massive 10-race program this Saturday afternoon, with the first event scheduled to kick off at 12:18pm AEST. With a lot of rain falling in the lead-up to the meeting, it is expected that racing will go ahead on a genuine Heavy 10 surface throughout the day. The rail will be in its true position for the entire circuit. Recognition Stakes tip: Midnight In Tokyo Nothing went right for Midnight In Tokyo first-up as the Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald-trained mare blundered the start before having to maintain a wide run from the 500m mark. Although the daughter of Kobayashi had a lot going against her at this track over 1200m, she still powered home strongly to finish in third place and will take good benefit from the run. If this girl can jump better from barrier five, Bailey Wheeler can settle midfield off the fence, and with even luck, Midnight In Tokyo can record a sixth career victory with a similar finishing burst. Recognition Stakes Race 7 – #5 Midnight In Tokyo (5) 5yo Mare | T: Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald | J: Bailey Wheeler (53kg) +250 with Picklebet Tattersall’s Classic tip: Party For Two Party For Two will return from a four-month spell in the Tattersall’s Classic following two very good trial victories over 1000m and 1050m on rain-affected tracks. The Matthew Hoysted-trained mare was last seen finishing second behind Recommendation in the Group 3 Sir John Monash Stakes at Caulfield. Ryan Maloney will push forward to settle on speed, and if Party For Two can produce a similar effort to her Group 3 placing from last preparation, she will prove very hard to run down late. Tattersall’s Classic Race 8 – #5 Party For Two (8) 4yo Mare | T: Matthew Hoysted | J: Ryan Maloney (56.5kg) +700 with Dabble Best Bet at Doomben: Metalart Metalart started his career undefeated through four starts before striking firmer tracks this preparation, where the Kelly Schweida-trained gelding has failed to win in three runs. The son of Better Than Ready ran home nicely to finish second behind Torabella at this track and trip on November 9, but still looked as though he hadn’t hit peak fitness yet. Now that he is set to compete in a weaker contest on a wet track, expect Michael Rodd to push forward, settle in the one-one position, and receive the run of the race. Best Bet Race 10 – #2 Metalart (11) 4yo Gelding | T: Kelly Schweida | J: Michael Rodd (59.5kg) +250 with PlayUp Next Best at Doomben: Bossed Up Tony Gollan and Kyle Wilson-Taylor will combine with Bossed Up in the penultimate event when the four-year-old gelding returns from an eight-week freshen. This son of Better Than Ready ran home the best of any of his rivals at Toowoomba in a Class 3 Handicap to finish a narrow third place on a Heavy track. Although he has had a longer break between runs than normal, Bossed Up can settle closer to the speed here, and his blistering turn of foot will give him every chance to record another victory. Next Best Race 9 – #12 Bossed Up (7) 4yo Gelding | T: Tony Gollan | J: Kyle Wilson-Taylor (55.5kg) +450 with Neds Doomben quaddie tips – 23/11/24 Doomben quadrella selections Saturday, November 23, 2024 4-5-7 2-3-5-8-11 7-10-12-13 2-11-13 | Copy this bet straight to your betslip Horse racing tips View the full article

I see the shares in the sale topper have all been sold.

how they voted on that spurs article Do you think we should continue to allow spurs at the races? Yes 171 votes No 84 votes

How about an additional rule: If the Trainer of a horse so declares that the Jockey engaged to ride their horse is not required to carry a whip the Jockey must adhere to the Trainers wishes.

a long read on Spurs in Au " Banned in the UK, France, Ireland and the USA, spurs are still commonplace in Australian racing, raising questions about both welfare and perception. Exploring the issue, we spoke to two industry insiders at the top of their games, and draw on evidence from the wider equine world too. There are two rules governing the use of spurs according to Racing Australia: - AR 125 Riders permitted to use blunt and approved spurs Riders may use spurs provided they are blunt and of a type approved by Racing Australia, a PRA, or the Stewards. - AR 134 Excessive, unnecessary or improper use of spurs In a race, official trial, jump-out or trackwork, or elsewhere, a rider must not use his or her spurs in an excessive, unnecessary or improper manner. The Thoroughbred Report reached out to each of Australia’s PRAs to ask about their view of the rules, whether the issue of perception over spurs has been raised within their state and the history of enforcement of the rules. Sadly just two responded. A Racing Victoria spokesperson said: “Riders in Victoria are required to adhere to the Australian Rules of Racing that govern the use of spurs. If a rider uses his or her spurs in an excessive, unnecessary or improper manner this will be considered by Stewards. “We have had no recent breaches of AR134 in which action has been taken in Victoria.” Meanwhile, Thoroughbred Racing Northern Territory (TRNT) Chairman of Stewards David Hensler explained: “TRNT Stewards enforce the Rules of Racing pertaining to the use of spurs. We regularly check spurs on race days, at barrier trials and in track work. In the last 10 years we have had no rider breach either AR125 or AR134.” The inside line Even for those experienced in the breeding side of the industry, the choice to use spurs may still be a mystery - is it a jockey's preference or a trainer’s instruction? Do they make much of a difference? We spoke to one of Sydney’s leading jockeys, Tommy Berry, to get an idea of exactly what goes on behind the scenes. “Sometimes it can be up to either,” Berry said. “I know if I've watched a replay of a horse and he looks quite laid back, he misses the start, just needs a little bit of a wake up before he goes into the barriers, I'll put spurs on.” Tomy Berry | Image courtesy of Sportpix “I'm not someone that ‘kicks’ in a race, so if I wear spurs in a race it's really not going to affect the horse at all because I can't use them. “Myself, James McDonald and a lot of other jockeys are in the same boat - the only time I can really use spurs is to just give them a little bit of a wake up to make sure they're switched on before they go into barriers.” “Otherwise, they're pretty much pointless for us. Whereas someone like Nash Rawiller, Brenton Avdulla or Regan Bayliss, they wear spurs quite often because they can kick quite well.” Berry described the tradeoff between jockeys that ride shorter and those that ride longer. In his assessment, whilst three-quarters of jockeys, the likes of he and McDonald included, utilise their balance to be more effective in a finish, others encourage their mounts with a kicking motion. There’s no clear answer here as a number of elite jockeys fall into each camp, with Berry concluding that different styles suit different horses. Just how much the spurs are used during this kicking motion in a race finish is hard to discern. Given a jockey’s crouched position, it’s hard to see how a jockey could point their feet outwards to bring the spurs into contact with the horse. And, if they did make contact during vigorous race finishes, surely we would see at least the occasional marking or rubbing of a horse’s flanks, causing an infraction of the rules. Noting that he’s never once called before the stewards for any spurs-related infractions, Berry added: “It's not something that you overuse - I've never ever done it to hurt a horse. You don't turn your heels out and give them a big kick up the ribs, it's just running it along their skin a little bit. “I think it's important to state as well, that breakers often use spurs to help guide the horse along. So, when you get to a race it’s often not the first time they’ve been introduced to spurs.” Laying the foundation A former elite event rider, Blair Richardson runs Vantage Hill, a race educating and pre-training establishment utilised by many of Australia’s top trainers. Speaking to TTR AusNZ, he described spurs in the context of his work as ‘controversial’ in the sense that he’s highly selective about using them so early on in a horse’s education. “We break in probably 250 to 280 horses a year,” Richardson said. “Probably most of them we don’t put spurs on to start with. “Obviously, we want to teach them to be light off the leg and educate them. The need to go forward off your leg is the main thing in educating a horse.” “Whether you're riding a racehorse, a cutting horse, a jumping horse, a dressage horse - they all must be ridden off your leg, that's the main thing.” As Richardson explained, the use of spurs during the initial stages of a thoroughbred’s life is purely about education - an extra tool to teach them something fundamental - as opposed to an aid to get the most out of them on race day. “There's some that won’t go past a gap or are a bit negative, then we put a set of spurs on and it's all to do with the rider's leg to hand coordination,” he said. Blair Richardson | Image courtesy of Vantage Hill “You’ve got to be careful too, there's a lot of fillies that can be backward and a set of spurs can have a reverse effect, so it’s tricky. “If you have a horse that won't go, you're often better off to pony it along, look after it to get it to go, rather than using force and an artificial aid. “When you're dealing with 18 month old horses, it's not about force, it's got to be an educational process.” The evidence As in the first piece in this series, we consulted leading equine scientist Dr David Marlin to find out what the science says. Click here to read Focus on welfare: a common sense approach to racing in hot weather Marlin confirmed that there has been little research on the use of spurs, with a particular paucity around their use in racing. One study of Danish competition horses points to a picture of spurs being more likely to cause damage (hair loss and in rare cases bleeding) to horses at lower competition levels, whilst another from the UK found that FEI affiliated riders were 10 times more likely to use spurs than leisure riders, but that was still only 60 per cent of them. It’s hard to be confident, but perhaps this suggests, as Richardson inferred, that the choice to use spurs is not as simple as ‘fine for the professionals’. Regardless, Marlin pointed out an even more salient point, that may in time change the debate in Australia. Dr David Marlin | Image courtesy of Dr David Marlin He noted that thermal imaging was behind the drive to change whip design towards the modern iteration, and that if the as-yet-unstudied impact of spurs in racing was similarly visible then it could have a big impact on the welfare debate. A price worth paying? The question remains: Would Australian racing be missing out much if spurs were banned tomorrow, given it’s the only racing nation to allow them? “I think it would definitely affect Australian racing in some way and that's because they’ve been around for so long and are obviously working in some way,” Berry said. “For myself, if a horse isn't jumping out of the barriers properly and they're a bit laid back then it does definitely help to give them a bit of a wake up before they leave the gates, just so they know it's game on. “It's not about hurting them or anything like that, because it doesn't. It's just a little bit of a tickle to wake them up and say, ‘You're about to go, put your game face on.’ “I find it good as a tool for that, if I know a horse has come out a little bit slow on the pace.” But, this must surely be balanced against the perception issue that spurs present us with. Whilst their use is little discussed within the industry, and they often pass punters unnoticed on race day, spurs offer a target for animal rights activists, who attempt to frame the metal fixtures on jockey’s heels as a regular weapon of torture against our beloved thoroughbreds. This view might sound blatantly preposterous to those inside the camp, but it’s easy to see how such framing can be effective to those who don’t know how they’re actually used. Given that racing elsewhere around the world doesn’t seem to suffer for a lack of spurs, we have to ask whether it’s a price worth paying. We want your opinion! Do you think we should continue to allow spurs at the races? Yes No If you have any welfare topics that you believe should be explored, or opinions you would like to offer, please reach out to editorial@ttrausnz.com.au and let us know. Welfare Spurs Edition Article

but can in Au? " In Australia, riders can use spurs in racing and other events if they meet certain conditions, including: Using blunt spurs that are approved by Racing Australia, a PRA, or the Stewards Not using spurs in an excessive, unnecessary, or improper manner "

Race 6 Happy Birthday Chris Haigh Sprint - C4 - 318 OPAWA STAYER (2) - referred to the Veterinarian after contacting the rail first turn becoming unbalanced losing ground and cleared of injury. WAITERIMU GEM (8) - warning placed for conduct at the lure.

Not at all. What does annoy the shyte out of me is @Thomass and @Yankiwi making crap up. That doesn't serve any purpose whatsoever.