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Ya what. Talking about getting someone to comment on how parading horses look not someone to implement the Messara report. None of the locals have proven to be any good at it.
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Why Slot races work for ALL industry participants ,including Birchip.
Brodie replied to Gammalite's topic in Trotting Chat
Why doesnt Harness Racing Victoria put in a couple of hundred thousand like HRNZ are doing? Slot races are fine Gammalite, but hRNZ can not afford to heavily subsidise these races! The other thing of major concern is the fact that the money is going to go to Ozzie probably, so thats a big win for NZ lol Victoria and Queensland are only being held together by state government and Seymour and there is no one in NZ that is going to be doing that here!! - Today
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Absolutely correct . They're putting on the best races , Attracting the Best horses (and Horsepeople) ever seen on NZ shores, like LEAP TO FAME , Just Believe, Gus, Swayzee, Kingman , Arcee Phoenix, Marketplace , Merlin , Akuta, Republican Party and many more. and grass roots Golden Gaits and $5000 stallion classic, harness millions and more. Maidens at Reefton are even getting more than $6000 for their win's today in the Bush Sundays .💰👍 fabulous stuff. And the racing is getting Rave reviews around the planet . Aussies are flooding in as they can't match this brilliance . well we do in QLD through July and that's about it. 🙄 Well done Brodster. You've encouraged Entain to support the harness industry of NewZealand . A very worthwhile cause . and the racing has Never been better. The Slot Races at Cambridge with the user pay concept have been just sensational quality horses and racing (and horsemen too) for 4 years now. How good is HRNZ doing this for everyone involved in the industry in Australasia ? . just Gold Medal standard. CEO should be nominated for an OBE for brilliant service to the Sport. NZ harness racing through the ceiling with quality support of all their participants.
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To be fair, you dont really need to be Einstein to see what is happening with HRNZ and their usage of the mega millions being received from Entain! The other thing is that the TAB is also operating in a way that is is also detrimental to the best business practices of increasing turnover! The truth of the matter is rather than just a hunch, it is more having the ability to judge whether they are actually making sound business decisions! The fact is that Galah and Brodie are prepared to speak up while others who think the same and say nothing is an indictment on the industry and its future prospects! More need to be speaking up now rather than let the once great harness industry self destruct by the decision makers not protecting what we have! More than happy to be totally wrong and time will tell!
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so your saying our opinions were "hunches". a hunch meaning "a guess based on intuition rather than fact". i agree with that. then you go on to say we "may very well be correct". i agree with that. But then you lose me when you add words which infer anyone who makes predictions which turn out to be true,lack credibility.That makes no sense
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Haunui Farm Kings Plate Grp3 2026 - Alabama Lass throws the race.
curious replied to Murray Fish's topic in Galloping Chat
Looking to see if she was going to get another left hander on the flank. -
Well unfortunately with the Cambridge Slot race thread , we can see there no fans of Slot racing at BOAY. even with some of the Best horses on the planet attending like past winners Copy That , Just Believe, Leap To Fame and potentially Keayang Zahara this year . Such a treat for All to see. The arguement being it's for Rich Folk, or a Poor betting race or a waste of money . Just wanted to help you harness race loving BOAY folk with development of the sport, and inform that in about an hour , in VICTORIA country, 300kms from Melbourne at Birchip . they are running the first ever Victorian harness racing Slot race. (The last race at Birchip today race 7) . Victoria has more people than NZ and about the same size harness racing participation. Stakemoney is very low these days with lots of participants and little betting revenue. The BIRCHIP slot race involves 10 slots worth $10k each for 2 year minimum (so 20k for each Slot.) to allow the chance of a battler actually earning a BIG race Win. Plenty of local companies have bought slots and they are having a great day out , and the prize of the race is $125 k total . $65,000 for the winner, $25,000 for 2nd etc. Local horses from any Victorian stable as from December 1 , can go in . The favourite today is number One . a Horse with just 6 starts and 2 wins and $7000 earnings to date. No Mega Star by any stretch of the imagination. most of the runners are career earnings average of about 70k lifetime and are all battlers . I think they'll beat the number one , just with being more experienced. but you never know. Someone will win $65,000 today in just one hit in an hours time 👍💰 . There you go ! . Some real grass roots participants enjoying a Slot race and getting a quid !! 💰 No . Victoria will not call it off because they have to put up $25,000 of the purse. and BOAY would cry 'waste of money' ( actually there's a sponsor helping out as well with that) But wow . !!! how good . horses and people we never heard of EMBRACING the excellent Slot race Concept to help a struggling Industry with a 'User Pays Concept'. excellent stuff. I'm glad to see Someone enjoying their harness slots operating in the true Community manner . congratulations BIRCHIP with the 'Running of the Bulls' More progress for the sport like NZ has done , with the Velocity and Ascent and TAB trot and Betcha race. ( unless you think it's a 'disgrace' and waste of money' that is ,lol 😉)
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Kylie Hoskin has had a frustrating season with her promising three-year-old Geneva (NZ) (Time Test), but he made it all worthwhile when running third in the Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) at Ellerslie on Champions Day. “I am absolutely rapt, it was awesome,” Hoskin said. “That was my first runner in a Group One so to get the third placing I was over the moon.” However, the race wasn’t without its frustrations, with race winner Road To Paris shifting inwards in the concluding stages, causing interference with placegetters Autumn Glory and Geneva, and while jockey George Rooke was suspended for 12 meetings and imposed a $10,000 fine, the placings stood. “There was obviously that bit of interference in the straight when he was coming up to them, which was unfortunate, but I am still really happy that he was able to switch ground, pick up again and keep trying,” Hoskin said. “Ben (Thompson, jockey) rode him a treat, he got him into a really nice position and got him travelling nicely. He said he was still quite strong, because it has been a problem with him not settling, but I thought Ben did a great job with him.” Geneva, who was bred and is raced by Jomara Bloodstock, won his only start as a juvenile but has taken his connections on a frustrating ride as a three-year-old, winning just one and place in another of his of his previous nine starts this season. “He has been really frustrating,” Hoskin said. “If it is not a weather event it is a bad draw or a bad ride, nothing seems to go his way. At times he hasn’t helped himself either, but the ability is there, he has just got to put it all together.” While a decision has yet to be made on Geneva’s immediate future, Hoskin hasn’t ruled out crossing the Tasman to tackle some feature three-year-old races. “He left a couple of handfuls of feed this morning, but he seemed pretty bright and happy, and nice and sound, so all signs point to him coming through it great,” Hoskin said. “I haven’t spoken with connections yet and we are still soaking in yesterday, so I am not sure what his next steps will be. “Nothing is out of the realm of possibility. The Derby is what we had been working towards and I hadn’t looked further than that. He looks like he will stay well and Ben said that distance was definitely not a problem.” Later on the card, Hoskin picked up another runner-up result courtesy of Transaction (NZ) (Ocean Park) in the Entain/NZB Insurance Pearl Series Final (1400m). “She went super but was unfortunately on the rail and just got shuffled back in the running,” Hoskin said. “Ben gave her a really good ride, he made smart decisions. Instead of waiting for luck, he slotted her back and went out and around them to give himself space. Once she got room she was really hitting the line strong. “She has just gone from strength to strength this prep. She is really tough and honest and tries really hard. “She will like a bit of cut out of the ground and she goes either way, so we are just going to have a look around. Obviously getting some black-type for the fillies is great, but we will probably look at a (rating) 75 mile for her somewhere and go from there.” Hoskin was delighted to get a couple of nice results on Champions Day, and the South Auckland horsewoman was rapt with the turnout oncourse for New Zealand’s biggest day in racing. “It was such an amazing day – the crowd, the atmosphere, the racing – it was really super,” she said. “There is nothing better than looking up and seeing those grandstands chocka.” View the full article
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This year’s Champions Day was one to remember for Kingsclere Stables. The Cambridge barn scored the quinella in the Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m), won the Gr.3 King’s Plate (1200m) with Sweynesday, and earlier in the day picked up a sentimental victory for stable owners Ali and Graeme Andrews. Ali’s father recently passed away, and jockey George Rooke donned a black armband to pay respect when jumping aboard Confesara (Toronado) ahead of the Windsor Park Stud 3YO Trophy (1500m), and the pair got the perfect result. They travelled midfield with cover before tracking Rock Ice into the race around the final bend. Rooke found a gap inside the Shaun and Emma Clotworthy-trained runner and Confesara shot through it and chased down the leaders to pip Burnerphone at the post to win by a short head. “I thought that was a serious win because they went hard early and just really pulled up and I thought it was going to be really hard to make up ground, but she knuckled down and fair credit to her,” said Robert Wellwood, who trains the filly in partnership with Roger James. “Ali, who owns the horse, her father passed away, so it is massive to have the black armband on to remember him, and they will be able to remember this as a good day forever.” Confesara has now won two and placed in four of her seven starts to date, including running third to Belle Cheval in the Gr.3 Almanzor Trophy (1200m) in January, and Wellwood believes the daughter of Toronado has a bright future. “I think she is going to perhaps even be better going further. She is a filly with a lot of ability, it was a class effort,” he said. “I think she is a Group horse and if she can make it to a Group One horse that would be wonderful. She is going to be better next year, she is a big filly, she is still yet to develop, but we will just enjoy this and look forward to where she goes next. “She has done a fair bit of racing but to be fair she is holding condition, she looks very well.” Bred by Leneva Park, Confesara is a daughter of winning Redoute’s Choice mare Absolution, a half-sister to stakes performers Excused and Show Me Mercy. She was offered through Sullivan Bloodstock’s 2024 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale draft where she was purchased by the Andrews for A$85,000. She has now accrued more than $105,000 in prizemoney to date. View the full article
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In a thrilling conclusion to New Zealand’s richest raceday, Champions Day at Ellerslie, promising mare Elle Sourit (NZ) (Ocean Park) retained her unbeaten record as she powered home to take out the Entain/NZB Insurance Pearl Series Final (1400m). Racing during the day had been of the highest calibre and the last race on the card didn’t disappoint as the Andrew Forsman-prepared daughter of Ocean Park came from well back in the running with an undeniable run that took her to her fourth win from just four starts. Given a long break by Forsman following a win at Te Rapa back in August last year, the four-year-old was at peak for her first up performance in a race that Forsman had targeted for her a long way out. Apprentice Sam McNab only had the one ride on the day and he did it plenty of justice as he allowed Elle Sourit to find her feet early on before improving between runners approaching the home bend. Swinging for home the mare was travelling sweetly as McNab angled into the clear out wide and headed out after leader Bethany Dee, who had shot to the front at the 250m mark. Elle Sourit wound up powerfully and claimed Bethany Dee with 100m to run, moving away to win by a length at the line from a game Bethany Dee who clung strongly to second ahead of the late-finishing Transaction. McNab was delighted with the victory on a mare that gave him an armchair ride. “She is tough as it was a little bit of a query coming back to 1400m today, but the team had her in lovely order and she is a nice horse,” McNab said. “When we jumped we were actually first away but she didn’t muster that early speed, but I was happy to be back as she revs up through her gears and gets going late which is exactly what she did today.” Forsman has high ambitions for his charge who has plenty of opportunities ahead of her in the future. “We set her for this race a little way out and the owners have been so patient as she had a setback during her last preparation, so we had to stop then bring her back up slowly for this,” he said. “I’m thankful they allowed us to do that and Sam rode her a treat as she is a genuine good horse, who is unbeaten and is only going to get better. “She doesn’t need to have a heap of racing in this preparation, will get to a mile fairly quickly and she is going to make a good 2000m horse. “There is plenty of black type racing for her and she will be a black type performer pretty quickly.” Elle Sourit is a daughter of the Gr.3 Thompson Handicap (1600m) winner Bel Sorriso and hails from an extended family that includes outstanding stayer Smiling Like, who numbered the Gr.1 Wellington Cup (3200m) and Gr.2 New Zealand Cup (3200m) amongst her seven career wins, while Group One winners Coventina Bay, Nimue and Sirstaci also feature. She has now accumulated $120,750 in prizemoney from her four victories. View the full article
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Haunui Farm Kings Plate Grp3 2026 - Alabama Lass throws the race.
bono replied to Murray Fish's topic in Galloping Chat
I have a screenshot that shows she's at least 3l from the colour change when she's on her way into the rail -
Haunui Farm Kings Plate Grp3 2026 - Alabama Lass throws the race.
curious replied to Murray Fish's topic in Galloping Chat
You mean like Craig Williams did in the Railway after she veered inwards from the left-handed strike? -
What is the total spend by breeders on Stallions and how has this been tracking. Only so much money to go around and I guess you can breed two One Over the Moons instead of one Volstead.
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Chief, we were looking at how HRNZ were operating with the money from Entain, when they shouldve been investing wisely and with restrain, rather than operating like a kid in a lollyshop! We all knew that things were not great prior to Entain’s promise of massive funds for 50% of the TAB profits for 25 years! Looking at the 2025 accounts the accounts are not looking as good as they should be bearing in mind the funds received from the Forbury Park sale and Entain contributions! We have the major issues with the AtC and Cambridge clubs as they appear they are in quicksand and not able to get out? Is there anyone apart from Gsmmalite that can try and convince us that HRNZ have acted financially responsibly to enrich harness racing into the future, as from the sidelines it doesnt look great!
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Yes but where was she looking at that point? Or rather how far ahead was she looking. Horses don't run into things if they can see them. Just to throw something else into the mix did you notice her trying to take a chunk out of the clerk of the course's horse? She definitely isn't happy about something. She chucked it in real quick in the Manikato and in the Railway - both Craig Williams rides.
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Haunui Farm Kings Plate Grp3 2026 - Alabama Lass throws the race.
hesi replied to Murray Fish's topic in Galloping Chat
Apologies changed my mind viewing the overhead she did start veering in 3-4 lengths before the rail changing colour -
Haunui Farm Kings Plate Grp3 2026 - Alabama Lass throws the race.
hesi replied to Murray Fish's topic in Galloping Chat
Agree totally -
It doesn't actually. However the fact is you were both operating on hunches rather than looking at the accounts. That is half the problem with the industry at all levels. They bleat on about decisions being made that are wrong and so on but never avail themselves of the facts. Your assertions may very well be correct but talking in hyperbole and generalisations lacks credibility. I'm not prepping for any job. The fact is both you and @Brodie contended that the ENTAIN and other capital had been squandered. Now if you really want to change things refer to Note 20 in the 2025 report and make a comment on what the $8.5 million that has been allocated to improving breeding levels and directly related stakes incentives SHOULD be spent on. Bleating on for days and months won't change anything - positive solutions will. However those positive solutions aren't non-win maidens at Reefton! You both may wish to look at pages 33 and 34 and see which assets can be consolidated to ensure Harness Racing pays its way. Note Reefton is jointly owned with Thoroughbred Racing - what happens if the latter wants out? Should HRNZ buy their share so you can have more non-win trots at Reefton?
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Haunui Farm Kings Plate Grp3 2026 - Alabama Lass throws the race.
curious replied to Murray Fish's topic in Galloping Chat
"She's reacted to the stick and jumped inwards" "Whether she needed to hit or or not, I don't know" Any one who's trained more G1 winners than Ken, please feel free to post an alternative opinion. -
Dont use their promo’s at all except if they text and offer to match deposits, and why wouldnt you? anyway don’t need their free money, just ask to be treated fairly and equally as other punters! They take all bets from some punters what they want, and yet other punters get treated very unfairly!
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Haunui Farm Kings Plate Grp3 2026 - Alabama Lass throws the race.
curious replied to Murray Fish's topic in Galloping Chat
So, you agree that blinkers don't stop horses reacting to pain or the anticipation of it, as AL did?