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Hrnz stopping some big spending buyers from buying to

Michael Guerin

Agree very tough game to make a dollar, and most people just see the sale price, without think of the breeding cost outlay, guess they'd b penty that couldn't afford to take them home, tomorrow sales be interesting, any lot take your fancy for top price.

Sometimes you have to have faith. That officials at ANY Sport can make decisions based on what they see. I like a lot of your ideas , but you are a fraction to pedantic. (Nothing wrong with being Pedantic as you get more results in your favour that way , whatever you might be tackling , like Fishing for example lol 😆🤣) Horses and drivers do funny things in races. Stewards have to make sense of it , BUT They CANNOT tell you how to drive your horse. Drivers still make split second decisions , horses make bad errors , and vice versa ) things happen. Case 1/ I argued the driverless horse case at Hawera with you , over which we had differing views. The stewards probably even had a view different to BOTH of us . It's just the way it is . You wanted drivers suspended in that particular case. I didn't , as they were juniors and a driverless horse does Weird and wonderful things. Leeway is needed . and the race should of been called off to like a subscriber here pointed out . NoworNever I think it was. CASE 2/ Not of interest to anyone except you Mr Galah , as you would remember this handy NZ horse named HOT and TREACHEROUS. he raced last Saturday night Albion at Long odds, against the FFA top class horses. And the driver went a bit 'Ballistic ' and tried to leave the hot favourite SPEAK THE TRUTH out 3 wide , and then tried to cross the leader not long after. A terrible effort as no way would that horse be giving him the lead. Anyway , The Classy 'Speak The Truth' ( a miracle Mile placegetter and started in the Slot races at Cambridge once he's that good) powered to an easy Victory . The Mug driver of Hot and Treacherous was quizzed as to his driving tactics by stewards. I thought his drive was quite ordinary at the time . Livingstone doesn't drive much at all though. and he was having a Go. to Win the race. And what could stipes do ?? suspend him for having a go ?? He tried to beat them , what you're spose to do . Didn't go about it as you might like as was shown to be futile against quality opponents. Anyway they didn't suspend him , and I can only imagine when quizzed he just said I was trying to lead and win . About 1 hour ago at our Tuesday Albion meet , we now run FFA stands for the old boys who can't keep up Saturday nights. to give them a race they can still win. Old TURN IT UP won one of these last month bless him. what a trooper he is. today, HOT and Treacherous in the stand FFA off 30m handicap ran a great 2nd , and paid $6 the place (starting 30-1) and Livingstone drove him beautifully and all but beat the hot favourite that he did head off for a few strides. well done to them. Each race is different , and looked at differently. Is quite funny for getting quizzed for having a go. Or not having a Go . But in the end the Stipes Can't tell them how to drive........ and the public has to accept that too. Case 3/ Lack of vigour things just happen in your Big silly fields in NZ . If you're last at the 1/4 in those Big 14 horse fields , why be vigorous ? you're NO HOPE of getting any of the money. might as well wait till next time and still have a horse lol... thankfully in Oz the 6-10 horse fields mean everyone can have a Go Everytime and lack of vigour not an issue at all.

well you have to have 2 yearold races at some stage Brodster. 8 youngsters went around in 2 heats at Pukekohe today. They went about 2 minutes to 2.01 so pretty good on that track. They Were a bit strung out though . But hopefully the programmer will give them a race soon. There are 2 scratchings in the Addington race , so you're being unfair on the Programmer , who is not going to pick that would happen. was spose to be 5 starters. Why accept for a race then scratch? trainers should be fined for that sort of rubbish lol 😉😂 Hey the Two (2) x maiden races are being run for 15k in races 7 and 8 straight after the 2 yearolds on Thursday. So is that the prize you thinking the 2 year-olds should run for instead of 17k that is programmed ? you're probably right. I'd only run ALL maidens for $9k races if I was doing it lol 🤣😎 save a few bucks that way. wouldn't be too popular with a trainers and owners though lol. 😆 they'd get used to it quick enough though and actually try and win a race to get better prizemoney when better rating. that's the way to do it.

The thing is the programmer whoever it is needs to wake up and start making the right calls! There was never ever going to be many 2 year olds ready to race on Thursday night and yet they offer a stake of $17K???? There really needs to be a serious meeting called to discuss things and where they are driving the harness industry to? It seems incomprehensible that they have not realised what they are doing with the money they are receiving and spending it like it is going to be around indefinitely! Brad Steele needs to be talking to Entain about their plans at the end of the 5 years and what is required from HRNZ and the TAB to be receiving what level of stake money?? I challenge anyone from those 2 organisations to come on BOAY and explain themselves!

Jockey Declan Bates joined Pride Of Jenni in a gallop at Caulfield as the pair shed the kilograms in preparation for teaming in the All-Star Mile. Ciaron Maher took a small but select group of horses to gallop at Caulfield on Tuesday morning, including Pride Of Jenni who is preparing for a first-up tilt at the Group 1 All-Star Mile (1600m) at Flemington on March 7. Bates, who has not ridden since December 6 after being injured in a barrier incident at the Ballarat jump-outs shortly after, partnered the mare in the work-out as he builds fitness towards a racetrack return, possibly at Terang on Friday. The Irish jockey suffered a fractured pelvis and sacrum in the barrier incident, describing it as ‘a nasty one’. “It’s a frustrating injury because you can’t give it any relief,” Bates said. “Sitting down you’re putting pressure on it and even lying in bed you’re putting pressure on it. “That’s why in the first month you don’t feel like you’re healing at all, so I was a little bit worried with the injury at first, but once it started coming good, in the last month especially, there has been rapid improvement and luckily, I’ll be back ahead of schedule.” Bates has been back riding trackwork just over a week and put ‘eight or nine’ horses through their paces at the Cranbourne jump-outs on Monday. He said he was looking forward to race riding again and in getting his fitness back up before partnering Pride Of Jenni in the All-Star Mile. “My fitness needs to tighten up a bit, but that’s going to come as I go along,” Bates said. “I was keen to get back racing two weeks before the All-Star Mile and that way it gives me a good two weeks of race riding before then. “Like me, she’s got a bit of fitness to come on, but she feels her usual self, enthusiastic in her work, and that’s what I wanted to see. “It’s good to have a nice horse to look forward to. You always want to get back as quick as possible and when you have a nice horse it really helps the motivation to get back as strong and healthy as possible.” Bates has ridden Pride Of Jenni in 19 of her 43 starts, winning four times at Group 1 level, including the mare’s memorable victory in the 2024 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) at Randwick. View the full article

Major targets for two and dress rehearsals for others add up to an intriguing day’s racing for a talent-packed Wexford Stables contingent at Ellerslie on Saturday. Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott’s team is headed by Ohope Wins (NZ) (Ocean Park) and Waitak (NZ) (Proisir), one the hot favourite for her elite racing debut in the Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand Oaks (2400m) and the other looking for more feature success in the Gr.1 Sport Nation Ōtaki-Māori Weight-for-Age Classic (1600m). Ohope Wins is one of three fillies entered for the New Zealand Oaks along with stablemates Acer and Clara Bow, while Yamato Satona and Genki make a double hand for the Gr.2 Eagle Technology (2100m), and likewise L’Aigle Noir and Panther in the Gr.3 Eagle Technology Uncle Remus Stakes (1400m). Dominant performances by Ohope Wins in the Gr.2 Sir Patrick Hogan Stakes (2000m) and the Gr.2 David & Karyn Ellis Classic (2100m) at her last two starts have resulted in her being installed the favourite for both Saturday’s New Zealand Oaks and the Gr. 1 Trackside New Zealand Derby (2400m), scheduled for Ellerslie on March 7. That form has also meant a change in ownership for the Ocean Park filly, who now sports the increasingly ubiquitous Yulong Investments colours, which will also be carried in Saturday’s classic by second favourite and fellow Ocean Park filly Autumn Glory. While Ohope Wins is also highly rated for the New Zealand Derby, co-trainer Lance O’Sullivan is adamant that the current focus is this weekend’s assignment. “As always we’re treating it as one race at a time,” he said on Tuesday. “Any consideration for a Derby start will only come after we’ve discussed that with her connections and not until after Saturday. “We’re very happy with how she came through that last run at Te Rapa and everything has gone to plan since. “Joe Doyle came across to ride her in her main gallop this morning and she worked very well on the course proper. Clara Bow will be ridden by Warren Kennedy and she also worked well, as did Acer. All three fillies are very well. “Erin Leighton, who rode Acer well when she won the fillies’ race at New Plymouth and had a close association with the stable when she was in Matamata, will ride her again.” The stable’s star weight-for-age performer Waitak has not raced since his unplaced run in the Gr. 1 Zabeel Classic (2000m) on Boxing Day and has been freshened for the drop back in distance on the weekend. “We made the decision to back off and freshen him up, after all he had already had a big year with more to come,” O’Sullivan said. “That way he would get the opportunity to perform up to his best in the last two. “We’re very happy with him heading into the mile race, and that will work well for the step up to 2000 in the Bonecrusher Stakes.” Yamona Satona (NZ) (Satono Aladdin) will be out to enhance his New Zealand Derby prospects when he lines up in the Avondale Guineas off the back of late-finishing thirds in the Listed Gingernuts Salver (2100m) and Gr.2 Waikato Guineas (2000m). “Those were both very good runs and he’ll continue along that traditional Derby path on Saturday,” O’Sullivan said. “There’s still plenty of improvement in him and by the time he gets to his main target he won’t lack anything in fitness. “Genki is still a maiden but we do like him as a stayer, but first he has to get a start on Saturday and try and qualify, otherwise he’ll go to Pukekohe next week for a last chance to make the field with a maiden win.” L’Aigle Noire and Panther will both have blinkers added when they line up in Saturday’s Gr. 3 Uncle Remus Stakes (1400m), which for virtually all runners will be a final dress rehearsal for the NZB Kiwi (1500m) on Champions Day. A win by either could well secure Wexford’s slot for the rich three-year-old race, however O’Sullivan is not getting ahead of himself. “That was some run by Panther when he ran second at Ellerslie with nothing going his way and he’s coming to form at the right time,” he said. “L’Aigle Noir had nothing go his way in his last run either, but his form before that was very good. “They worked well together this morning and will go into Saturday sound and happy. We figure the addition of blinkers will sharpen them, so along with the rest of the team, it will be interesting to see how they go.” View the full article

You would have to question if 2 meetings on friday nights, 2 meetings on Sundays is in the best interest for turnover, off setting that though is would you engage people's interest if there was one Friday night, Saturday and a Saturday night and a Sunday instead, I doubt you could either, Rugbys on at night now too, maybe the 2 meetings engages people more, that's a hard one to know......probably not cheap sending a TV crew to some of these meetings, I doubt Sky or TVNZ would for some, it's another thing Entain have spent plenty on, the media, some have been moved on which suggest it's not paying.

There are now only 3 starters in the 2 year old race on Thursday night for $17k! This is farcical and seriously we need people who are programming with some common sense surely? It is just one of many races that are run at a big loss for the industry but then again easy to spend other peoples money ! Anyway it is what it is and the owners who get the money may as well take it while it is in play as it will disappear! Why dont they give the winning owner a $12k bonus as well as it would be coming from Entain anyway? You just couldnt make this sxxt up !

The half owner of 1977 Auckland cup winner (Royal Cadenza) was refused entry to birdcage presentation as he was deemed not suitably attired... in shorts and jandals.

No Ashburton Cup this year.

But does it not seem that the owners and trainers are not wanting to race their horses early and therefore affecting the racing viability of their horses later on? The days of the Gordon Middleton and Des Grice bringing out these early 2 year olds is not happening! The industry financially just can not be operating the way they currently are! Whether the industry survives or flourishes does not really affect me at all! However I am deeply concerned for the harness industry and the good people that rely in it for a living! Any comments that I make that can be perceived as negative is solely for the concern for what is going on currently. Speaking up probably will not make a scrap of difference to what happens when Entain pulls the plug but at least I will have a clear conscience. I personally do not believe that the decision makers really have the best interests of harness racing at heart for the longevity of racing!!

It's frustrating, I agree. But you can't expect people to buy into yearlings if they are not going to have guaranteed races a year later. I don't know what the answer is....

Every Club did that I had to own a horse to get to the trough.

Correct the handicapping system is just not fair nowadays with such a gap between the ratings especially from the mobile. Is it really fair to have a maiden winner running against a horse that has won 15 races? not sure why the system has not been changed to something better like no. Of wins or stakemoney won or a bit of both? Often there is a rating difference of up to 20 points so needs amending surely?

Ellerslie just don't get it. Given the investment in infrastructure the overall attendance is pathetic. Thats not surprising as for many years racegoers were treated as second class citizens being divided into pens like cattle. e.g. Members, non members, owners, public and e.g. particularly noticeable when looking at Te Rapa grandstand seating. Ellerslie has maintained that division. Now they even classify their members e,g, the carpark has specially written up spots for premier members, goldstar members, "ordinary" members. For f*** sake its just a carpark used by those members for a handful of hours during the year.

Following harness form and results often has me wondering why owners dont change their driver whrn they are not getting the right result! You only have to go through the fields and you will see many examples of a change of driver to a more competent driver will indeed get afar better result! Does anyone actually know why Paul Nairn continues to be the sole driver of Tu Tangata??? We all know that Paul Nairn is an extremely good trainer of the trotter but to be honest most of us would not rate him as highly when he is in the cart at the races! His drives on Tu Tangata are less than meritorious and doesnt give the horse the best chance in his races! Why does he not put Bob Butt or someone else in the cart, as there is no doubt in Brodies mind that it would improve the horses chances without doubt! Is there something we dont know about the horse that only Paul knows?

Sounds like the Ham sandwichs tomorrow will be discounted 😁

You are correct Mikey, the well heeled owners are buying the best bred ones and dont worry about buying the others! Reality is that in 2 years time there is absolutely no doubt whatsoever the stake money is going to be decreased substantially for all harness races! How much that is is but a guess but it is going to be substantially reduced without a doubt, unless someone from Entain or HRNZ can advise us that I am wrong, and mire than happy to be proven wrong? They wont as they know that I am correct and they are actually doing a disservice to harness racing by operating the way they currently are! These horses being bred now and being sold as yearlings now are going to be racing for much less money in a couple of years time and reduced owners and trainers. However, many of these owners can afford to race for less but the average owner probably can not. The frustrating part for myself is that it was not hard to utilise the cash splash from Entain so much better than it has been. Does anyone at all believe that the way the money from Entain that has been donated to HRNZ has been spent wisely??

On RacingView the full article

In a well-watched race for the presence of 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' Ewing (Knicks Go), it was Oscar's Hope (Twirling Candy) on his return to sprints who stepped forward to take home the Ozark Stakes at Oaklawn Park. The Tom Amoss-trainee entered this contest off an unsuccessful attempt at two-turns Jan. 3 in the local Smarty Jones Stakes, finishing eighth and off the board for the first time in his six-race career. The runner-up there was Silent Tactic (Tacitus), who returned Feb. 6 at this venue to claim the GIII Southwest Stakes in dominant style. Before that, the son of Twirling Candy had been first or second in every start as a juvenile, winning the Jean Lafitte Stakes at Delta Downs two back Nov. 26 in his stakes debut. Cutting back from the 1 1/16-miles to six furlongs here, and leaving the blocks carrying 5-2 odds to Ewing's 3-5 favoritism, Oscar's Hope stalked Tiz Mary's Comet (Good Samaritan) and Swung (Instagrand) from third as that pair kept each other company on the front end. After the former posted an opening quarter in :22.01 and four panels in :45.37, and with Ewing not firing from fifth, Oscar's Hope rolled into contention passing the quarter marker and was the looming danger as they neared the final furlong. Overhauling his challengers from the overland route, he kept on well to win by 1 1/2 lengths. Tiz Mary's Comet held on for second by a length with Swung in third. “He's just a horse that always tries,” said Luis Saez. “He's got a big heart. The key to him today was we got a good post and was right there in the perfect spot. We tracked the speed. We were right behind it and when we came to the top of the stretch, he gave me a big turn of foot.” Of Ewing's sixth-place finish, jockey Cristian Torres said, “He was flat. He broke a step slow, but he never got into the bit, never engaged in the race. I started working on him early, going into the turn, but never responded.” The victor is the first to the races for GIII Schuylerville Stakes-placed Hopeful Princess (Not This Time), a full-sister to SP Johanny. That pair's third sibling, three-time winning mare Everything Magic (Street Sense), is herself the mother of MSP Heldish (Great Notion). Hopeful Princess has one other of racing age after Oscar's Hope, a juvenile colt named Major Ray (Nyquist). Her youngest is a yearling filly by Curlin, and she is due back to Twirling Candy for 2026. This is the immediate female family of GSW Street Magician (Street Cry {Ire}) as well as the dam of MGSW Future Is Now (Great Notion) and MSW & GSP Call Another Play (Audible). Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. #9 OSCAR'S HOPE ($7.20) took the lead in the stretch and would pull away to win the $150,000 Ozark Stakes at @OaklawnRacing. The son of Twirling Candy (@LanesEndFarms) was ridden by Luis Saez and is trained by @TomAmossRacing. Michael McLoughlin owns. pic.twitter.com/W2TEzjrvcQ — FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) February 16, 2026 OZARK S., $150,000, Oaklawn, 2-16, 3yo, 6f, 1:10.34, ft. 1–OSCAR'S HOPE, 124, c, 3, by Twirling Candy 1st Dam: Hopeful Princess (GSP), by Not This Time 2nd Dam: More Than Magic, by More Than Ready 3rd Dam: Magical Meadow, by Meadowlake ($150,000 Ylg '24 KEESEP). O-Michael McLoughlin; B-Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings LLC (KY); T-Thomas M. Amoss; J-Luis Saez. $85,500. Lifetime Record: 7-4-2-0, $323,434. 2–Tiz Mary's Comet, 119, g, 3, Good Samaritan–Suzie's Dream, by Tiz the One. ($50,000 2yo '25 OBSOPN). 1ST BLACK TYPE. O-Rotstein, Michael H. and Olof, LLC; B-Norman Stables, LLC (LA); T-Rylee Magnon. $28,500. 3–Swung, 119, c, 3, Instagrand–Queen's Gate, by Divine Park. ($17,000 Ylg '24 FTKOCT). O-Chad M. Call; B-Duncan Lloyd (KY); T-Matt Williams. $14,250. Margins: 1HF, 1, HF. Odds: 2.60, 7.80, 9.30. Also Ran: Chad Allan, Gnome, Ewing, My Dream Zapper. Scratched: Dirty Rich, Extract's Arrow. The post Oscar’s Hope Strides Home in Ozark, Ewing Off the Board in Seasonal Bow appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Grade 1 winner Baeza will head East to join the barn of Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott. The move comes just days after the passing of his former trainer, John Shirreffs, who died Feb. 12 at 80. The Daily Racing Form first reported the news. View the full article