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Francis Lui Kin-wai was left drawing comparisons to the mighty Golden Sixty after Hot Delight maintained his unbeaten record in sparkling fashion at Sha Tin’s Lunar New Year meeting on Thursday. A dominant winner on debut over course and distance last month, Lui was very upbeat about the Too Darn Hot galloper on the day and it seems that glowing report was more than warranted as he dazzled again in the first section of the Class Three Yue Yee Handicap (1,200m). The in-form 67-year-old is no...View the full article

By Jonny Turner They’ve made their mark again on the national yearling sales, and now Stonewall Stud will be out to conquer Cromwell. Trainers Steve and Amanda Telfer bring three horses south just a couple of days after their team set a new Australasian record for purchasing a trotting yearling. A filly by star North American stallion Walner from Egee Money was purchased by the powerful stable for $290,000. The blueblood squaregaiter is among 12 yearlings Stonewall Stud bought out of the Christchurch sales ring on Wednesday, following their purchase of four in Auckland on Monday. It will be back to the business of racing when the Stonewall team head to Cromwell’s meeting on Friday, following a winning double at Addington on Thursday night with Sonofamistery and Get Seaside Lucky, both driven by Tim Williams. Their three-strong squad includes Stumpy Blackler, who heads south after only going down narrowly in his last two starts. “I think he would be the best winning chance of the three,” Amanda Telfer said. “His last two runs have been good and they have been in handy enough maiden fields at Nelson and Addington.” “He’s had a wee bit of a freshen up and I have been happy with his work.” The Telfer stable will bring Premier Arden south for her first start on the Cromwell grass. The filly will start from barrier 1 for driver Nikita Burton, who handles all three of the Stonewall runners. While Premier Arden has the trial form and the talent to justify the short odds she will start at, there is a slight query over her ringcraft. “I do expect her to hold her position out of the gate early.” “Her trials have been quite good, she is a progressive filly who has improved quite a bit this time in.” “Her ringcraft isn’t quite there yet, that might be against her.” “It is her first start, but if she can handle everything she’d be a nice chance.” Mystic Magic rates the outsider of the Stonewall team, largely because she will have to start from the unruly. Regan Todd also made his mark at the national yearling sales on Friday. The trainer purchased several yearlings with leading owners Philip and Glenys Kennard. He will also turn his attention back to racing at Cromwell on Friday when Now Watch Me will attempt to continue the strong start he’s made to his career. The pacer will start at short odds after winning and running second in his first two starts at Nelson last month. “He’s has been ticking over since Nelson, he had a trial and I was quite happy with it.” “They ran along at a solid clip and he wasn’t knocked around.” “First time on the grass is an unknown, but he is forward enough to go a nice race. Now Watch Me will link up with Wilson House in a heat of the Revell Douglas Memorial Series for junior drivers. View the full article

Tony Cruz unveiled ambitious plans for Stunning Peach after the high-profile import snapped a 621-day winning drought in Thursday’s Class Two Year Of The Horse Cup (1,600m) at Sha Tin. Winless since his lone Hong Kong success in June 2024, the dual Group One placegetter produced a tough performance to outlast Hong Kong Derby (2,000m) hopeful Top Dragon and provide jockey Angus Chung Yik-lai with a much-needed boost. Sent off a $5.9 chance, Stunning Peach relished his light weight of 116lb to...View the full article

So,in the last fortnight hrnz have programmed and run 2 2year old races at addington. So they cut the stake of the race 2 weeks ago due to such a small field. . well,tonights race,had even less,only 3 starters and they left the stake the same.. essentially,the winner of the 3 horse race earned $2750 more than the winner of the 4 horse race. why,because thats the way hrnz progrmmed it to be.they said the stake is based on the number of acceptors,not the number of starters. and you see,that of course means any trainer could essentially accept with a horse that they have no intention of starting, to make sure HRNZ pay out the higher stake.you can't blame any trainer for simply being too clever for hrnz.Mind you that doesn't seem too hard the way they programmed it. So what was going on with the stipes not giving the dalgety trained Roger That any stand down. surely,for the sake of tranparency the stipes should have told people what the exceptional circumstances were which meant he got off with no penalty . Don't they know that Dalgety,after roger that won 2 weeks ago,had reported on his website that roger that was not going to run tonight and was going out for a short break. So whats going on there.Can't the stipes work out that people may ask questions why they decided roger that wasn't to get a scratching penalty?We can giess why,but maybe thats why they are saying. Hrnz really don't seem too clever sometimes.

Eating humble pie cobber

By chance when we did a trip to the deep south for a Riverton and then a meeting at Ascot Park last year, in a 6 way chat, all Life Member types!!! His name came up! heads dropped, what happen, or perhaps the way it all played out was not the Southern way..

won a nice mile race at Trentham, D Browne on? then backed up for a place in the G1? a nice grey did he get to 20 wins! I have some nice shots of him winning at Riccarton!

Not sure what the final balance was tonight as they are very quiet when they get a hiding! started with over $18k but with no greyhound racing they were always going to struggle on past experience! They were all over the place with their betting with Brendan Popplewell putting nearly $5k on the nose of a galloper in Hong Kong ffs? They encourage this bet responsibly but that obviously doesnt mean the presenters on out the gate have to abide by this? With respect they clearly have not been chosen by the TAB to bet responsibly and pick winners! When you can not make money on NZ racing and they choose to wager overseas rather than supporting our local product, it is telling you something! Seems odd that people continue to put money into the OTG betting pool rather than wanting to pick themselves? Anyway, each to their own and good luck to them, but seriously it is not painting a great picture with this carefree, it isnt my money, so blow it attitude!

Remember colfix, may have won the nuggets, out of red mit from memory, she was a coast specialist, trained a few more handy ones, but names escape me, been a few good gallopers grace the coast tracks over the years, remember the mighty scapolo winning at omoto, Royal adder, blue sage, miles better, placido, cappiemore, Modena,to name a few, some of these horse won 10 or 15 races, you just don't that these day, nice little roll call of very good performers, fell free to add a few more.

The 2 year old race at Addington for 17k had the massive tote turnover of $2k so with the TAB take out of that would mean they would be losing just about the full stake amount, minus any of the exotics absolute stupidity unless you are the owners of the 3 horses.

About time! Was the best horse in that field as has raced far better horses and perfirmed well against them Had been driving it as if he he had no intention of being placed.

Trained a handy black mare ... Colfix?

John O'Shea is the guest! Personally, I didn't really 'know' much about him! An interesting story to be heard!

Great photo, funny my uncle who passed on the racing bug to me( for which there's no cure)as a very young lad, an new slim,would recite that poem when we would leave for the races, had a bit of a twist in the lyrics though, his version at little more curse, ended with wat a .... of a day at the races. Oh the memories what a great crowd.

Here is one "Stop throwing good money after bad" The outlook is not great with ever decreasing fields and dropping turnovers and you can only reshuffle debt for so long before the bank steps in and makes the decisions for you. Even if they do dig themselves out it would only be temporary as the continuing decline of the product there will finish them off eventually. I can not understand why they have not sold up and rebuilt a facility somewhere south of the Bombays. If they did that at the start of the crisis they would have a new property now but that money has gone and continues to go to the bank in the form of debt. Gamma give me some good news in the form of fields getting bigger and better, new trainers coming and not relocating or retiring, Access to Alexandra park with less traffic instead of being more difficult to get there discouraging trainers and casual attendance. Any good news to share except must save it for compassionate reasons.

Talented three-year-old Ammirati (NZ) (Savabeel) was a notable absentee from Saturday’s Gr.2 Eagle Technology Avondale Guineas (2100m) acceptances, with trainer Stephen Marsh confirming the sale of the gelding to Hong Kong. A three-time winner from eight starts, the son of Savabeel had been an impressive last-start winner of the Listed Gingernuts Salver (2100m) at Ellerslie and a $10 chance for the Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) at the same venue in just over a fortnight. The gelding also boasts a dramatic victory in the Gr.3 Wellington Stakes (1600m) at Otaki in late November and an eye-catching fifth placing in the Gr. 2 Levin Classic (1400m) at Trentham for owners Hawridge Developments Ltd, Jamieson Park Ltd and Lib Petagna’s JML Bloodstock Ltd. A $450,000 yearling purchase by Bruce Perry Bloodstock from Waikato Stud’s 2023 Karaka draft, Ammirati is out of the winning Pins mare Happily. The versatile galloper is likely to join the stable of David Eustace in Hong Kong. View the full article

the point we often make gamma is HRNZ should have come up with a workable,financialy sustainable vision for the future of north island and auckland harness racing.They have had years to do it now. people don't believe they have. yes hrnz are trying. The atc club were trying when they did the apartment complexs. in the end what people care about is whether policy and decision making is good,bad or indifferent.Its the poor policy and decision making which is the reason for any criticism. no one understands why a business wouldn't want to restructure in a way that ensures their future.Thats what i think people struggle most with when it comes to hrnz policy towards the atc.

4 hours according to google maps.

Personally, I was keen to have a go at beating some of the games when the carnival came to town! Especially those ones with the Arms Moving across.. later, the local Catholic School would run a massive Gambling Event, Crown and Anchor... Gambling for children? Why Australia should consider regulating blind box toys like Labubu If you walk through any major shopping mall in Australia, chances are you’ll encounter products and experiences that are uncomfortably similar to gambling – yet they are available to anyone, including children. Our soon-to-be-published research has found claw machines, blind boxes and toy capsule machines have become pervasive in the spaces families frequent – from the shops, to the movies, to the pub. A claw machine in a major shopping precinct in Melbourne. Author provided We call these products and experiences gamble-play media. They rely on and profit from risk-taking, and encourage intense, continuous playful consumption in the quest to “win” a desired item. While claw machines have been a part of Australia’s consumer culture for a long time, blind boxes are the most recent gamble-play media to become mainstream. In Singapore, lawmakers and consumer advocates are pushing to regulate blind boxes due to the gambling inducement risks they carry, according to a written address to parliament from Home Affairs Minister Kasiviswanathan Shanmugam. It may be time for Australia to contemplate a similar move, given our nation’s insidious gambling culture and tendency towards problem gambling. Our mission is to share knowledge and inform decisions. About us Indeed, gambling among children has become a national crisis, with a report from the Australia Institute highlighting 30% of 12–17 year-olds gamble at least once per year. The blind box phenomenon Blind boxes are products (usually toys) sealed in opaque packaging. The contents can’t be revealed until after a box is purchased. Most are sold as part of larger collections, many of which contain coveted “rare” items. Buyers are enticed to pay for the chance to obtain these “high-value” items. Blind boxes at a major retailer in Melbourne. Authors provided Globally, blind boxes are projected to reach annual profits of US$24.2 billion (about A$34 billion) by 2033. Anyone who visits a major shopping precinct will likely see rows upon rows of boxes displaying Labubus (a multi billion-dollar obsession), Sanrio characters, and other collectibles from children’s or family franchises such as Sesame Street, Harry Potter, Toy Story and the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Japanese characters such as Mofusand and Sonny Angels are particularly appealing to Gen Z and Gen Alpha buyers. Online, content creators use these products in “toy unboxing” videos, which have long been popular on platforms such as YouTube and TikTok. This content focuses on the tactile pleasures of unwrapping toys, particularly “surprise” toys – the crinkling of paper, the tapping of nails on boxes, and the caressing of the treasured item once it’s finally unveiled. There are hundreds of thousands of videos of influencers unboxing blind box toys across YouTube, TikTok and Instagram, many of which help to generate hype around new products or high-profile collaborations. Apart from major retailers such as Pop Mart and Miniso, blind boxes are also available in vending machines, and pop-up and bargain variety stores (which may stock knock-off versions). Gambling for children? The emotional states triggered by blind boxes are not dissimilar to those experienced by people who gamble on slot machines or pokies: anticipation, randomness, occasional joy and frequent disappointment. These experiences can become addictive. Blind boxes are designed to offer a rush over the possibility of an (unlikely) big win, and the subsequent chasing of this feeling. As our research highlights, these are the dynamics of gamble-play. There are preliminary indications that using gamble-play devices such as claw machines and coin pushers in the formative years can lead to problems with gambling in adulthood. However, more research is needed to understand how children experience risk, randomness, and loss and reward mechanisms in the context of seemingly innocuous gamble-play products. Our ongoing research explores if and how gamble-play can be a gateway to adult gambling. Some manufacturers list the odds of winning and age guidelines in small print on the boxes. For instance, they may include a label suggesting the product is not for children under 8, or under 12. But these labelling practices are inconsistent, unclear and unregulated. The reason some blind boxes are labelled this way is because of industry guidelines in China, from where many of these products are imported. Since 2023, China has restricted the sale of blind boxes to children under 8. Nonetheless, concerns around blind box addiction among China’s children persist. Singapore sets an example Singaporean legislators and consumer advocates are moving to regulate blind boxes, arguing they are too similar to gambling. The proposed laws are still being devised. It’s unclear whether they will fall under existing gambling laws or require new legislation – but they could include mandating that manufacturers clearly disclose the odds of getting each product, and apply and enforce age restrictions. Blind boxes have even started making small waves in Australian politics. In June of last year, Victorian Legislative Council member Aiv Puglielli said: instead of buying one, maybe you buy two or three, increasing your chances of securing the design that you want. It kind of sounds like gambling, because it is gambling. Randomised rewards are not exclusive to the blind box market: they are also used as incentives by fast food chains and supermarkets. In some cases, items such as rare Woolworths’ Disney Ooshies can be resold for thousands. Australian legislators have already moved to regulate and classify gambling-like content in video games, such as loot boxes and simulated gambling. Blind boxes and other gamble-play media rely on the same mechanisms of seduction – and therefore also demand scrutiny. Published: February 19, 2026 8.09am NZDT Authors César Albarrán-Torres Associate professor, Swinburne University of Technology Jessica Balanzategui Associate Professor in Media, RMIT University Disclosure statement César Albarrán-Torres receives funding from the Australian Research Council. Jessica Balanzategui receives funding from the Australian Research Council and the Australian Children's Television Foundation. Partners RMIT University and Swinburne University of Technology provide funding as members of The Conversation AU. View all partners DOI https://doi.org/10.64628/AA.hyc6ktxrp We believe in the free flow of information Republish our articles for free, online or in print, under Creative Commons licence. Republish this article Share article Print article https://theconversation.com/gambling-for-children-why-australia-should-consider-regulating-blind-box-toys-like-labubu-276163?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Latest from The Conversation for February 19 2026 - 3679337609&utm_content=Latest from The Conversation for February 19 2026 - 3679337609+CID_165c0e40c73ec21f80c4d602e0f3e095&utm_source=campaign_monitor&utm_term=Gambling for children Why Australia should consider regulating blind box toys like Labubu

Ideal run tonight... Pace was on and he had plenty of room when the field spread out. Too good for them at nice money.

Apparently I got the 7.5 hrs wrong. But it is definitely more than 4.5. Unless it was the only horse on the float or the last one picked up! Given the weather forecast and the existing weather conditions through the Waikato it wouldn't have been a fast trip. But as we all know the Trainer makes the decisions and you only have a say if you own more than half. I don't think ANY Trainer is not trying to place their horses as well as they can. The bigger issue which we should ALL focus on is sorting out the scheduling/programming/pattern.

This photo popped up in a feed. with a poem attacthed! Two things re the Photo.. 1) The Barbed wire looks interesting!! 2) has the photo be presented facing the wrong way??? An old poem from the late Slim Gillman (A racing stalwart who trained at Omoto) "It was a lovely day as they started away with a smile of content on their faces .. the money they spent was meant for the rent, but they had a lovely day at the races.

Sorry, but it has absolutely nothing to do with whether or not I race horses.

Yes always good to see those two doing well,a few of those good riders of that era training a few, Danny Frye, Bruce Smith who had success with Lombardi, which I haven't seen racing, looked promising, interesting you mention Mr Hamilton, was he the trainer from omakau and won a Grand National with Kid Colombus, had an apprentice Jo Chong back in the day, even trained a few harness horses.

Yes not a good way to express your views as an owner, maybe more in disappointment than anything, but when your paying for 7.5 hrs travel for zip, one could understand, a double edged sword in some respects, bit the bullet go with it, and have a fresh horse for next start, or start and have a tough run, and possibly ruin a prep for rest of the year.