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To be fair to Aaron it probably did well to get as close as it did when it basically galloped the whole race.

Any dancing moves in your lounge tonight @Brodie?

Earlier this year, perhaps a year or so ago, Chief Stipe and I were, in a non combative way, 'chewing the fat' as to why on earth would Entain have bothered to get involved with such a small market, small by international standards. My recollection was that we both agreed we (NZ) were being used as a test site and that the ultimate goal was sports betting, not horse racing. NZ racing has three years to get its act together which based on all the lack of direction the industry is currently experiencing from its so called 'leaders' leaves me to say, optimistically, please make the most of the next 3 years...Enjoy.

David Hayes has urged Jockey Club officials to think outside the box when it comes to accommodating Hong Kong’s “drastic oversupply” of Class Four horses. Hong Kong’s horse population is in the midst of a sustained period of growth ahead of the start of racing in Conghua, with the Jockey Club increasing ownership permits in recent years. However, until racing on the mainland begins in October next year, there will be an increased number of gallopers looking to race in a similar amount of...View the full article

Curious, Iv'e been "off air" for 22 hours. Thanks for responding to The Chief with the exact same answer that I would have given.

It does raise the question (again) though. If that was the POCC takings based on 10% of racing and sports overseas spend, indicating maybe a $40m total spend, how on earth did they arrive at $200m when promoting the monopoly legislation.

The NZ Herald did report on it. In March this year.

The breach of court order was exceedingly dumb. Just shows one can be smart but dumb. The query I have is in relation to the disappearance of Eloi Rolland. Now if if Molloy wanted to be "altruistic" he would have got behind efforts to search for him. After all Eloi disappeared shortly after "ending employment" at Molloy's hospo. How the ending of the employment occurred would have been of significant value to the case as to his frame of mind. Instead that issue seemed to get side stepped whilst Molloy conspicuous by his absence. I get the impression the case of Eloi Rolland has received far more exposure in France than New Zealand. The Herald quick to report anything on Molloy but not on this.

Ka Ying Rising, the world’s top-rated sprinter, has delighted David Hayes in his final fast turf gallop ahead of the LONGINES Hong Kong International Races (LONGINES HKIR) on 14 December as a string of local contenders sharpened preparations with barrier trials at Sha Tin today (Thursday, 4 December). Ka Ying Rising will attempt to match Golden Sixty’s feat of winning 16 races in a row – a streak bettered only by Silent Witness (17 wins) as a Hong Kong, China-trained horse – when he tackles the HK$28 million G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint (1200m) next week. Hayes believes his charge is on target after the five-time Group 1 winner surged over his final 400m in 21.6s in a sparkling turf gallop on Wednesday morning (3 December) under leading rider Zac Purton. “I thought it was as good as you could ask the horse to work. Zac quickened on him, and he said he thought that he was at his top and he gave him a little dig and he extended again,” Hayes said. “He just cantered around on the turf track and quickened the last 400 metres and ran home in 21.6 (seconds). He just gradually increased his work, and I think he would have broken 11 seconds for the last 200 (metres) without trying. “I think Zac thought it was the best he’s felt in work, so he just keeps on improving and he’ll just do steady work into the big race. We’re very happy with him.” Helios Express, who finished second to Ka Ying Rising in three Group 1 races last season and third in another, finished second to Packing Hermod in a 1200m barrier trial on dirt this morning (4 December). Ridden by Hugh Bowman, Helios Express finished ahead of four other LONGINES HKIR aspirants – Raging Blizzard (fourth), Galaxy Patch (fifth), Voyage Bubble (sixth) and Ka Ying Generation (seventh) – in an overall time of 1m 11.41s. John Size-trained pair Bundle Award (third) and Red Lion (eighth) contested the second 1200m batch, which was won by stablemate Beauty Eternal in 1m 09.74s. Massive Sovereign (fifth) and Ensued (eighth) featured in batch three, which was won by Public Attention in 1m 10.74s. Harry Eustace-trained Docklands worked in leisurely fashion on the dirt ahead of the HK$36 million G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Mile (1600m) – one of the four Group 1 features next week, along with the HK$40 million G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Cup (2000m), HK$26 million G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Vase (2400m) and LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint. Hong Kong racing continues at Sha Tin on Sunday (7 December) with the Class 5 Ashley Handicap (1650m, dirt) at 1pm. View the full article

Canterbury mare Ears Back’s best form has been in the North Island this year, and she has crossed the Cook Strait once more to try to add to her stakes haul. The seven-year-old daughter of Jakkalberry recorded her first black-type win in the Listed AGC Training Stakes (1600m) at Wanganui in May and doubled her stakes tally when taking out the Gr.3 Metric Mile (1600m) at Trentham in September. She subsequently posted two unplaced runs in her home region, however, Blackadder said she did have her excuses for finishing last in the Gr.3 TAB Mile (1600m) last month, and he was buoyed by her trial win over 1200m at Ashburton last week, which cemented her trip north. “Her last race she wasn’t very well and heavily in season,” Blackadder said. “She had a very good trial last week at Ashburton. I had to give her that trial, and with Our Echo in it, it gave me a good gauge of where we were at with her.” Ears Back has made her way north to Suzy Gordon’s Foxton barn where she has settled in well and Blackadder said he has received positive reports on her work ahead of Saturday’s Gr.1 TAB Mufhasa Classic (1600m) at Trentham. “She is at Suzy Gordon’s at the moment and she is very relaxed up there,” Blackadder said. “As long as they are happy and eating up you can’t ask for anymore. “It is a big ask for her obviously, but she is working well and galloped well on Tuesday.” Saturday’s contest will be Ears Back’s first tilt at elite-level, and while realistic about her chances against a strong line-up, Blackadder is hopeful of a bold showing as he looks towards returning to the Upper Hutt venue to contest next month’s Gr.2 Harcourts Thorndon Mile (1600m). “We are looking at the Thorndon Mile,” he said. “There is not much down here for her now because weight will get her. We have got to hope she goes well on Saturday.” Meanwhile, Blackadder will have three representatives at Riccarton’s synthetic meeting on Friday, including New Beginnings in the Speight’s Summit Ultra On Tap Rating 60 (2100m), Malfy Rosa in The FAB Four-CHCH 29 March 2026 Rating 80 (2100m), and Cavendish in the EDR Contracting Maiden (1600m). “New Beginnings likes the synthetic and she should be quite competitive,” Blackadder said. “Malfy Rosa is looking the best I have seen her for a long time and Cavendish had his first start over 1600m and he only blew out in the last 100m. He has got a wide draw (11) tomorrow and doesn’t quite have that ringcraft yet, but he is not a bad horse.” View the full article

New Zealand jockey James McDonald has won the Longines World’s Best Jockey title for the second consecutive year and third time overall. The 33-year-old, who is based in Australia, also won the Longines World’s Best Jockey Award in 2022. On his way to claiming the 2025 title, McDonald won 12 of the world’s Top 100 Group or Grade 1 races. His qualifying victories included the Longines Hong Kong Cup, Longines Hong Kong Mile, Queen Elizabeth Stakes, Ladbrokes Doomben 10,000, and the Ladbrokes Cox Plate. McDonald dominated this year’s award, holding a sizeable lead throughout much of the competition. The scoring process rewards jockeys for finishing in the top three, giving McDonald a total of 184 points on the year. Mickael Barzalona was second with 132 points, while William Buick was third with 114 points. The awarding of the World’s Best Jockey title is based upon performances in the 100 highest-rated Group 1 and Grade 1 races as established for the year by the Longines World’s Best Racehorse Rankings Committee. The scoring incorporates races from 1 December of the previous year until 30 November of the current year. Jockeys accrue 12 points for a win, 6 points for placing second, and 4 points for placing third. The award was established in 2014 as a way for the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA) to quantitatively recognise a jockey as the best among his or her global peers. View the full article

Waitak’s class and versatility will stand him in good stead at Trentham where he chases a fourth top-flight title. He has triumphed over 1200, 1600 and 2040m at the highest level on good, soft and heavy tracks and Wexford Stables have him in tip-tip order for Saturday’s Gr.1 TAB Mufhasa Classic (1600m). “He’s been an amazing racehorse for us and goes well on all kinds of going, he’s quite versatile and definitely enjoys getting his toe in the ground,” said Andrew Scott, who trains in partnership with Lance O’Sullivan. “He’s going as well as he can and we do have a lot of respect for the others in the field, it’s a really good Group One race.” Waitak ended his spring campaign with wins in the Gr.1 Howden Insurance Mile (1600m) and Gr.1 Livamol Classic (2040m) before a break. “The team have been really pleased with him and gave him a week on the farm and a bit of trotting and cantering work before he came back in the barn,” Scott said. “He had that trial last week and we were pleased with him under a beautiful rein and Craig (Grylls, jockey) was really happy with him as well. “He had a nice hit-out on Tuesday morning and stormed up the straight, so we are hopeful of getting a good result.” Waitak has been sent south in the company of younger brother Crackerol, who is also in good form ahead of the Rothley Handicap (2100m). “His recent racing has been very solid and this is his first attempt over the longer trip, but his fitness and confidence levels are high so we thought we would take the opportunity to get him over ground,” Scott said. “He has trained on well and the conditions should suit him nicely.” Closer to home at Pukekohe, Wexford will have the promising duo of L’Aigle Noir and Yamato Satona going head-to-head in Saturday’s Gr.3 Bonecrusher Stakes (1400m), while a new face will partner three of the stable’s undercard contenders. “L’Aigle Noir put in a top performance fresh when he won at Rotorua and has worked well and we certainly think he’ll give a strong account of himself,” Scott said. “He’s got a barrier draw (one) that will help, and he’s trialled well right-handed in the past. “Yamato Satona has taken a bit of making and we’ve seen more focus in his training and we think he’s another that will relish going further over the summer months, so he should be hitting the line well.” Queensland-based Heavelon Van Der Hoven will be making his New Zealand debut and has been booked by Wexford for Genki (Dunstan Horsefeeds, 1600m), Dua Dance (Yourride, 1200m) and Up The Anti (Myracehorse, 1500m). “Leith Innes said he was coming over and all the feedback is that he’s a very competent rider, professional and does his form,” Scott said. “Genki is a promising stayer, there’s no reason why Dua Dance won’t be hard to beat if she puts her best foot forward and we also expect Up The Anti to run well.” View the full article

It’s been an eventful year for apprentice jockey Triston Moodley, but it is ending on a high. The talented rider was sidelined for three months after he sustained a head injury at the Waipa trials in July, but he made a pleasing recovery and has made an instant impact on his return to the track. The last month has been particularly fruitful for Moodley, who was victorious aboard the Andrew Forsman-trained Force Of Nature in the Listed Legacy Lodge Sprint (1200m), doubling his career stakes tally, and last Friday he recorded his 100th win in the saddle aboard the John and Karen Parsons-trained Lucky Ferrando at Cromwell. The 24-year-old hoop was rapt to reach the milestone, particularly after a trying few months recuperating from his head injury. “To get the 100 wins was a peach of a moment,” Moodley said. “Not many apprentices are able to do it. I have gotten a lot of support throughout my career, and I am really glad I could do it. “It was tough over that injury period and I was just glad to get over the injury, get fit and ready to go again. “My injury hasn’t played up at all since I have come back, so I am very glad about that. I go for regular check-ups and everything is looking perfect. “It was quite a serious injury and I was bed-ridden for a couple of weeks. It was quite tough on me, but I am glad to be back now.” While he has been having plenty of success on the track in the last month, it has also been a big month on a personal front, with Moodley moving south to Christchurch from his previous northern base with trainers Danny Walker and Arron Tata at Byerley Park in South Auckland. “I can get quite a lot of rides here and I have got a new manager (Andre Neill) as well. It is going great at the moment, I am quite busy,” he said. Moodley is enjoying his time in Christchurch but said he will continue to be a familiar face in the North Island. “I will end up basing myself down here, but I will do a lot of travelling up north and to the Central Districts,” he said. “My main goal is to buy a house down here and travel as much as I can.” Moodley is currently on loan to the New Zealand Equine Academy while freelance riding in the morning for Riccarton trainers, and he said it is a move he is looking to make permanent in the coming months. “I am currently on loan to the Academy, so I will probably go with them full-time once the three-months are up,” he said. “I am freelancing and doing a couple for the Pitmans, David Walsh, Danny Crozier, and whoever needs help.” Moodley will add to his growing frequent flyer points this weekend when he returns to Auckland where he has a strong book of rides at Pukekohe on Saturday, including Landlock in the Gr.3 Bonecrusher Stakes (1400m) and Twain in the Gr.3 Concorde Stakes (1200m). Moodley has a great association with the John Bell-trained Twain, having won four of his five starts on the gelding, and he is hoping to extend their winning sequence this weekend, for which he is a $2.80 favourite. “I am looking forward to getting back on Twain, it has been a while,” Moodley said. “I thought I would have a good season with him, but with the injury it didn’t work out that way. Hopefully I can keep winning on him.” Moodley is also upbeat about the prospects of Group One performer Landlock, who is a $4.60 second favourite for the Bonecrusher behind the Stephen Marsh-trained To Cap It All. “He has drawn three and will probably get a soft run,” Moodley said. “He will go very close in that race, I think he is one of the horses to beat.” A day prior at his new home track of Riccarton, Moodley will have six rides, and rates the David Walsh-trained Lady Georgiana as his leading chance in the Peninsular Beachfront Resort Mooloolaba Rating 60 (1400m). “I have been riding her a bit in track work and she has been working well,” he said. “She is a horse that needs everything to go her way, so hopefully that happens in the race, and I think she will be right there in the finish.” View the full article

at least aaron whites consistent. the first race tonight he labelled as his whisper of the night the serial galloper levi. its broken its last 6 starts, so whats he say,this thing wins if it trots all the way. so it galloped for 1900m of the 2200 after looking very nervous pre start. now even the out the gate fellas are having a chuckle about that,but they did follow his advice and backed it.

James McDonald and Hugh Bowman are confident Galaxy Patch and Helios Express are primed to produce peak performances at the Longines Hong Kong International Races (HKIR) after competing in a star-studded trial at Sha Tin on Thursday. Set for the Group One Hong Kong Sprint (1,200m) on Sunday week, Helios Express under Bowman vied for the lead with Packing Hermod in Thursday’s dirt hit-out over 1,200m and kept on solidly to run second to that galloper. Fellow Hong Kong Sprint contender Raging...View the full article

Yes but certain loud individuals polarised people and it became tribal. Been a few of them on BOAY in the past.

OTG, just started today! Just a Greyhound show, that is all they talk about! Need to change the name of the show to “ Greyhound same race multi”! Has Andy McCook been knighted as they call him Sir Andy?

By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk As she approaches the end of her racing career, I Dream Of Jeannie could mark her 100th start in style when racing returns to Geraldine in South Canterbury. Saturday will mark the 75th anniversary of the first meeting held by the club at the Orari track. I Dream Of Jeannie will be a leading contender in the day’s feature trot at Orari, the Fresh Choice Geraldine Trotters Cup (4.34pm). In her last start the Robert and Jenna Dunn-trained eight-year-old produced a huge finish to win the Group 2 Grand Duchess at Addington on November 21. It was her eighth win in 99 starts. “She does start off 25 metres but it is not an overly big field,” says driver John Dunn, “and she has trained on nicely since that last win.” Dunn also confirming that it won’t be long before she heads to the broodmare paddock. “We’ve been given the green light that she is in foal to Tactical Approach.” With three wins in his last four starts, the Bob Butt trained and driven Tactical Bid looks I Dream Of Jeannie’s toughest rival while Maui will be looking to repeat his success from 2024. The Dunns’ Diamond Racing also lines up It’s Tough in the Placemakers Timaru/Twizel/Oamaru Geraldine Cup (3.24pm). The four-year-old gelding won three in a row before his ninth in the Group 1 Christian Cullen at Addington on Show Day but he does have to take on the very talented The Lazarus Effect, who’s at $1.60 in the early markets. It’s Tough is at $3.10. “He’s well placed but The Lazarus Effect will be hard to beat,” says Dunn. It will also be It’s Tough’s first standing start though Dunn is not expecting any issues. The Dunns chalked up win number 100 for 2024 when Burt won at Timaru yesterday. They are third in the premiership behind Steve and Amanda Telfer on 158 and Michael House on 102. With a favourable weather forecast and some much needed rain during the week the track is expected to be in good shape for the meeting, which starts at 12.05pm. The club is hopeful of a big crowd with nearly 500 in their Christmas At The Races marquees alone. “About 50 per cent of them are repeat business,” says committee member Jackie Nelson, “which is great.” “If the weather plays ball we’d love to get a crowd of around 2000.” The “Lean On A Gate” passing lane will also be in action. It’s the club’s way to support the mental health programme that Craig Wiggins and his team run in rural communities. “Wiggy”, as he’s known, will also be clerking on the course throughout the meeting. To see the Geraldine fields click here View the full article

Yes. The 13m was the estimate for the 4 year life of the POCCs.

Which is what was in the DIA options report. Regulatory-Impact-Statement-Protecting-TAB-NZs-from-offshore-online-betting-to-ensure-a-sustainable-racing-industry.pdf

Duplicitous, good word, I can see why you used it

Sure Leo was difficult to work with at times (not often) but he was never duplitious and you were either in his good books or not and he made that really clear. Very intelligent as well and at times downright amusing. I actually got more grief from third parties that he had riled than him. I'm not sticking up for him per se but what I disagree with what the Vet Council are doing. I liken it to the case Kevin Morton had with the RIB and Purcell. A step too far.

Definitely agree with rotation to allow track renovation. The right sort of guidance,leadership, call it what you will, could have facilitated a more desirable outcome than what we have now.

I'm surprised you stick up for him after all the shyte he and his Dog mate gave you on the Dog channel, when you were running it. The guy used to dish it out in a very unsavory manner and now he is getting it back, rightly or wrongly, who gives a flying F

Oops. That's a typo. Good catch. I have ~$4m.