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The issue is that now that Entain have a monopoly, are they going to allow serious punters on, sometimes in Head to Heads one can spend a lot by taking both options inplay as the odds fluctuate to lock in a modest profit regardless of the result ie Betfair or will anyone who shows an abiity to win often be shown the door, serious punters will mostly be Head to Head, just the same in Racing with fixed odds, it's irrelevant if Newmarket or myself are serious punters or not, the issue is some are, when you have choice where you wager your dollars thats ok, when your choices are taken away then Entain have a responsibility to provide a first class betting service, do they or will they, let's just hope they can or do moving forward. -
By Wandering Eyes · Posted
Frankie Barrett could hardly wipe the smile off her face after riding the first winner of her career at Hawera on Sunday. The 20-year-old apprentice had just ticked over 20 rides when she was legged aboard the Kevin Myers-trained Shawshank (NZ) (El Roca) in the last on the card, with the son of El Roca rated the second-favourite in an even Rating 65 contest. Jumping from the ace barrier, Shawshank flew the gates and took a clear lead early, settling into a lovely rhythm for Barrett along the back straight. The gelding was still travelling into the home straight and the only danger was coming from I Don’t, who is prepared by Barrett’s employer Allan Sharrock. Under hands and heels, Shawshank had the upper hand on I Don’t and drew away late to score by 2 – ¼ lengths, delivering Barrett a moment she has dreamed of. “I’m over the moon, I can’t really believe it and it’s been a long time coming for me to get raceday riding,” she said. “It felt amazing, I knew Shawshank would be an exciting ride and quite a good chance for me to get the job done. “I was originally told to sit third, but he jumped so positively and travelled beautifully, I had so much horse underneath me. I saw Allan’s horse, I Don’t, was coming up on my outside, but I couldn’t let him have this one. “It was very special to get a winner for Kevin Myers, who has given me so many opportunities, and Shawshank’s owner John Bell, who I rode for on Saturday as well. “Allan doesn’t trial as many horses because we are so far away, whereas Kevin Myers has a lot of horses and a lot of jumpers trialling. It was the best way for me to get fit and learn by going around at the trials on the jumpers, he was very supportive of me the whole way through. “I have a long way to go still but getting that first step out of the way was very rewarding.” English-born Barrett has lived in Auckland for most of her life, and while she was always involved with horses, racing came into the picture four years ago. “I was born in England, but have grown up in New Zealand, so I have a bit of a twang (accent),” she said. “I grew up riding ponies, breaking in Gisbornes and doing showing, but there isn’t much money in that, so being short and super competitive, I decided to go down the path of becoming a jockey. “I started off trackwork riding at Byerley Park under the New Zealand Equine Academy with Donovan Mansour, and I did my Level 2 with him. That was a great experience and a really good introduction into the industry. “I then went to Kylie Hoskin’s and she was amazing, she put a lot of time and effort into me back when I was a bit young and lost, she was a huge support and like family to me. I knew from there that I was ready to give it a real go, and I knew of Allan, so I tried to get in touch with him. “I called and messaged him every day for about two weeks, then finally on a Sunday night when he was having dinner, I caught him and he let me come down to New Plymouth and ride for him. “I’ve been down here for the last two years, and it’s the best decision I’ve ever made. Everyone is very bright and happy in the mornings, it’s a great way to start your day. “I couldn’t imagine myself doing anything else.” Under Sharrock’s guidance, Barrett progressed through jump-outs and trials, and he provided her first two raceday rides in mid-June after she was accepted into NZTR’s newly-established Elite Jockey Programme. She recalled how positive that first day at Te Rapa was as a young rider, but from there, she had to up her game. “In my first day racing, I almost got a bit lucky and had some really nice rides, so after that I thought it was pretty sweet and I was good to go,” she said. “After a few more rides, I realised that it is a totally different energy out there, people aren’t just out training, they are competitive and it was a bit of a shock to the system. I took a step back and knew I needed to up my game and start focussing on where I can improve. “I was so chuffed winning on Sunday, but every time I go out there, you learn so much from the other riders and when you make a mistake, you try to be better for the next time.” Alongside Sharrock, Hoskin and Myers, Barrett shared her gratitude for her family, as well as the Clotworthys and apprentice mentor Kim Clapperton. “I have to thank my family for being so supportive of me and helping me get set up down in New Plymouth while they are in Auckland,” she said. “Shaun and Emma Clotworthy have also been hugely supportive, they helped me get in touch with Allan and I’ve stayed in close contact with them, they are always there if I need a place to stay or need help with anything. “One of my biggest thanks has to go to my apprentice mentor, Kim Clapperton. I cannot thank her enough, she’s an amazing woman and does so much for us. She is tough enough to push us to be our best, but also when you’ve had a hard time, she’s there to support you any time of the day.” View the full article -
By Wandering Eyes · Posted
The well-related Life Of Riley (NZ) (Turn Me Loose) is forward enough for a bold bid at a deserved victory when she returns to action at Rotorua. The daughter of Turn Me Loose has required patient handling and will attempt to break her maiden at her third appearance when she runs in Wednesday’s Entain/NZB Insurance Pearl Series Race (1400m). The five-year-old is a half-sister to winning stablemate Powerofpersuasion (NZ) (Ten Sovereigns), who claim four-time Group One winner Riverina Charm as their third dam, with the pair raced by breeder Sir Peter Vela. “It’s a nice race for her to kick off in, she had a quiet jump-out and we think she’s ready enough to go fresh-up over 1400m,” said Steven Ramsay, who trains in partnership with Julia Ritchie. Life Of Riley has placed in both of her runs, including a debut second behind subsequent winner Cashla Bay, at Matamata in the autumn before a break. “She’s just taken a bit of time to mature and will be a better horse on a bit better track, but with a couple of drying days it might come back a touch,” Ramsay said. Meanwhile, the team’s top-rated performer Island Life (NZ) (Vadamos) has begun her build-up toward her four-year-old campaign. “She’s back in work and is a couple of weeks off a trial,” Ramsay said. Island Life made impressive progress last season and finished second in the Gr.3 Wellington Stakes (1600m) behind Tuxedo off the back of a maiden victory at her third outing. She then ran third in the Gr.2 Sir Patrick Hogan Stakes (2000m) and triumphed in the Gr.3 Sunline Vase (2100m) before a spell after an unplaced effort in the Gr.1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m). “She did a really good job, we were very happy that she got that valuable black-type win, which is what we always strive for,” Ramsay said. “In hindsight, the Oaks was just one step too far, but we had to have a go.” Ramsay said Island Life had thrived during her time in the paddock. “She has had a good break and has definitely strengthened up and looks very well,” he said. “It can be difficult to place a four-year-old mare, so we’ll trial her and see how she comes up. We’ll pick our way along, but nothing has been set in stone.” By Vadamos, Island Life is out of the unraced Montjeu mare Lycia who is a half-sister to the Gr.1 Rosehill Guineas (2000m) winner De Beers (NZ) (Quest For Fame) and to the dam of last season’s Gr.1 Australian Guineas (1600m) winner Feroce (NZ) (Super Seth). View the full article -
By Wandering Eyes · Posted
Corrina McDougal is still getting her voice back after cheering home Suliman (NZ) (Redwood) to win last Saturday’s Grand National Hurdles (4200m), but it is straight back to business this week for the Hastings horsewoman. McDougal was watching from home as Suliman toughed out a gruelling edition of the National, her second victory in the Riccarton feature after she and co-trainer Paul Nelson took out the 2021 edition with The Cossack. “I don’t have a cold at the moment, I’ve just lost my voice from screaming at the TV,” she said. “It was pretty exciting and I haven’t seen such a big smile on Paul’s face in a long time. “Hamish (McNeill, jockey) had been talking about doing a rain dance during the week, and on Saturday morning, he rang me and said ‘do you hear that Corrina, it’s raining!’. He had a fair bit of faith in the horse, so it was very cool to get that result. He gave him the perfect ride, as he did at Wellington when he rode him there. “He (Suliman) bled down there two years ago, so to go out and win this year, it was really neat and satisfying.” The win came at the perfect time for the stable, after their Sydenham Hurdles (3100m) winner and pre-post National favourite Dictation (NZ) (Tavistock) was scratched on Wednesday afternoon. “To be quite honest, that was really gutting,” McDougal said. “He had a bit of an injury pop up earlier in the season, but had come through that, so to go down, win very well (in the Sydenham) and have a different injury come up was tough.” She was also very proud of the efforts of Nedwin (NZ) (Niagara), a relatively inexperienced steeplechaser who stepped up to finish third in the Grand National Steeplechase (5600m) behind Captains Run and Jesko. “Nedwin was really good, especially looking forward,” she said. “He would’ve taken a lot of learning out of that, mileage-wise and the experience would’ve done him the world of good. “I feel that he’s still jumping a little big, I’d love to see him come down a bit lower and be more economical, but that’ll come and he gutsed it out really well on Saturday. “He’ll only improve from here, and next year, I think we’ll see quite a nice chaser.” The trio, alongside stablemate Skaw Valley (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle), are still in the South Island, with inclement weather halting their ferry crossing over the last couple of days. “The ferry was delayed again, and at the moment, they’ll head over at 2pm (Tuesday),” McDougal said. “Hopefully that will happen, but it’s still sounding a little sketchy. “They’ve found a paddock in Blenheim, so they’ll have a bit of time out and some grass which is quite nice.” With the Grand National features run and won, the jumping fraternity turn their attention towards the newly instated Great New Zealand Jumps Carnival, run at Te Aroha in mid-September. The stable opted to bypass Christchurch with The Cossack (NZ) (Mastercraftsman) this year, and off the back of a fourth-placed effort in the Wellington Steeplechase (4900m), McDougal has dialled up his trackwork ahead of a tilt at the Pakuranga Hunt Cup (4200m) on August 31. “He’s been ticking over at home, he’s had a couple of nice gallops recently,” she said. “I might’ve been a bit soft on him in trackwork this time in, I probably got a bit tripped up because we’re used to him doing things so easily. “We had a different preparation with him having been on a treadmill, so he might’ve been a bit underdone. We’ve got a bit more fitness into him now and he’s galloping well.” The 12-year-old will step out on the flat on Wednesday at Rotorua, where Ellie Callwood will provide three kilograms of weight relief in the Seeka Growing Futures HWT (2200m). “His flat race at Wanganui (in May) was quite nice, he ran home well there, but he was a bit detached early,” she said. “I’d like to see him put himself amongst the field a bit more and continue to finish it off.” Joining The Cossack in the highweight event will be Taika (NZ) (Mettre En Jeu), a Great Northern Hurdle (4200m) placegetter searching for his best form after recent efforts. “He’s been a bit of a headscratcher in his last couple of runs, but we’ve had Tommy Behrns (equine chiropractor) looking at him and he had been quite sore,” McDougal said. “Hopefully that will help. “He seems to be quite smart, he thinks he’s pretty clever, so I hope that’s a good sign. “We’re looking at the Pakuranga Hurdle and the Great New Zealand Hurdle for him.” View the full article -
So the Harness racing Landscape/Breeding is declining in All areas (numbers ) as you say. But why Blame HRNZ ?? is what Chiefs is saying old mate. The Sport is in DEMISE as you say . with age I think mainly like all of us. The youngsters around aren't interested. Not their (HRNZ) fault. They're working Hard, hand in hand with Entain , to bring as Much Money and as Many races , and incentives to those that are still going, as they can . Professionals doing there job. A problem is they're doing such a GREAT job that the Aussies are turning up the last 3 years and Mugging All the riches. that doesn't help much 🙄. Never- the- less. NZ did win the New Velocity showday still , so there's some hope yet !!! 👍🎉 It's because of the state of the Economy , and the state of the General public Outlook on racing . All sorts of things like that . The New Zealand Participants are VERY OLD . including us fans of the Sport like you, me and Chief and Brodster and that . Why are you surprised it's dropping away ??? Not HRNZ fault. you guys just using them as a Scapegoat All the Time . Unhinged Nigel had horses and owners racing (and winning) in both Islands . It's ONLY Folk like him , and Shannon and Stockman and Garrard, that are keeping you afloat Mr Titantic. (BTW, you HAVE to support 2 year old racing this late into the year (season) whether you like it or Not. ) Sires Stakes Final is in November. not that far away now.
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