Covid-19 Yarn

Back to five and six horse fields this week. 💩💩💩💩💩💩💩💩💩💩💩💩💩💩

New Zealand racing is taking a major leap forward with the rollout of a new 4G real-time GPS-RTK (real-time kinematic positioning) timing and tracking system that is transforming how races are run, viewed, and enjoyed for Kiwi racing fans. In a partnership between Entain Australia and New Zealand (the operators of TAB, betcha and Trackside), the regulatory body TAB New Zealand, and technology provider tripleSdata, the next-generation 4G GPS-RTK system is being implemented across 30 racecourses nationwide, covering more than 90 percent of all race meetings across both thoroughbred and harness codes. While GPS technology is used in some international jurisdictions, it is typically limited to two or three key venues. Extending the technology across a large number of New Zealand tracks represents a major commitment to innovation, data quality, and fan engagement. The new system allows racing fans and Trackside viewers to see their horse’s exact position and speed in real time, with live race maps and on-screen graphics displayed on Trackside TV and TAB digital platforms. Trackside viewers enjoyed the enhanced graphics across Ellerslie, Kaikoura, Riccarton and Addington over recent weeks, meaning four of the 30 tracks are now operational with the enhanced technology, and more are coming online in the coming weeks. In addition to transforming live race coverage, the new GPS-RTK system will deliver comprehensive post-race sectional and timing data, offering racing lovers unprecedented insight into race performance. From precise speed and positioning information to detailed sectional breakdowns, punters and fans alike will be able to see exactly how each race unfolded and how every runner performed throughout. This advanced data will soon be available via trackside.co.nz, providing a powerful new tool for form analysis and enhancing the overall racing experience. TAB New Zealand CEO Nick Roberts said the technology brings world-class data and insight to the local industry. “It gives punters more confidence, trainers and owners more insight, and fans a completely new way to experience the thrill of racing,” Roberts said. “This is another example of the investment that can occur in the New Zealand racing industry through strong partnerships.” Entain’s Chief Media Officer Christopher Haigh said rolling out GPS technology on this scale is a significant technical achievement. “Real-time tracking and advanced data analytics are key parts of modernising New Zealand racing and taking the viewing experience to the next level for racing lovers,” Haigh said. “They can analyse races more deeply, understanding which horses are finishing strongly, how pace shapes affect results, and how runners perform under pressure. It takes form analysis in New Zealand to a new level.” tripleSdata CEO and Co-Founder Carlos Santo said tripleSdata is genuinely excited to partner with forward-thinking leaders across the racing industry who share its vision for innovation and the future of race intelligence. “This rollout represents a major technical undertaking, requiring extensive planning and robust infrastructure to deliver consistent performance across every venue. The outcome is a powerful, high-performance network providing true real-time accuracy — a breakthrough for racing and the first deployment of its kind at this scale.” View the full article

Tavi Time (NZ) (Tavistock) will be chasing his third feature race win in 12 months when he lines up in the Gong. Kris Lees will decide in the next 24 hours how many runners he will saddle up in the $1 million the Gong, but Tavi Time will be a definite starter despite a wide draw. The consistent performer has barrier 16 and stablemate Loch Eagle (Lonhro) 18, the latter having also been nominated for the Mooloolaba Cup (1600m) at the Sunshine Coast this weekend. Lees will assess both races before making a call on Loch Eagle but says Tavi Time heads to the Group 3 Gong (1600m) a live chance, provided he gets luck from the gate. “Awkward gates, but there is a forecast for a bit of rain, so you never know with Kembla,” Lees said. “It has always been the plan, the Big Dance into this race with Tavi Time. “He has come on well, and he didn’t have a great deal of luck in the Big Dance.” Tavi Time didn’t make the cut for the Gong last year, instead finishing third in the 1600m consolation, but he finds himself securely in the feature race field on Saturday having collected the Summer and Scone Cups in the past 12 months. He hasn’t been beaten far in any of his three campaign runs, including last time out in the Big Dance (1600m) when just over three lengths from Gong rival Gringotts (NZ) (Per Incanto) after enduring a chequered passage in the straight. Lees says a genuinely run race and an uninterrupted passage are key to Tavi’s Time chances at Kembla Grange. “I’d suggest tempo and a nice, smooth run,” he said. “Big fields, that doesn’t always happen, but if he can get the right set-up, he is always effective.” Lord Of Biscay (Lope de Vega) was also a Gong nomination but didn’t secure a berth and like Tavi Time last year, he will go around in the benchmark 88 consolation. He finished just ahead of his stablemate in the Big Dance and from barrier five, Lees anticipated a bold showing at Kembla. “He didn’t make the field for the Gong, but that race looks a nice option for him,” Lees said. “He’s got a nice gate, and he has been knocking on the door for a win.” View the full article

Surprise weight-for-age packet Aftermath (NZ) (Rock ‘n’ Pop) will be more in his comfort zone at Pukekohe Park this weekend. The Shaun and Emma Clotworthy-trained six-year-old will step out in Saturday’s Gr.3 Myracehorse Counties Cup (2100m) after coping admirably with a major rise in class in his two lead-up performances. The son of Rock ‘N’ Pop finished in behind the major players at Ellerslie in both the Gr.1 Livamol Classic (2040m) and the Gr.3 Balmerino Stakes (2000m). “At weight-for-age, he surprised me with those couple of fourths and back in a handicap he’s definitely a better chance,” Shaun Clotworthy said. “His owner Terry Lines likes to have some of his horses racing on the bigger days if he can, and it just worked out that he was ready for 2000m and there weren’t many other options. “He’d had a different preparation with races called off and the timing was right for him to get up to that distance, and he ran as well as you could expect.” Aftermath has trained on well since his Ellerslie exploits and is a previous course and distance winner. “He’s back on 53kg so he’s meeting some of those better performed horses much better off at the weights, so I think he’s a good chance and Joe Doyle stays with him,” Clotworthy said. “I’ve been thrilled with him, he’s taken a long time to mould into a racehorse and had all sorts of unusual habits. “He used to want to over-race and would get into trouble and was weak and not a great eater. He’s always showed quite a bit of ability, and he’s come solid this preparation.” The stable will also have a strong chance in the opening event on the card, the Stella Artois 1500 Championship Qualifier (1400m), with promising mare Sista Sugar (NZ) (Too Darn Hot). The four-year-old was a strong resuming second last time out at Ellerslie where she copped an interrupted run. “She was good fresh-up and has won over 1400m at Pukekohe, it’s great stake money and she’s drawn well (three) again so she should be pretty competitive,” Clotworthy said. “She’s not very big at all, but she’s got that will to win and is by a great sire in Too Darn Hot.” Sista Sugar will be ridden by Masa Hashizume, who will also partner Billy Blinx (NZ) (Shocking) from an awkward gate (18) in the Dunstan Feeds Stayers’ Championship Qualifier (1600m). “I would have liked a better draw, he’s been going well and is a promising horse. I like him and I think he will continue to develop,” Clotworthy said. View the full article

Having become the most improved galloper in the north this season, the Tony Pike-trained Agera (NZ) (Complacent) may be given his chance at racing’s elite level in the TAB Mufhasa Classic (1600m). The Trentham weight-for-age feature on December 6 has been penciled in by connections and any continuation of the wet weather may well confirm the mission. After winning just two of his 18 starts up to the end of last season, Agera has been a revelation over the past four months, beginning with a Cambridge Polytrack double in August. He followed that with an open 1600m win at Te Rapa in September, then his first stakes win in the Listed Matamata Cup (1600m) in October. Two weeks later he added the Feilding Cup (2050m) at Tauherenikau and hit a career-high in last Saturday’s Gr. 2 Tauranga Stakes (1530m). In a windfall that could not have been predicted at the start of the season, those six wins from eight starts have netted the Complacent six-year-old’s Hong Kong owners just under $260,000 to add to his previous $80,000 in earnings. “It’s quite incredible how much he’s improved this campaign, from being a handy horse to one that’s now stringing them together all the way up to weight-for-age,” Pike said. “His wins in the Matamata and Feilding Cups have put him at the top of the qualifying order for the Taupo Cup (2000m), which has a stake of $100,000 as well as the $50,000 Prezzy Card bonus, so that’s an obvious target in late December. “Looking at how to get him there, the TAB Mile at Trentham three weeks before would work well time-wise, so it’s a possibility but very much weather-dependent.” The pre-nominations market for the TAB Mile has La Crique, Legarto and Waitak equal $4.50 favourites, while Agera is on the fifth line of betting at $14. In the meantime, Pike’s focus this weekend will be on the Counties Cup meeting at Pukekohe Park, where he has five runners headed by recent Ellerslie two-year-old debut winner Harvey Wallbanger in the Listed Counties Challenge (1100m). “His trial win was really good and he was very good at Ellerslie the way he went about it, he was very professional,” Pike said of the son of former leading Australian two and three-year-old performer Home Affairs. “He’s shown natural improvement since, his work on Saturday morning was very good, and from the draw (4) I expect him to be hard to beat.” Pike’s day at Pukekohe starts in the Franklin Long Roofing 2100 with Maldini and High Country in the line-up. “It’s the consolation race for the Rating 75 stayers and both of ours are good chances,” Pike said. “Maldini was unlucky (when fourth at Ellerslie) last time and she’s due a winning turn. High Country is hitting form and third-up he should be ready to step up.” Last-start winner Thooza has a wide draw to contend with in the HR Fiskens & Sons 1400, which will be considered ahead of deciding on a start. “She’s a mare I like and she’s come back much stronger as a four-year-old,” Pike said. “The wide gate is a possible issue and track conditions will also decide whether she runs.” Pike’s team is rounded off by Pax Mundi in the Show By SkyCity 1600, in which she returns to the scene of her win in Rating 65 grade a fortnight ago. “She was very dominant winning at Counties last time and even though she’s stepping up to a reasonably strong Rating 75, that was second-up and she’s got more improvement in her,” Pike said. View the full article