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You would haven ridden quite a few winners in your time Bill, from memory you did a few stints in the lucky country as well.

Hopefully the forecast improves, they've got quite a few wrong lately,  mate over the coast said they were on a rain watch, hardly got a drop.

I recon that one mid week winter meeting that not more that 20 people would have been in the public outside area,  drifting in and out as the day went on..  personally, I don't actually mind! small fields! way easier to find a winner!  small crowds!  ya!   for the  photographer! Wingatui is one of the worse on a bright sunny day! as the sun is shining straight into the camera lens! so with a modern camera!  a gray day is acceptable!   

Bidding to equal Silent Witness’ long-standing record for the most consecutive wins by a Hong Kong, China-trained horse, Ka Ying Rising (NZ) (Shamexpress) swept to an imperious barrier trial victory at Sha Tin this morning (Thursday, 15 January) ahead of his tilt at history on 25 January. Preparing to chase a 17th straight victory when he contests the HK$13 million G1 Centenary Sprint Cup (1200m) at Sha Tin next week, Ka Ying Rising cruised over 1200m on Sha Tin’s dirt course under Zac Purton, clocking 1m 10.36s, and beating stablemate Romantic Son by three-and-three-quarter lengths with Galax Patch third, while Helios Express was a sedate sixth. The six-time Group 1 winner pleased trainer David Hayes as he vies to match the towering winning streak of Silent Witness, who was unbeaten in 17 starts from December, 2002 to April, 2005, when he was toppled by Tony Cruz stablemate Bullish Luck in the Champions Mile (1600m) by a short head. “Ka Ying Rising was very good. That was probably the fastest I’ve seen him jump out of the gates,” Hayes said. “His gate speed was incredible and then he was happy to just cruise along and won as you would expect. “Zac said he had a healthy blow afterwards and that’s why he trials because he needs a tune-up before his race. He’ll have a bit of striding work next week and next Wednesday (21 January) he’ll do a bit of work and then he’ll be ready to go. “He’s giving the impression he’s not going backwards. It’s hard to say he’s better than the performances he’s been giving recently but he looks like he’s right on song for the 25th (of January).” Since losing twice by narrow margins to Wunderbar as a three-year-old, Ka Ying Rising has soared to dizzying heights in 16 subsequent starts since February, 2024 – annexing six Group 1s, including the world’s richest sprint race, the G1 The Everest (1200m), twice breaking Sha Tin’s 1200m record and rising from 69 in the ratings to 138 as Hong Kong’s highest-rated horse. Acclaimed as Hong Kong’s Horse of the Year for his unbeaten eight-win 2024/25 season, Ka Ying Rising returns to competition next week for the first time since surging to victory in the G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint (1200m) on 14 December. If successful in the three-race Hong Kong Speed Series’ opening leg, the Centenary Sprint Cup, Ka Ying Rising would then have the chance to take outright ownership of the record for the most successive wins by a Hong Kong, China-trained horse in the HK$13 million G1 Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup (1400m). View the full article

Stakes targets are in the offing for in-form gelding Brave Spirit (NZ) (Swiss Ace) if he continues his purple patch of form in Saturday’s Hope & Sons/Adam’s Plumbing Open 1400 at Wingatui. The consistent six-year-old was runner-up first-up in his stable debut for trainer Jospeh Waldron at Riccarton in October before going one better at the Christchurch track a month later. He then stepped up to Open company for the first time at Wingatui on Boxing Day where he was victorious in his 1200m contest. Waldron has been pleased with the gelding’s progression since that run and is confident of a similar showing at his home track this weekend where he will jump from barrier three with apprentice jockey Triston Moodley in the saddle. “He should get a perfect run from that draw,” Waldron said. “Triston knows him well after his last run, so there won’t be many instructions, he knows how to get the job done. “He has been in great form since his last start, so there is no reason why he can’t win again. “It was great to see him take that step up and win in Open company, it shows he is well and truly up to that level. “He has got a better record at 1400m than he does at 1200m, so I am really looking forward to seeing him at that trip.” While contemplating sending Brave Spirit to the paddock for a spell, Waldron said he may be tempted to contest next month’s Listed Property Brokers – Ray Kean Hazlett Stakes (1400m) if he performs up to expectations this weekend. “He is up in the ratings now so if he did happen to win, or be competitive, and comes through the run well, he could possibly go to the Hazlett,” he said. “At the same time, he has done a good job for us this time around so we could put him away and wait again. We will take it one run at a time and be grateful that he has already done what he has done.” Waldron is also looking forward to stablemate Mawkeb making her New Zealand debut in the Cargill Contracting And Wae 65 1200. The daughter of Deep Field came into his care while he was in Australia and following a good spell she will make her first appearance for the stable this weekend. “She is a long time between runs,” Waldron said. “We got her just before we left Australia. She has a fair bit of wear and tear, so she needed a good break, which we gave her, and she has had a slow, easy build-up and is doing everything right. “She is a very good wet-tracker, so any kind of rain that we get between now and the weekend will be of real benefit for her. “She is more of a 1400m to a miler type horse, so as long as she is hitting the line it will be a pass mark. She is going in without a jump-out and almost 12 months between runs, so she will well and truly improve from the run. “She is classy and she looks well placed back in 65 grade, but there are certainly no expectations.” Waldron will also be represented by Group Three performer Let Fly (NZ) (Raise The Flag) in the Skevingtons Waikouaiti Cup (2200m). “She was okay in a very oddly run race last time,” Waldron said. “It looks like we should get a better run from the good draw (2). “Up in open company is not really ideal and Mayor Of Norwood (NZ) (Ghibellines) is a good horse, so he will be hard to beat, even with the weight (61kg). It is a pretty even bunch around him so we are looking forward to hopefully seeing a bit more from her this time.” View the full article

Stephen Marsh will be chasing a third victory in Saturday’s Gr.2 Thorndon Mile (1600m) at Trentham and is confident he has the firepower on reasonable ground to go close. The Cambridge trainer’s hopes of retaining the Harcourts-sponsored crown rest with Queen Zou (Zoustar) after reclaiming the title last year with Provence (NZ) (Savabeel) following the stable’s 2017 win with Thee Auld Floozie (NZ) (Mastercraftsman). Queen Zou earned top honours on New Year’s Day in the Gr.2 Rich Hill Mile (1600m) at Ellerslie with 53kg and the Zoustar mare will carry the same weight again with Matt Cartwright retaining the mount. However, a continuation of her form will likely rest with a factor outside of Marsh’s control. “It’s a very even sort of field and if she got the right track conditions then I think she will race extremely well,” Marsh said. “I just hope the weather bomb doesn’t hit, she’s got a little bit of form on rain-affected ground. “She goes into the race very well off the back of a Group Two win and has gone forward since then. She’s had a good solid prep and might deserve a light let-up after this.” Stablemate In Your Dreams (NZ) (Per Incanto) was an encouraging debut third at Rotorua and will face a steep rise in class in the Gr.3 NZB Desert Gold Stakes (1600m). “I really rate her and think she’s a filly going places, she’s in against some nice horses but she’s well above average and the big mile at Trentham, if it’s a good track, will suit her,” Marsh said. Miss Fladgate (Russian Revolution) will take on a small line-up in the Gee & Hickton Funeral Directors Sprint (1100m) and is expected to give another strong account of herself. “She’s a mare in good form and I reckon the straight will suit her,” he said. The Russian Revolution mare has made progress this preparation with a brace of wins and a last-start third at Ellerslie on Boxing Day from her last four appearances to back her claims. At Pukekohe Park on Sunday, Marsh has tipped a turnaround from Roctave (NZ) (Roc de Cambes) in the trackside,co.nz (2200m). He was an impressive winner at Te Rapa two runs back before an unplaced effort at Ellerslie. “I think Roctave can bounce back to form, he went a bit hard last time out and nothing went right for him,” he said. Meanwhile, smart debut winner Lunaman’s (NZ) performance in the Myracehorse 3YO (1600m) will give the stable a pointer toward his immediate future. “He’s eligible for The (NZB) Kiwi ($4 million, 1500m) and he’s in the Derby (Gr.1, 2400m) so this race will tell a bit of a story as to where we head with him,” Marsh said. He returned home earlier this week from the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale where on Monday he purchased a Stay Inside filly, signing the ticket at A$200,000 with Dylan Johnson Bloodstock. “She’s by a Golden Slipper winner out of a stakes-winning More Than Ready mare so she’s got very good credentials, we only looked at fillies and those with a bit of pedigree and speed,” Marsh said. The youngster also boasts the presence of Gr.1 Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) winner True Jewels on her pedigree page. View the full article

A nail may have scuppered her early summer targets, but Taranaki mare Hi Yo Sass Bomb (NZ) (Complacent) is back on track and thriving ahead of her resuming run in Saturday’s Gr.2 Harcourts Thorndon Mile (1600m) at Trentham. The seven-year-old daughter of Complacent was in red-hot form over spring, winning the Gr.3 Grangewilliam Stud Breeders’ Stakes (1400m) and Gr.3 Thompson Handicap (1600m) in October. Trainer and part-owner Kim Reid then set her sights towards elite-level targets, eyeing the Gr.1 Mufhasa Classic (1600m) at Trentham last month, but a stray nail thwarted those plans. “She had a nail go into her foot the week prior to the Mufhasa, so that put us on the backburner for a little bit,” Reid said. “She had a couple of weeks out with that, so it was a bit of a rollercoaster ride.” Hi Yo Sass Bomb has made pleasing progress and impressed in an exhibition gallop at her home track of New Plymouth a couple of weeks ago, giving Reid the confidence to press on towards the Thorndon Mile. “We had a gallop between races at New Plymouth a few weeks ago. Chris (Dell) rode her there and was really happy with how she went,” she said. Reid gave her mare a strong hit-out at home on Sunday and feared she may have overtaxed her less than a week out from her resuming run, but she said Hi Yo Sass Bomb has bounced through the run and is thriving ahead of Saturday. “We travelled down to Wanganui to gallop between races on Saturday, but we thought the track was a bit firm and we didn’t want to risk it,” Reid said. “We galloped at New Plymouth on Sunday and I thought I might have flattened her, it was a pretty hard gallop, but she has been bouncing around this week, so I think she is right there.” Reid is aware of the task ahead of her this weekend, but she has faith her mare is up to the challenge, and TAB bookmakers agree, installing her a $7 third favourite behind Group One winner Legarto (NZ) (Proisir) ($3) and last-start Gr.2 Rich Hill Mile (1600m) winner Queen Zou (Zoustar) ($5.50). “I feel like she is flying,” Reid said. “I know it is a big ask heading straight back into a big one after such a big spell out, but she is pretty tough. I am expecting a nice run on Saturday.” Reid has circled next month’s Gr.1 Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m) at Te Rapa as Hi Yo Sass Bomb’s next major target and felt the Thorndon Mile was the perfect lead-in race, with her mare set to carry just 53kg. “We are heading to the Herbie Dyke (Gr.1, 2000m) as our next target, so we were looking for a race to get there,” she said. “We could go out in an open handicap carrying top weight, but 53kg is quite nice.” View the full article

Well at least there will one patron there.😁

At least there was/is the delusion that you have the next Derby winner!!      I'm sure most of them are tied up in  vanity projects, aided by generous tax options, for some..