Chief Stipe

He told a story when commentating. I don't know how he managed to say so much so often and at the right time in a race. In those days we listened on radio as only the big races were televised. You could listen to Jack and feel like you were there. "Grand sight in sunshine..." "Jack Smolenski gives the dust sheet a tap or two and his charge is out by a length at the moment..." Every race was somehow different as in he didn't often repeat himself like some commentators do - Tony Lee and his last little bit, they're chasing a memory etc. Reon Murtha was good too but not as colourful as Jack.

The first and best commentator I heard on the circuit was Jack O'Donell from Greymouth. I memorised some of his race calls of my Dad's horses winning. I remember big fields in those days 18 or more horses going round. Real tactical events and an impressive sight. Especially a staying event where they turned for home up that uphill straight at Richmond. "...they're a great sight in sunshine as they make there way around the showground bend. Jack Smolenski immediately gives the dust sheet a tap or two and his charge is out by a couple of lengths, Canny Glen is the big danger, Tilford starting to make a run from the back...they straighten up and set sail for home Canny Glen is put under pressure, Tilford still making his run.....and here's High Chaparall making a big run down the outside, High Chaparall, there's a furlong to go and High Chaparral has swooped to the lead...High Chaparral bolts in - this will be a boilover!" Dad and Joe Hill once again pocketed great wads of $20 notes!

Why would I go "hunting" for those posts when there is @Newmarket , @JJ Flash , @Huey and @Comic Dog doing it for me?

That's a bit rich coming from someone who starts a Topic with the intention of bagging a horse that has just picked up a couple of Group 3 placings in OZ. I'm not arrogant enough to tell Mark Walker one of NZ's most successful trainers that he should race his horse for $46k at Kangaroo Island. Instead the Grp 3 OZ placing has added more residual value. I then stick my neck out giving an opinion on what I think that residual value currently is knowing full well that I will be on the end of trolling and derision. I then post a brief rationale of how I determined that figure. No one else as done that one way or another just like I provided an opinion backed by analysis on her performances. One troll from another site @Comic Dog read my residual value comment and supposedly rang a couple of bloodstock valuers to try and score points. Probably because they are not as knowledgeable as they make out to be or too lazy to do some research. Mind you the same types think Jamie Richards is doing really well in Hong Kong when the statistics show otherwise. 4 seasons to get 100 winners and has always been in the bottom half of the trainers premiership. If you want to be in a misogynist echo chamber where only those that agree with each other are allowed to comment or where the site owner bans you for posting the very type of post you just did then go for it.

I haven't EVER said I was NEVER wrong. That's not to say I'll never back up my statements with rational logical argument. Still waiting for @Newmarket and @JJ Flash to post something that does.

So thats good you don't beat yourself up!

Before you bagged them.

That Murchison track didn't last long. But I remember taking horses from Richmond to there. My memory was the track was surrounded by native bush.

I see the beached cannine @Comic Dog the self judged more learned and knowledgeable online commentators have needed to go talk to a horse valuer to challenge my assessment that Damask Rose is probably worth around $1.5m+ (NZD!) as a broodmare at this stage of her career. Valuing any bloodstock is a subjective exercise and only an auction gives the true market value. But having followed the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale for a number of years I would say my analysis was close to the mark. You only have to look through the sales results to see broodmares sold around the AUD$1.3m mark that have done far less on the racecourse to say that contrary to one persons view if Damask Rose sold for AUD$500k you would be quite disappointed. Some people should really graduate from reading comics and watching cartoons! https://catalogue.magicmillions.com.au/sale/25GWM

Isn't that how any form analysis or ratings are calculated? Isn't racing all about winning and who you beat? Then compared to who they are up against next? I'm sure the irony of what you are saying doesn't escape you when the whole basis of your critique is who DR has raced against and been beaten by!

No horse in a race has no chance.

The other thing I would point out and not wishing to be a smart arse but it is published knowledge that after the KiwiB Damask Rose underwent fetlock chip surgery. So her lead up to OZ racing wasn't that straightforward. In her 2 and 3 yr old seasons she wasn't too far behind the likes of Velocious, Alabama Lass and Captured by Love.

But what have you "seen"? At least @hesi you have given some justification for your opinion. In terms of "improving" being nebulous perhaps I should have said if she gets back to the level she has shown in the past then she will be competitive in races better than Grp 3 in OZ. She is currently rated at 103 which is just a few points below the elite level. When she first raced in OZ her rating was 104. Her first campaign lost her a point. There have been any number of horses that have won a Grp 1 with a lower rating at this stage in her career. Then you rate Evaporate as only a Grp 3 horse?

I don't disagree that she will have to improve. BUT sometimes these fields drop away really quickly. Personally I think they are aiming for something else. Both you and @Newmarket being supreme form analysts will have worked out by now the patterns available to her and the path towards them. Although @Newmarket says she isn't even up to OZ Grp 3 which she obviously is and would send her to Kanagaroo Island or prep her for the Kumara Gold Nuggets.

In your opinion. We don't know yet. There are a number variables that you sitting at home have no idea about nor do I nor does @hesi . Certainly she is up to Grp 3 level as proven in her last two starts. The best you can offer is starting in an R85 at Kangaroo Island. I must remember not to send a horse to any stable you rate.