Chief Stipe

Will be interesting to see what the last 600m sectional was. The time would hold up well in OZ.

So you agree on pace and on the inside or as Innes said up and in.

Sharp ‘N’ Smart takes Waikato Cup in thrilling finish Kevin Robertson, LOVERACING.NZ News Desk 13 December 2025 Former Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) winner Sharp ‘N’ Smart returned to the scene of that 2023 triumph to take out the Gr.3 SkyCity Hamilton Waikato Cup (2400m) in a thrilling three-way finish to the Te Rapa staying feature. A triple Group One winner as a three-year-old, the Team Rogerson-prepared son of Redwood hadn’t been seen in the winners’ enclosure since his Derby triumph as the now six-year-old took on the best Australasia had to offer on both sides of the Tasman while also suffering through some injury and illness issues. A return to form in his current campaign was evident with placings in two of his three most recent starts including finishing third in the Gr.1 Livamol Classic (2040m) before being less than a length from winner Final Return when finishing fourth in the Gr.3 Counties Cup (2100m). While punters respected his chances on Saturday the 59kg topweight did put a few people off, but it didn’t bother Sharp ‘N’ Smart who settled one off the fence behind pacemaker Sagunto and travelled easily throughout for rider George Rooke. Rooke began to get busy approaching the home bend as The Odyssey swept into contention and the pair went to war shortly after turning for home. Just as it looked to be a two-horse war, race favourite Gigi joined in at the 150m and the trio slugged it out to the finish with Sharp ‘N’ Smart putting his head down to edge Gigi with The Odyssey just a head away in third. Co-trainer Debbie Rogerson cut an emotional figure as she waited for her charge to return to the birdcage. “I’m so proud of this horse and the team behind this horse as it has been a great journey,” Rogerson said. “I set him for this race in my home town as we just wanted to win it. “It was a good run and he was tough, a credit to the horse. “Everyone has been knocking the horse but they don’t know what has been wrong with him. He had an horrific bacterial virus and it took him twelve months to get over it. “We gave him a good spell and we knew this time in he was getting back to his best, so it might be back to the Melbourne Cup next year. “We might look at the Queen Eliabeth (Gr.3, 2400m) next and then the Auckland Cup (Gr.2, 3200m).” Rooke was also thrilled with how well his mount fought right to the line. “I knew we had to be more positive today and it has taken me three or four times to get it right with him,” he said. “He just hit that flat spot about half a mile out and I thought I’d rather commit too soon than not soon enough and he has just out-battled them to be honest. “When The Odyssey came alongside I was a bit worried but when I fought him off I thought it was going to take a good one to get past him. “Then I saw Gigi and thought oh no, but he stuck his head down and got it done.” Bred by Gerry Harvey, Sharp ‘N’ Smart is out of a half-sister to Absalon, who won five races including two Listed victories in Brisbane. He was a $55,000 purchase from Westbury Stud’s draft in Book 2 at Karaka 2021, then was passed in for $90,000 at the Ready to Run Sale later that year. He has now won in excess of $3.44 million in prizemoney from his seven career victories.

Before or after you stopping snapshotting whip strikes? BTW will you be writing to Racing Victoria about Willo's effort on Private Eye? Seems you may need to instruct him on flanks, ribs and rumps.

Yeah well Francome was a bit of a softie wasn't he. He wouldn't get away with not riding after he drew level with Peter Scudamore who was out with a broken leg so they could share the title. Racing Integrity would be down on him like a ton of bricks. Although ENTAIN would probably pay out on both.

Cannon Hill was laying in and then came out abruptly as the horse inside it move out. Then a couple of seconds later Cannon Hill ran out again as another ran in.

Yep he dug really deep when they came at him. Great to see him back in that form. I liked the way Rooke put him into the race early and put the pressure on those behind. Won him the race. Bit of a fast lane on the inside too.

CAPTURED BY LOVE (O Bosson) – Lay in near the 300 metres becoming awkwardly placed on the heels of CANNON HILL having to shift outwards. Uh?

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1ABKHvrpgQ/

Well stick that up all the doubters on the other channels!!! The number of armchair trainers that wrote him off even though the issues were well known. Brilliant win!! Class is permanent!!

You didn't look at the second metric - yes equal on wins but 10 less runners as of 9 December 2025.

Zero evidence for that accusation.

Not if that turnover contributes to negative revenue.

Does it matter? If turnover is UP then that is a positive and should be celebrated.

No that isn't how probability works.

However the forecast models are significantly more accurate than they were 40 years ago. Their accuracy increases the closer you get to the day or hour. My partner uses the YR weather forecasting model and often I get told that YR says it will be such and such on a specific race day in two months time. I invariably laugh and no matter how hard I try to explain that we have a maritime and very variable weather pattern I cannot move her. As I say to her two weeks out most weather forecasts reach 70% probability or higher. A week out and they are getting close to 90%. If you are deciding what to wear I suggest she waits until the last 48 hours. If she wants to choose earlier I suggest that she at least waits until two weeks out and if there are bargains before then buy a hot and a cold one.

An opinion is subjective. A quantifiable prediction based on data past and present with an estimate of probability is different. If I say that based on the data I have I predict in will rain within one hour and that prediction has a 90% chance of happening. Then I can measure the outcome against that prediction. I'm saying that 9 times out of 10 I'll be right. But if I say Gammalite will win the first at Addington but offer no data supporting my selection and probability of it happening then it's just a hunch i.e. a subjective opinion.

Damn so @Huey 's posts could still be counted!!

Yes and no - the intial algorithms to start AI - machine learning are designed by humans. However the computational power is being used by machines to rewrite those algorithms. No - if AI says there is a 90% chance that it will rain within an hour that isn't opinion it is a prediction based on past observations and recorded data i.e. facts. The worst thing about AI at the moment is that it is much of what is produced doesn't come with its own measure of accuracy and variance. So

Only if that data was consistently and accurately collected. Many punters do it programmatically. The advantage to them of AI is machine learning and the ability of higher performance computers to tweak the punters algorithm. I'm disappointed @hesi that someone of your science background would fall for observational bias. The fact your algorithm didn't pick it up in the first place would suggest that you have subjectively chosen a factor to justify the result. AI would probably work best when ALL data was available but in racing the data/information available is imperfect.

How does AI differentiate between fact and opinion?

80% accuracy means what exactly?

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