Chief Stipe

What the article doesn't mention is that there were in fact TWO delays caused by two inquiries. There seems to be too many delays to starting an inquiry and also not enough enforcement of the rules. For example the notice to have an inquiry was done fairly quickly after the race. That could have been quicker but why interview om Trackside the Jockey amd Trainer before the inquiry? Not being able to interview them would have added to the theatre not detracted from it. Also depending on the inquiry result they may have been interviewing the wrong connections!! It was clearly evident when viewing the video that the protest would be dismissed. I believe even the opening remarks of the Chief Stipe said that. Also in the Derby inquiry which delayed the NZ KiwiB the third horse protest was late and the connections were late. At OZ Metro the process seems almost miltary in comparison.

NZB Kiwi delay could cost local industry close to $100,000 www.nzherald.co.nz Home / Sport / Racing NZB Kiwi delay could cost local industry close to $100k after it was not shown on Australia’s Sky Racing Racing Editor·NZ Herald· 10 Mar, 2026 05:00 AM4 mins to readhttps://bitofayarn.com Well Written just held out Belle Cheval in the NZB Kiwi at Ellerslie on Saturday. Photo / Kenton Wrighthttps://bitofayarn.com The NZB Kiwi may have been the race of the season in New Zealand but it turns out most Australian racing fans did not get to see it.https://bitofayarn.com And that has left some racing administrators suggesting a review process to prevent a repeat of an incident that may cost https://bitofayarn.com The start of the NZB Kiwi at Ellerslie on Saturday was delayed 10 minutes because of the two separate inquiries into the previous race, the Group 1 HKJC World Pool NZ Derby. Because of that delay, the NZB Kiwi was not shown on Sky Racing, by the far the biggest racing platform in Australia, because of that channel’s domestic racing obligations.https://bitofayarn.com https://bitofayarn.com Entain had worked hard to get the Champions Day meeting’s feature races from Ellerslie on Sky 1, the most popular of their racing channels and the one that drives the most casual punter turnover in Australia. Their insiders there say the race not being shown on either Sky 1 or 2 will cost the New Zealand industry enormously in the fees that would have been paid by Australian-based bookmakers. https://bitofayarn.com The New Zealand TAB coverage on Trackside and Sky Television here was not affected by the delay. Auckland Racing Club officials checked with their on-course TAB representative and say the new starting time was signed off on but they are obviously also disappointed to see New Zealand’s richest ever race not shown on the main Australian racing channel. Those spoken to by the Herald are suggesting a review of the process to ensure it doesn’t happen again. https://bitofayarn.com While the choice to show or not show the NZB Kiwi ultimately sits with Sky Australia, their first obligation is always going to be to their local content, albeit a $4 million race with the Kiwi’s interest is a pretty big race to skip. https://bitofayarn.com But you wouldn’t want to be the director in a Sky control room answering the phone call that would inevitably have come if they had bumped a local race to their lesser-watched Sky 2 for a New Zealand race.https://bitofayarn.com https://bitofayarn.com Australian thoroughbred officials wouldn’t have taken too kindly to that. HIGH PRAISE FOR KIWI DAYhttps://bitofayarn.com The lost NZB Kiwi turnover was just about the only cloud on a remarkable day for the industry, with one of the most-travelled and respected owners in world racing paying it a huge compliment. “That was a really brilliant day,” said OTI racing founder Terry Henderson, who tasted Auckland Cup success later with Paradise Storm. “When Legarto hit the lead in the Bonecrusher Stakes, that is as loud a noise as I have heard on a racetrack just about anywhere in the world.” Henderson completed a remarkable personal achievement with the Auckland Cup win as he, predominantly with his syndication company OTI, has now owned the winner of every major 3200m cup in Australasia.https://bitofayarn.com That includes the Holy Grail of racing the Melbourne Cup, the Sydney Cup, Brisbane Cup and Adelaide Cup. Henderson and OTI have also syndicated the winners of all the major derbies in Australia, as well as the New Zealand Derby with Vin De Dance in 2018. OTI recently set up a New Zealand arm to their business and intend to race more horses here. https://bitofayarn.com AUTUMN TO CHASE AUSSIE GLORY Derby runner-up Autumn Glory is off to Australia to join the Mick Price and Michael Kent junior stable. https://bitofayarn.com The filly has had a mammoth past month, winning the Waikato Guineas and finishing second to stablemate Road To Paris in the Derby and to Ohope Wins in the New Zealand Oaks. Being owned by Yulong, she was always likely to head to Australia to chase a Group 1 there and has three Oaks options there in Sydney, Adelaide and Brisbane. With her ownershipmate Ohope Wins being aimed at the ATC Oaks in Sydney, it wouldn’t surprise to see Autumn Glory end up in the A$1 million ($1.19m) Australasian Oaks at Morphettville on April 25.

“Damask Rose just missed getting up over 1600m at Flemington on Saturday and she’ll run next in the Sunline Stakes (Gr.2, 1600m) at Caulfield on Saturday week."

Vinery Stakes next for Belle Cheval loveracing.nz https://bitofayarn.com After coming within inches of the upset of the season in Saturday’s $4 million NZB Kiwi (1500m), rising star Belle Cheval is set to head to Sydney for the Gr.1 Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m).https://bitofayarn.com The Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson-trained filly put in a massive effort to go down by a short head to hot favourite Well Written in the marquee race on Champions Day.https://bitofayarn.com Now plans are being put in place for her to travel to Sydney and take on the likes of Gr.1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m) winner Ohope Wins, who carries the same green and white Yulong colours as Well Written and has already been transferred to champion trainer Chris Waller.https://bitofayarn.com The step up to a middle-distance at the end of the month looks made to order for the Savabeel filly, who won both her lead-up starts over 1200 and 1400m and on Saturday made up lengths on Well Written after still being in the rear on the home turn. “She was so close to what would have been a dream result, but we’re still thrilled with her, so proud of our wonderful filly,” co-owner/breeder David Archer said. “I had a good talk with Mark (Walker) yesterday and he was pleased to tell me she pulled up as if she hadn’t had a race. “That being the case, and subject to everything going to plan in the meantime, she will be flown to Sydney and run in the Vinery, which looks ideal as a fillies’ Group One over 2000 metres. “That will be it for this season, she won’t be going to the (ATC) Oaks (Gr.1, 2400m), and the most likely plan then will be to head down to the Mornington Peninsula for a spell with a view to a spring campaign in Victoria. “As much as we would like to start her in the first Group Ones of the spring back here, the risk of wet tracks at that stage of the season in New Zealand makes Melbourne a more attractive target.” In confirming those plans, Walker reiterated that provided Belle Cheval continues to please, she will be given the chance to add further Group One form to go with her third placing in the New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m). “While it would have been fantastic to win on Saturday, you could hardly be disappointed with her, it was a very good effort,” Walker said.https://bitofayarn.com “The way she races she should manage the step up in distance in the Vinery, so she’s gone to the water-treadmill this week and then we’ll build towards Sydney.” With plans already in place for star two-year-old Lara Antipova to be transferred to Te Akau’s Cranbourne stable with a view to one further start either in Melbourne or Sydney, Walker reports that his pair of proven mares Quintessa and Damask Rose have further confirmed targets. “The way it panned out we were happy with Quintessa’s third from well back over 1400m on Saturday and the Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (Gr.1, 1600m) at Trentham at the end of the month is an obvious next start. “Damask Rose just missed getting up over 1600m at Flemington on Saturday and she’ll run next in the Sunline Stakes (Gr.2, 1600m) at Caulfield on Saturday week."

I'm not convinced it was the sole reason but agree it could have been a factor. Horses see white exceptionally well. Presumably running rails are white so horses can see them which begs the question - why change the colour for the last 100m to something harder for the horse to see? No one can read the advertising on the rail anyway unless you are the Jockey on their way going through it. Perhaps the irony is it is so the Stipes know when to count the number of whip strikes in the last 100m!!!!

The Jockey should have right handed her. I'd say Collett's post race anger was directed at herself.

Well done. But where was she looking?

Just another thought @hesi if you are running that close to the rail wouldn't it be prudent of the Jockey to hit the horse on the rail side?

Yes but where was she looking at that point? Or rather how far ahead was she looking. Horses don't run into things if they can see them. Just to throw something else into the mix did you notice her trying to take a chunk out of the clerk of the course's horse? She definitely isn't happy about something. She chucked it in real quick in the Manikato and in the Railway - both Craig Williams rides.

It doesn't actually. However the fact is you were both operating on hunches rather than looking at the accounts. That is half the problem with the industry at all levels. They bleat on about decisions being made that are wrong and so on but never avail themselves of the facts. Your assertions may very well be correct but talking in hyperbole and generalisations lacks credibility. I'm not prepping for any job. The fact is both you and @Brodie contended that the ENTAIN and other capital had been squandered. Now if you really want to change things refer to Note 20 in the 2025 report and make a comment on what the $8.5 million that has been allocated to improving breeding levels and directly related stakes incentives SHOULD be spent on. Bleating on for days and months won't change anything - positive solutions will. However those positive solutions aren't non-win maidens at Reefton! You both may wish to look at pages 33 and 34 and see which assets can be consolidated to ensure Harness Racing pays its way. Note Reefton is jointly owned with Thoroughbred Racing - what happens if the latter wants out? Should HRNZ buy their share so you can have more non-win trots at Reefton?

If you don't realise that horses can see behind them and don't realise that blinkers can make a difference, then it might be a good thing that you are no longer a trainer. I can post many head on shots of horses moving their rear away from the whip BEFORE they have been hit in anticipation that they will. As the following diagram shows a horse has monocular vision to the rear meaning it can distinguish what is happening left or right separately. Horses also do not have a great depth perception because their binocular vision is limited. That's part of the reason why horses shy suddenly at objects. A Jockey see's the winning post and determines its distance well before a horse does which has caught out many Jockeys.

No from what I saw she ran in at the point the white rail changes to a brown (dark?) rail. Not incorrect however what about another theory. She has run away from the whip previously but only slightly. She got a hammering in the Moir from Craig Williams but didn't stray from her line. Yes she has run away from the whip when hit but not by much and at the same time the rail changes from bright white in colour to dark brown. Horses can distinguish white very clearly but dark colours blend into a green/grey morass i.e. a horse is red/green colour blind. So is it possible that yes she did react to the whip BUT thought there was room to run away from it because in her vision the rail wasn't there? Or her reaction unbalanced her (and the Jockey) and once she touched the rail she doubled down on the reaction. Looking back at her races Sam Spratt mostly whipped her on the inside on left and right hand tracks. First race ride for Sam Collett. As for not needing the whip I disagree. Sweynesday wasn't giving up.

Injured as opposed to not wanting to race. He like many top three year olds of that year had a torrid programme that year caused by abandoned racemeetings after they had travelled and then poor track conditions.

She hasn't done too badly in the three Grp 1 1600m races in OZ so far. Only 4 years old.

Just had another look at the All Star Mile. That was a big run by Leica Lucy on the slow part of the track. Of the 8 sectionals she had the fastest time in six of them and only beaten 1.5 lengths.

Look at races 4, 5, 6, and 7. Plus 8. When they got to the Newmarket the Jockeys weren't keen on staying out wide. That could have been a collective mindset. It created a logjam. Regardless I first made the comment in respect of Damask Rose's chances. It did put me off Tentyris.

It wasn't stopping as much as the other horses were finishing over the top of it. Was wide on the turn and got to the front too soon. Collett could have waited. 10 horses finished behind it. Could have finished a place or two closer if it hadn't got jammed 100m up resulting in the Jockey standing up. Only 4 lengths from the winner. Note in the vets report he was suffering from mild heat stress.

Ok so now you are looking at the races you didn't see yesterday. Go back and look at those sprinr races. Compared to the Newmarket they were small fields. The barriers that the horses started from were in the middle of the lane i.e. there was an even number of empty gates each side of the track. Over 1000 and 1100m a Jockey in a small field would be brain dead to go more distance to get to the inside. The Newmarket was a large field spread across the track. After 100 to 200m they all went to the inside.

What IS really interesting is that both @the galah and @Brodie have admitted they haven't bothered to read the HRNZ Annual Accounts!!!! Which I might add are freely available for downloading from the Incorporated Societies website amd the HRNZ website.

THEY didn't use the comparison. I did and it wasn't SPIN. It was for CONTEXT and COMPARISON which you keep banging on about.

So they HAVEN'T squandered it all contrary to @Brodie and your assertions.

They essentially all won on pace and on the inside. The OZ commentors (which I rate) explained Damask Rose's odds lengthening from $4.4 to over $6 was due to the prevailng pattern working against her draw and racing style. Under the circumstances her run had a lot of merit. Especially when she was 3 wide albeit with cover for most of the race and wider on entering the straight. In the Newmarket it was noticeable they didn't split and all tried to get to the inner.

It is difficult to place a one dimensional horse whose forte is 2400m. You can only race that distance two or three times at most in a season and you have to build to it. We've discussed Leica Lucy before and as I said then they went to the well too many times. Robbie Patterson said she needed a break. She basically only had one preparation leading to the NZ Oaks win. Sometimes it takes a long time to recover sometimes they don't recover. I also wouldn't listen to what a Jockey says. Often their post race media comment is slanted by disappointment and or a poor ride. LOL I can think of numerous occasions where a Jockey has had a shyte ride and blamed the track conditions. If Thats Gold is better suited to mile-middle distance then he has more chamce in OZ than an outright stayer.

7% isn't it? Isn'r that significant?