Chief Stipe

You know my favourite.

Some very useful horses were trained out of Richmond over the years.

I didn't realise Vice Presidents could ride trackwork.

You could say Bjorn was a modern pioneer in horse welfare.

Gastric ulcers are probably the biggest nutritional issue for both horses and their trainers. Bjorn Baker got done for treating it.

Te Akau Appoints New Assistant Trainer | News www.teakauracing.com ../edit/cache/images/hunter_and_berri--w_640-h_427-e_png-cp_center-cs_2225.png Te Akau Racing is delighted to announce the appointment of Hunter Durrant to the role of Assistant Trainer, acknowledging his important role in the stable's continued success. "We recognise Hunter's dedication and expertise, especially in managing our Riccarton operation under the guidance of our trainers Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson," said Te Akau Principal David Ellis CNZM. “Hunter has been exceptional since we established our permanent base at Riccarton,” Ellis said. “He’s a skilled horseman with a calm demeanor, sharp instincts, and the ability to connect with our owners and team. This promotion is a well-deserved recognition of his hard work and leadership.” Durrant joins a distinguished lineup of assistant trainers, including Nicole Shailer at Matamata in the North Island and Ben Gleeson at Cranbourne in Victoria, who play crucial roles in ensuring seamless operations across Te Akau’s stables. Last season Te Akau's southern operation delivered exceptional results - earning three prestigious titles at the South Island Racing Awards, including Champion Two-Year-Old for Nucleozor and Champion Miler for Perfect Scenario. This season the seamless success continues, fresh off a NZ Cup carnival week that included Captured By Love winning the Group 1 NZ 1000 Guineas and Mehzebeen the Group 3 NZ Cup and Listed Metropolitan Stakes. The wins this season have included a landmark moment on 28 September 28 when Age of Discovery delivered Mark Walker’s 2000th career training victory. Hunter’s promotion solidifies Te Akau’s commitment to excellence in racing. David Ellis CNZM added: “We love supporting South Island racing and first had stables in 2002 at Rangiora. It was timely to set up permanently again in the South last season, with the stables at Riccarton, and Hunter has been instrumental in that success. “Hunter’s promotion is not only about rewarding hard work but also about setting the stage for even greater success.” Back

1527 from the left?

So Queensland is better than NZ?

I guess the new generation of presenters weren't brought up watching Cowboys and Indians movies. Arapaho won the Grp 2 Zipping Classic yesterday at Caulfield for Bjorn Baker. The presenters on Weigh-in today insisted on saying Arapaho as Ara-pay-hoe! Then again some us are old enough to remember the talented pacer named Arapaho trained by Jack Smolenski in the early 70's. A chestnut he won the 1973 NZ Trotting Cup. It is pronounced as follows:

Saved you some time in reposting @Huey

Stakes-Winning Debut for $1.2million I Am Invincible Filly - Full Brother MM 2025 Tara Madgwick - Saturday November 30 A heavy 10 track at Doomben on Saturday did nothing to dampen the potential of exciting two year-old I Am Invincible filly Hi Barbie, who opened her account with a stylish victory in the $200,000 Listed BRC Phelan Ready Stakes (1110m). Trained by Tony Gollan for the Acton family as was her top class dam Outback Barbie, Hi Barbie won a recent trial by seven lengths and was sent off as favourite despite taking on more experienced rivals in Cuddles for Kimmy and Secret Sort. She had too much class for them and kicked away to win by a length booking her place in the Magic Millions 2YO Classic in January. “This wasn't an option I loved, running a rookie filly on this heavy track," said a relieved Gollan. "It was probably as nervous as I've been coming to the races for a first starter. "Not because of how good she is, it's just that she means a lot to the Acton family and to our family. "I didn't love that sort of heavy ground for her, I just hoped her class would shine through. "She was just better than them today." $1.2million for Hi Barbie at the Gold Coast in 2024. Hi Barbie was a $1.2million Magic Millions purchase from Yarraman Park for Gollan Racing/Jennifer Acton and has a full brother headed to Magic Millions 2025 as Lot 755 for Yarraman Park. Bred by the late central Queensland cattle farmer Alan Acton, who died last year in a tragic helicopter crash, Hi Barbie was bought by Acton's widow Jennifer and is the first foal from multiple stakes-winner and $1.5million earner Outback Barbie, a full sister to another stakes-winner in the aptly named Barbie’s Sister. Sadly for the Acton family, Outback Barbie lost a Snitzel filly foal early in the spring, however she is now back in foal to I Am Invincible. Hi Barbie is the 112th stakes-winner for I Am Invincible and is the very first for Spirit of Boom as a broodmare sire. Visit the profile page for I Am Invincible I Am Invincible in upcoming sales: 52 lots at MM Gold Coast Yearling Sale 3 lots at NZB Karaka Book 1 4 lots at Inglis Classic Yearling Sale Race Result - Aquis Stallions Phelan Ready Plate LR 1110m Doomben Track: Heavy(10) Time: 1:07.25

If they applied the 14 day calendar rule here then you couldn't race until day 15 after the last race. Certainly you wouldn't be able to back up and run in both NZ Guineas races! Or is it only a rule for Synthetic tracks?

W Pinn WHO’S COMPLAININ Breaking riding engagement [Rule 330(3)(a)] $200 (Minor Infringement Schedule) WHO’S COMPLAININ Stood down from racing Race 8 WHO’S COMPLAININ L Kauri replaced W Pinn (Broken engagement) Late Scratchings: Race 8 WHO’S COMPLAININ @ 4.45pm - refusing to parade and dislodging rider Medical Certificates: Required by L Kauri Race 8 LOADERS WANGANUI 2040m The start of this race was put back one race, until 5.25pm, after WHO’S COMPLAININ (L Kauri) dislodged the rider in the preliminary, who was transferred to hospital for further assessment. Stewards made inquiries and were advised by paramedics that there were no other ambulance vehicles available in Whanganui at that present time and were unable to guarantee a time when a vehicle would become available. After consultation with Club officials, Stewards made the decision to abandon the last race. WHO’S COMPLAININ (L Kauri) - Late scratching at 4.45pm after dislodging rider L Kauri during the preliminary and refusing to parade. L Kauri is required to provide a medical certificate prior to riding next. Stewards advised Trainer B Crow that due to WHO’S COMPLAININ’S poor behaviour record, the gelding has been stood down from racing until further notice. Liam Kauri thrown from Who's Complainn in birdcage and breaks his ankle. Last race abandoned because only ambulance was being taken to hospital.

Geez these new rules would eliminate a few horses in NZ. The biggest change is that any horse that has raced within the previous 14 calendar days is ineligible to race and will be scratched if already entered. With the new rules having gone into effect after entries were drawn for Saturday's races, 12 horses that were entered to run back within 14 days were scratched from the card. Other steps that were taken include: (*) Any racehorses that have received an intra-articular fetlock injection–used to treat joint issues–within the previous 14 calendar days of race date will be restricted from entering to race. (*) The AGCO is requiring that an official veterinarian be present and observe horses during all morning training at Woodbine. Before a horse on the Veterinarian's List is permitted to return to work, its trainer and a private veterinarian must observe it jogging within 48 hours before the work and jointly certify that the horse is fit and sound before being examined by the official veterinarian and being permitted to work.

Te Akau make it clear in their syndicate contracts that they clip the ticket upon the sale of the horse at the end of its racing career. The majority of Syndicators/Trainers have that clause. A common practice amongst trainers for decades. Time has made it more transparent and up front.

My understanding is the profit from racing is small and often close to break even. The main source of profit is the sale of horses for breeding after racing.

You are telling us all that they aren't good for the industry but like most of your posts you can't substantiate your claim.

Are you inferring the playing field isn't level? We have seen many instances of those YOU label battlers winning one way or another in the last couple of weeks but you haven't mentioned them.

I think the key part of that sentence is they generate interest which must be good for racing.

You have no answers. Do I need to repeat the question?

Yeah and how many lawyers do you know that race a horse? Other than Dame Sian Ellias?

No please explain how yearlings from OZ lower the quality of NZ Racing.

Eh? Do you know @nomates ?

Maybe you should give @Brodie a few tips on how to get round the limits. But then again @Brodie is up 7 figures.