Chief Stipe

It's official @Huey there is something wrong with you. The ATR CEO Paul Wilcox said so. Basically he said if you weren't excited about Champions Day at Ellerslie - "there is something wrong with you"!

Not that it should make any difference but given what the owner has said on social media I wouldn't be surprised if the electronic egg timer is set to 90.0000001 seconds.

Wightman has NEVER hurt me - sticks and stones might bruise me but never name calling or personal abuse from someone I've never met. I have no "hurty feelings" - I do get pissed off with the likes of Wightman who denigrate all and everyone and then run for cover. Good luck to his horse. Geez at least Molloy would front up and have a go. Wightman just hands I his license.

We get what you think of the race but you are becoming boring. Do you have a different record?

Moroney dreamed of 2000 Cup win www.racing.com Mike Moroney's name will be forever found in history as a Melbourne Cup-winning trainer, but Moroney also furthered Cup folklore like few others with the win of Brew in 2000. Most Australasian-based trainers grow up dreaming of Melbourne Cup glory, but it was not a matter of mere daydreaming or wishful thinking for the popular Kiwi horseman, as he woke one morning in 1998 trying to make sense of the night's events. In a dream, he saw a horse called Brew win a Melbourne Cup by two lengths, carrying saddlecloth No.24. What he found immediately strange was that the jockey was wearing a black cap with Moroney's stable colours of pale blue and black sleeves, instead of the traditional red cap. Brew, who found his way into Moroney's stables the following season after a failed overseas sale, only won his way into the Melbourne Cup field in 2000 via his Saab Quality (2500m) victory three days earlier. There for all to see in Melbourne Cup publications around the world were his jockey's Cup colours of pale blue, black sleeves and a black cap. As it had turned out, Moroney's Victoria Derby winner of the previous season, Second Coming, was considered the best hope in the 2000 Melbourne Cup and so his jockey was given the red cap to wear. He ultimately finished third, with the Jack Denham-trained Yippyio splitting the Moroney pair. Brew carried saddlecloth No.24 for his young jockey Kerrin McEvoy and he won by two lengths. WATCH: Brew's 2000 Melbourne Cup win

Melbourne Cup-winning trainer Michael Moroney dies www.racenet.com.au Australia's greatest jockey Damien Oliver has led the tributes for "gentle giant" Michael Moroney after the Melbourne Cup-winning trainer died in his sleep on Thursday morning. The popular horseman, a stalwart of Victorian and New Zealand racing, won the Cup with Brew in 2000. Moroney last year defied a battle with serious illness to make a training comeback. The prolific Group 1 winner was at Caulfield last Saturday to witness Coeur Volante win the Group 3 Mannerism Stakes. • Michael Moroney opens up about the three ‘bullets' he dodged Moroney's Ballymore Stables confirmed the sad news on Thursday. "Michael not only had a special knack with horses, but with people," Ballymore posted on Facebook. "He was loved and respected by his staff, his owners, his beloved partner Karen and his family. "He will be remembered for his kindness, his willingness to share his time, expertise and his passion for the sport of horse racing. "He was a wonderful father and very proud grandfather, a member of a tight-knit family and circle of friends. He was a much loved member of the racing community and an outstanding conditioner of horses with a host of Group 1 wins, premierships and well deserved awards." Michael Moroney celebrating Brew's Melbourne Cup win in 2000 with jockey Kerrin McEvoy and part-owner Paul Moroney. Picture: Colleen Petch Oliver, the 129-time Group 1 winner who retired in 2023, linked with Moroney for many big race successes and Group 1 triumphs. But it was the man himself rather than the trainer who Oliver will remember most fondly. "Mike was just such a lovely bloke, I would describe him as a gentle giant," Oliver said. "He was just such a terrific fellow. "We had a lot of success together, a lot of it was due to our connection with (owner) Rupert Legh. "Mike's forte was generally with the stayers although he could certainly train any type of horses. "We had a lot of success and good times together. "When Mike set a horse for a big race, he was really good at that sort of thing." Three-time Melbourne Cup winner Oliver had his last Melbourne Cup ride in 2023 and it was for Moroney. Alenquer finished 21st in Oliver's swan song Melbourne Cup ride. As recently as 2017, Oliver had ridden a Group 1 winner for Moroney when Tivaci scored the All Aged Stakes in Sydney. Oliver said his favourite elite wins for Moroney came on Sarrera, who won the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes and Group 1 Doomben Cup in 2008. "Sarrera was a good horse and so was Tivaci and they are a couple of horses that I won Group 1s on for Mike that come straight to mind," Oliver said. Damien Oliver with Michael Moroney at Randwick in 2008 when Sarrera won the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes. Hall of Fame trainer John Hawkes described Moroney as a "real gentleman". "I had a lot to do with him at Flemington, he was just a good bloke and a wonderful trainer. It's very sad," Hawkes said. Prominent breeder John Messara said his passing came as a shock. "I'm shattered. I've always found Mike to be a nice bloke, very easy to deal with, and he achieved so much as a trainer," Messara said. "I was only talking to him yesterday (Wednesday) as we have Plymouth running on Saturday. I couldn't believe it when I heard the news.'' Trainer Gai Waterhouse said Moroney was loved by everyone. "Adrian (Bott) and I send our condolences to the family of the late Mike Moroney who passed away today. A great man and a trainer loved by all,'' Waterhouse said. – more to come – with Ben Dorries and Ray Thomas

Yeah I know that's the case especially stayers. I was just making the point that if you wanted to scam the Stipes for the barrier cert then there were a number options. Ultimately thought that could bite you in the arse. I assume Ears Back will be having a good gallop Saturday morning and a dose of Regumate.

I don't think they are delicate flowers at all but a good gallop can quieten a horse down. Otherwise why don't you give them a good gallop every morning?

Well if a barrier trial for barrier certificate isn't done as close to race type conditions and rules then what does it prove?

Isn't the point that they are New Zealand bred?

Riccarton tell fibs as do Trentham.

Two of the biggest names in Australian racing have combined with New Zealand breeding royalty to fill the final slot in the inaugural NZB Kiwi (1500m). No images? Click here NZB Kiwi draws Public Attention to complete final field Two of the biggest names in Australian racing have combined with New Zealand breeding royalty to fill the final slot in the inaugural NZB Kiwi (1500m). Prominent Australian owner Ozzie Kheir has selected Public Attention (NZ) to fill his slot for the $3.5 million feature to be run at Ellerslie on Barfoot & Thompson Champions Day, March 8. Trained by Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr, Public Attention is raced by Coolmore in association with several partners, including Sir Peter Vela, and has won two of his six starts to date including the Gr.3 Eskimo Prince Stakes (1200m) at Randwick earlier this month. “It is a huge coup for the race, and it is great to be partnering up with good friends in Coolmore and their partners,” Kheir said. “I saw Public Attention run in Sydney over the weekend and I thought his run was very good, so I reached out to Tom Magnier and Coolmore and asked whether they would consider it. “We spent a couple of days waiting to hear back from them. They came back and we ran through all the pros and cons of the race, and we agreed it was a good idea, and here we are getting everything ready to go to the race. “I am looking forward to it and I think he is the right horse for the race. It is great for the race itself to have Coolmore and a stable like Price and Kent Jnr involved, and I think he is a genuine winning chance. We won’t be there to just fill the numbers, which is one of the concerns when you buy a slot.” Kheir purchased a slot in the NZB Kiwi in the hope of running his own horses in the Southern Hemisphere’s richest three-year-old race, and while he had a number of leading contenders, he didn’t feel any of his team were up to winning the inaugural running of the race. He cast his eye further afield, landing on the promising colt which was bred by the late Sir Patrick Hogan and Lady Justine Hogan out of Legramor, a daughter of their dual Group One winner Katie Lee. They offered him through Carlaw Park’s 2023 New Zealand Bloodstock Book 1 Yearling Sale draft where he was purchased by Coolmore’s Tom Magnier for $160,000. Believing Public Attention was the perfect candidate for the NZB Kiwi, Kheir approached Magnier and was delighted to pen a deal to contest the New Zealand three-year-old feature next week with the son of Written Tycoon. “We have done a lot of trade and business together in the past and have had some good success with Sir Dragonet when winning the Cox Plate (Gr. 1, 2040m) and we had Yes Yes Yes win The Everest (1200m), and let’s hope we can win The Kiwi with Public Attention in its inaugural year.” Kheir is the final NZB Kiwi slot holder to show his hand and make his announcement, and he believes the wait has been worthwhile. “I have been wanting to have a horse that was a winning chance,” he said. “We had to wait, and it could have easily backfired. If we didn’t get him, we probably didn’t have a winning chance, but the fact that we have secured him now, I am very much looking forward to it. “Speaking to Tom Magnier, he is very happy and is looking forward to his horse going to the race with his partners.” Kheir is hoping to be trackside at Ellerslie on Barfoot & Thompson Champions Day to take in the action, just six days after watching his filly Leica Lucy contest the Gr.2 Jennian Homes Lowland Stakes (2100m) at Trentham on Sunday. “I will be doing everything I can to get there,” he said. “I might bring the family over, we will see how we go. I have got Leica Lucy running on Sunday and it would be nice to spend the week over there, but I have got to convince my wife.” – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk NZB Kiwi Contact Emma Thompson - NZB Kiwi Programme Lead emma.thompson@nztr.co.nz New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing 18 Dick Street, Cambridge 3434 Email: office@nztr.co.nz Tel: 0508 RACING NZTR.CO.NZ Unsubscribe

Actually you could probably gallop your horse in the morning then whip it down to the trial when it was tired and pass the test!

So you would be running a risk if you sedated a horse just to pass the barrier trial certificate?

Have they ever swabbed a horse after a trial?

I hope your mate Wightman is on Regumate - he needs something. Quite frankly if he was a friend of mine I wouldn't associate with him after what he has written on line in recent weeks.

Yes every owner gets the Racing Annual. If they didn't the publication would die. Yes he does pay for every yearling purchase straight away. Has carried $20m in purchases without ANY commitments to buy. Sam Bergerson comes from a good pedigree - Royden and Herb. Aidan O'Brien said he was the most talented horseman that had worked for him.

Perhaps you should try some self promotion.

Yeah right. He's probably sold shares in it to the Slot Holder. Like the rest of the registered owners on any day at any meeting you only get 1 ticket plus one for your plus 1. Doesn't matter if you are in the maiden or the Group 1 or the Raffle Ticket race. Of course the entrepreneur Wightman could have bought a Slot and got all the privileges that went with it.

I see Wightman is complaining on Facebook that he couldn't get you and 20 other friends and family free tickets!

Yes there were a lot of driver nuances in that race. @Newmarket wouldn't have seen them - too busy watching the speedo.

Research where? They do create a sugar surge in investment e.g. the 10 x $1m Winnie race benefit. BUT that is short lived when owners start to become very frustrated with the reality of: Getting a horse good enough to race; Getting pre-race experience for that horse e.g. trials; Getting a suitable race for it when it is ready let alone one that is close to home; Getting another suitable race for it when it doesn't succeed first up; Getting a win with the horse; Getting a suitable race for it on a decent surface when it has graduated up a grade... Then finding out that it is costing more in transport, track fees (for substandard tracks) and training than they are ever going to get back in Stakes. Unless of course the horse is a good un!

How do you know that there isn't a South Island interest in some of the others? Are you not supporting the CJC interest?

There's a couple of reasons for the heavy marking. The track is verti-drained and tyned up to two times during the week before a race meeting. This is so they can achieve a Soft 5. The water drains very quickly as evident by the fact they put on 50mm and the soil moisture reading doesn't change that much. The times being below a Soft 5 standard is due to the shifty nature of the track, the Jockey decided race pattern and the impact of the bend. When it does rain on the track during a meeting the track gets shiftier which I reckon is because the turf has been sliced and diced and starts to move on top of the sand. That's what puts most horses off. There are some sectionals if you dig deeper that indicate the track is in fact a Soft 5 or even better but these sectionals are often around the 400m mark.

Part Balcombe is just deflecting the blame. He was CEO at Hastings why didn't he fix Hastings track problem or at the very least start putting some capital aside to do it and a plan to get there?