Chief Stipe

No. Nor have I.

Don't be worried about wading into any topic on BOAY. You can even openly criticise me and show me up to be a prat if you wish. Just don't stoop to name calling and spit the dummy when you may be wrong!

I agree about stakemoney. In my opinion ratings should be based on relative performance vs the horses raced against vs weight carried ( not that we have much of a weight range) vs relative times on the track that day. However the latter is a little suspect as we have such variability in NZ with regard to track variance and dubious timing/distance measured. I don't understand why NZ racing can't have GPS's in saddle cloths and a matrix of small receiving stations around the track. All relatively inexpensive technology.

Something not quite right with the time in the Guineas. They ran home the last 800m in 47. Which isn't that quick. That means the first 600m was run in 35 and a tick. So essentially Pivotal Ten ran even near 12's for the race. Why was the Southland Guineas dropped back to 1400m from 1600m this year?

I see Wynn didn't hit her with the padded bit even though the angle doesn't actually show very well where she hit.

Which means we don't really have a handicapper do we? Is that what they call AI (Artificial Intelligence)? So the OZ ratings are based on performance or are they based on guidelines? If the latter why are NZ's so different?

It's not a fair comparison. There are ample reasons to knock the concept but knocking the ratings of 3yr olds in a stuffed up system isn't one of them. As for the Timaru Cup - well you could have used the Wellington Cup as an example.

Well that's daft. It is more than Savaglee, Alabama Lass, Damask Rose and Captured by Love before they raced in Open company. NZTR have Pivotal Ten at 78!

R90 plus?

All the hype aside one could argue it is looking a very even race and therefore a good punting one.

So what do you rate Pivotal Ten at? Higher or lower than the official rating of 78?

In my opinion all Slot Race Sweepstakes are destined to the scrap heap. Although there is a rearguard action by promoters to make them relevant by grading them as black type. Ultimately that is a home goal shot in the foot.

I wouldn't say that was a fair call. You know full well our age group horses have suppressed ratings. For example Damask Rose only has a rating of 77. Alabama Lass has 97 but that's only because of the 18 points it picked up from the Railway. Before that it was 79. Similar with Savaglee - 84 before the BCD Sprint then jumps 13 points for 3rd to 97. Captured By Love had a rating of 82 in NZ but has 102 in OZ.

Nucleozor arrived in Hong Kong last November. Hasn't raced yet. Had a barrier trial on the 15th of this month. Finished 3rd ridden by Hugh Bowman. https://racing.hkjc.com/racing/information/English/Horse/BTResult.aspx?Date=15/02/2025#hvb4

Correct exported to Hong Kong. Must have been big money.

The Barneswood Brady Nakhle Slot Holder partnership has announced the Stephen Marsh-trained Penman (NZ) as their representative in next month’s $3.5 million NZB Kiwi.🥝 No images? Click here Barneswood Brady Nakhle Hoping for NZB Kiwi Golden Ticket The Barneswood Brady Nakhle Slot Holder partnership has announced the Stephen Marsh-trained Penman (NZ) as their representative in next month’s $3.5 million NZB Kiwi (1500m), and they are hoping they have struck gold with their selection. “It sort of feels like Willy Wonka’s golden ticket. Everyone is looking for that chocolate bar with the golden ticket in it and we are hoping we have got the chocolates,” Slot Holder representative Daniel Nakhle said. The partnership is comprised of a group of close racing friends, and with their representative locked in, they can’t wait to watch the action unfold in the Southern Hemisphere’s richest three-year-old race at Ellerslie on Barfoot & Thompson Champions Day, 8 March. “Sarah, Chris (Green) and Ger (Beemsterboer) from Barneswood Farm, they are fantastic friends,” Nakhle said. “We met them through Peter and Dawn Williams (trainers), and we have been fast friends ever since. “Darren Brady is one of my best friends, we met through a horse as well, so it is funny how this horse game brings people together. He and his brother Brian have got a share. “It is a great bunch of really cool people that understand the ups and downs of the racing and breeding game, and because of their understanding we tend to celebrate a reasonable amount when things go our way.” Nakhle is excited about the prospects of Penman in the NZB Kiwi, and said his impressive last start victory at Tauranga sealed their decision. “He is a horse that is on the up,” Nakhle said. “The whole team put our heads together and we haven’t really gotten serious about many, and certainly hadn’t pushed the panic button at all, even with the race three weeks away. “He really impressed us in the last 100m of his races, the way he stretches out. I had a talk with Stephen Marsh at the races at Te Aroha last Wednesday and he is a guy whose judgment I really rate, and he certainly rates the horse very highly. “He had some good form around him (in his last start win) and the fact that his stablemate behind him (Tardelli) was stakes placed, and the third horse (Domain Ace) is in the NZB Kiwi as well, it starts looking like really tidy form for a rating 65 win.” Nakhle is looking forward to partnering with both Marsh and Go Racing, who race the son of Contributer in partnership with Toro Bloodstock. “One of the great things about Penman is the ownership and training team. They are a great bunch of people to be racing one with,” Nakhle said. Cambridge trainer Stephen Marsh has now doubled down on his assault on the NZB Kiwi, with stablemate Ardalio having already been secured by The King’s Men Slot Holder syndicate. “It is very exciting to have our second runner for the slot race,” Marsh said. “We think he (Penman) is very talented. He is one of those horses on the rise.” “It is a very exciting race, it has got everyone talking and pumped up about it. The whole day is starting to build excitement.” Marsh is particularly pleased for New Zealand syndicator Go Racing, who have been great supporters of his stable, and missed out on securing a slot at the auction last year. “I think they may have had a couple of cracks at a slot but didn’t manage to get one, so this is good now that we have got a horse in it,” Marsh said. Penman will get his first look at Ellerslie when he lines up at the track this weekend, his last engagement prior to next month’s NZB Kiwi. “He will run on Saturday at Ellerslie and then into the slot,” Marsh said. “He is a very progressive horse and is one of those horses that keeps on improving. “Matt Cartwright came and galloped him on Friday, and he was super. I think he is right on the way up.” Bred by Mapperley Stud principal Simms Davison, Penman was offered through his farm’s 2023 New Zealand Bloodstock (NZB) National Yearling Sales Series Book 1 draft where he was purchased by Toro Bloodstock for $60,000. He was then offered through Riversley Park’s NZB Ready to Run Sale draft later that year, with a majority share subsequently purchased by Go Racing. He has now won two and finished runner-up in two of his four starts to date, accruing more than $40,000 in prizemoney. – 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

Well 1% isn't going to be anywhere near enough to have a cradle to the grave policy for non-breeding stock. Just creates an uneconomic rod for the industry's back.

Regardless I'm pretty sure that PETA picture is doctored. Which doesn't surprise given their record. Anyway I agree with you we need whips for race day training purposes.

@curious is the file you uploaded the McGreevy paper? I have already read it and it is flawed in many respects.

@curious what race was that picture taken in and who was the jockey?

But how much pain? Horses experience pain racing. All relative but you're as bad as @Thomass with your selctive imagery. That particular image is clearly doctored and has been on activist anti-racing websites for years. It was taken by Liss Ralston in 2015 and put across the internet by PETA It is very very dubious. PETA's main aim is to end ALL animal racing.

No because I know you will have it at hand. I'd be disappointed if you didn't since you are such a strong advocate for the rule. I'm looking forward to the new Trackside graphic that puts a red overlay on the horse designating where the flank is.

@curious are you able to lost the extensive research showing the flank is significantly more sensitive than the rest of a horses body? Or is it all based on anecdotal observational reports from trainers?

Geez @curious apart from the signage being in the way AND the running rail they don't actually drive alongside the leading horses!!! They can't. It's just a token attempt at appeasing who knows who.

Then you or the Stipes wouldn't see where the whip struck.