Chief Stipe

We realise @Huey that you are a strong proponent of "in-breeding" and can count to 12 using the fingers on your two hands so you must be bitterly disappointed that none of the 12 are by NZ bred sires. That's a good sign in my opinion that new blood is being introduced into NZ Thoroughbred breeding. Although in saying that the three Snitzel colts are going places and will likely be lost to NZ.

Likewise with the Matamata Breeders Stakes: Previous Matamata Breeders' Stakes Winners Date Horse Jockey WT Trainer BP 24 Feb 2024 CAPTURED BY LOVE (AUS) 2F WRITTEN TYCOON (AUS) - MOLDOVA (AUS) SNITZEL (AUS) O P BOSSON 56.5 MARK WALKER & SAM BERGERSON 2 25 Feb 2023 ZOURION (NZ) 2F ZOUSTAR (AUS) - IRION (NZ) DANROAD (AUS) O P BOSSON 56.5 MARK WALKER 5 26 Feb 2022 MAVEN BELLE (NZ) 2F BURGUNDY (NZ) - DOYENNE (NZ) KILIMANJARO (GB) RYAN ELLIOT 56.5 JAMIE RICHARDS 6 27 Feb 2021 BONNY LASS (NZ) 2F SUPER EASY (NZ) - POSH BEC (NZ) LE BEC FIN (NZ) C J GRYLLS 56.5 GRAHAM RICHARDSON & ROGAN NORVALL 6 22 Feb 2020 VERNAZZA (NZ) 2F MORE THAN READY (USA) - ZONZA (NZ) ZABEEL (NZ) M T COLEMAN 56.5 L NOBLE 9 23 Feb 2019 ARETHA (NZ) 2F CHARM SPIRIT (IRE) - TSIKORY (NZ) STRAVINSKY (USA) J K RIDDELL 56.5 MURRAY BAKER & ANDREW FORSMAN 1 24 Feb 2018 SPANISH WHISPER (AUS) 2F LOPE DE VEGA (IRE) - CUTTING REMARK (AUS) ENCOSTA DE LAGO (AUS) V A COLGAN 56.5 PETER & DAWN WILLIAMS 7 25 Feb 2017 GOLD FEVER (NZ) 2F SAVABEEL (AUS) - GOLD ROCKS (AUS) ORATORIO (AUS) O P BOSSON 56.5 STEPHEN AUTRIDGE 7 27 Feb 2016 GOLD RUSH (NZ) 2F SO YOU THINK (NZ) - GOLD ROCKS (AUS) ORATORIO (AUS) C J GRYLLS 56.5 LANCE O'SULLIVAN & ANDREW SCOTT 5 21 Feb 2015 SERENA MISS (NZ) 2F IFFRAAJ (GB) - GIFTED LASS (AUS) MORE THAN READY (USA) L G INNES 56.5 GRAEME & DEBBIE ROGERSON 5 22 Feb 2014 LADY ROYALE (NZ) 2F CAPTAIN RIO (GB) - CACKLES (AUS) CATBIRD (AUS) S C SPRATT 56.5 RICHARD COLLETT & GARETH MCRAE 6 23 Feb 2013 RECITE (NZ) 2F DARCI BRAHMA (NZ) - CHANT (NZ) TRADITIONALLY (USA) MARK DU PLESSIS 56.5 JOHN BARY 1 26 Feb 2011 ANABANDANA (AUS) 2F ANABAA (USA) - GREAT NOTICE (USA) NUREYEV (USA) O P BOSSON 56.0 D SELLWOOD 1 27 Feb 2010 BANCHEE (NZ) 2F ORATORIO (IRE) - MISS JESSIE JAY (NZ) SPECTACULARPHANTOM (USA) L G INNES 56.0 J G SARGENT 14 21 Feb 2009 TE AKAU ROSE (NZ) 2F THORN PARK (AUS) - STRAUSSBRIDGE (NZ) STRAUSSBROOK (AUS) T N HARRIS 56.0 MARK WALKER 2 23 Feb 2008 TE AKAU COUP (NZ) 2F THORN PARK (AUS) - BEYOND THE SUNSET (USA) GONE WEST (USA) J L WADDELL 56.0 MARK WALKER 1 24 Feb 2007 SATINKA (NZ) 2F STRAVINSKY (USA) - MISS SAIGON (NZ) KINGS ISLAND (IRE) MARK DU PLESSIS 56.0 LANCE O'SULLIVAN & ANDREW SCOTT 6 25 Feb 2006 NATURO (NZ) 2F POSTPONED (USA) - RUBITON'S BEST (AUS) RUBITON (AUS) J L WADDELL 56.0 J G SARGENT 1 19 Feb 2005 MI JUBILEE (NZ) 2F HOWBADDOUWANTIT (USA) - MI STEEL (NZ) MI PREFERIDO (USA) DAVID WALKER 55.0 STEPHEN CRUTCHLEY 8 14 Feb 2004 VELASCO (AUS) 2F FLYING SPUR (AUS) - VITAL CURVES (NZ) MCGINTY (NZ) A CALDER 55.0 B TANKARD 8 15 Feb 2003 KATANA (NZ) 2F VOLKSRAAD (GB) - TRISTEAN (NZ) SIR TRISTRAM (IRE) M T COLEMAN 55.0 M MORONEY & A SCOTT 10 23 Feb 2002 LADY DEHERE (NZ) 2F DEHERE (USA) - EXPRESS A SMILE (AUS) SUCCESS EXPRESS (USA) M C SWEENEY 55.0 GRAEME & DEBBIE SANDERS 8 24 Feb 2001 FLYING BABE (AUS) 2F FLYING SPUR (AUS) - CAST YOUR FATE (AUS) BLETCHINGLY (AUS) L A O'SULLIVAN 55.0 COLIN & RICHARD YUILL 3 26 Feb 2000 CONQUISTAR (NZ) 2F DANASINGA (AUS) - THE STREET (NZ) AMYNTOR (FR) M T COLEMAN 55.0 MICHAEL MORONEY 1

Some very handy horses have won the Matamata Slipper and many have gone on to be decent Stallions at Stud: Previous Matamata Slipper Winners Date Horse Jockey WT Trainer BP 24 Feb 2024 SAVAGLEE (NZ) 2C SAVABEEL (AUS) - GLEE (NZ) O'REILLY (NZ) S C SPRATT 57.0 MICHAEL MORONEY & PAM GERARD 3 25 Feb 2023 TOKYO TYCOON (NZ) 2G SATONO ALADDIN (JPN) - ALL ABOUT THE COIN (AUS) STARCRAFT (NZ) CRAIG ZACKEY 57.0 MARK WALKER 5 26 Feb 2022 ALABAMA GOLD (NZ) 2C TURN ME LOOSE (NZ) - ATTALLA (NZ) VOLKSRAAD (GB) SAM WEATHERLEY 56.5 STEPHEN AUTRIDGE & KRIS SHAILER 7 27 Feb 2021 SWORD OF STATE (AUS) 2C SNITZEL (AUS) - IN THE VANGUARD (AUS) ENCOSTA DE LAGO (AUS) T N HARRIS 56.5 JAMIE RICHARDS 2 22 Feb 2020 SPIRITED EXPRESS (AUS) 2G NO NAY NEVER (USA) - BO BARDI (AUS) FASTNET ROCK (AUS) C J GRYLLS 56.5 JAMIE RICHARDS 2 23 Feb 2019 MINI FORCE X (NZ) 2G DUNDEEL (NZ) - MISS ZAPPER (AUS) RED RANSOM (USA) M CAMERON 56.5 JAMIE RICHARDS 1 24 Feb 2018 SWORD OF OSMAN (NZ) 2G SAVABEEL (AUS) - BUNYAH (IRE) DISTANT VIEW (USA) O P BOSSON 56.5 STEPHEN AUTRIDGE 3 25 Feb 2017 SUMMER PASSAGE (AUS) 2C SNITZEL (AUS) - SUBSEQUENT (AUS) ENCOSTA DE LAGO (AUS) C J GRYLLS 56.5 LANCE O'SULLIVAN & ANDREW SCOTT 2 27 Feb 2016 HEROIC VALOUR (AUS) 2C FASTNET ROCK (AUS) - MYRRH (NZ) NASSIPOUR (USA) M CAMERON 56.5 STEPHEN AUTRIDGE 3 21 Feb 2015 ROCANTO (NZ) 2C PER INCANTO (USA) - ROMANTIC LIAISONS (NZ) DANASINGA (AUS) MARK DU PLESSIS 56.5 STEPHEN MARSH 3 22 Feb 2014 PRINCE MAMBO (NZ) 2G THEWAYYOUARE (USA) - GRACE PARK (NZ) DANSKE (NZ) S C SPRATT 56.5 STEPHEN MCKEE 6 23 Feb 2013 TWIN DELIGHT (NZ) 2G PERFECTLY READY (AUS) - PENNY ARCADE (NZ) STRAUSSBROOK (AUS) B R JONES 56.5 JASON PRICE 1 25 Feb 2012 MAGIC SHAFT (AUS) 2G SHAFT (AUS) - ADAPTABLE LASS (AUS) MARAUDING (NZ) M T COLEMAN 56.5 J G SARGENT 10 26 Feb 2011 HAPPY HA HA (NZ) 2G SAVABEEL (AUS) - ILLUMINATE (NZ) DESERT SUN (GB) H S TINSLEY 56.0 J G SARGENT 6 21 Feb 2009 KING'S RANSOM (NZ) 2G KING'S CHAPEL (AUS) - JOAN (NZ) COLONEL COLLINS (USA) M J WALKER 56.0 MARK WALKER 5 23 Feb 2008 MINSTREL COURT (AUS) 2C DANEHILL DANCER (IRE) - TREGURRIAN (AUS) RORY'S JESTER (AUS) O P BOSSON 56.0 MARK WALKER 8 24 Feb 2007 FLORAL EL CUENTO (AUS) 2C TALE OF THE CAT (USA) - ROYAL CELEBRITY (AUS) ROYAL ACADEMY (USA) J C COLLETT 56.0 JIM COLLETT 7 25 Feb 2006 JOKERS WILD (NZ) 2C BLACK MINNALOUSHE (USA) - MISS RORY (AUS) RORY'S JESTER (AUS) M T COLEMAN 56.0 M MORONEY & A SCOTT 3 19 Feb 2005 DARCI BRAHMA (NZ) 2C DANEHILL (USA) - GRAND ECHEZEAUX (NZ) ZAFONIC (USA) H S TINSLEY 55.0 MARK WALKER 6 14 Feb 2004 KEENINSKY (NZ) 2C STRAVINSKY (USA) - SO KEEN (NZ) JADE HUNTER (USA) A C PEARD 55.0 GRAEME ROGERSON & STEPHEN AUTRIDGE 5 15 Feb 2003 MR UBIQUITOUS (NZ) 2G TALE OF THE CAT (USA) - ZAHRA (NZ) ZAFONIC (USA) M T COLEMAN 55.0 M MORONEY & A SCOTT 1 23 Feb 2002 DANROAD (AUS) 2C DANEHILL (USA) - STRAWBERRY GIRL (USA) STRAWBERRY ROAD (AUS) L A O'SULLIVAN 55.0 C MCNAB 6 24 Feb 2001 VINAKA (NZ) 2G VOLKSRAAD (GB) - SHEPHERD'S DELIGHT (NZ) FAMOUS STAR (GB) L G INNES 55.0 JIM GIBBS & ERIC BET 6 26 Feb 2000 PALLADIO (NZ) 2G VOLKSRAAD (GB) - PALMETTO (NZ) PALM BEACH (FR) B R JONES 55.0 JIM GIBBS 3

I was just thinking how long it would take for you to post on these two races.

Did Scooby call it a "he" and then edited it later to a "her"?

That's why they cant' expect anything to change and hence Trainers get the tracks they deserve.

Said like a true cost accountant. I'm sure the Bookies and the computer is checking the margins in real time!

I've heard the track was a bit firmer than a Soft 5.

Yeah. My rule is don't say anything you wouldn't say to someone face to face or in the pub school.

Lost me on the last bit but I did enjoy Pogo. Definitely Australian in my opinion.

You'd hope so BUT with Greyhounds gone burger they need to save costs by forming a partnership with Harness and save costs.

You can blame Mackenzie for the marketing debacle. He pushed it off TABNZ's balance sheet and devolved it to the Code administrators (national, regional and local) who have largely dropped the ball in all three racing codes. NZTR don't have a budget for it and you can't expect the Clubs to run with something that is expensive to do and requires specialised talent.

Full credit for initiative.

I find it easier to laugh than get angry. Also easier to run a loose moderation than worry about everything. It's clear what I object to - @Thomass banging on and on and on about blinkers AFTER a horse has won. Then someone like @JJ Flash who is constantly in personal attack mode and very rarely contributes anything that is new, newsworthy or worth debating.

Yes I've heard if you disagree with the Comic Dog he deletes your posts especially so if you make him look silly which isn't hard to do even inadvertantly. I heard from one poster who wrote a very reasoned post about EIPH in horses which didn't attack anyone personally but one of the points was that it is rare for a horse to suddenly die from EIPH in a race. It was deleted. I realise the science is beyond him - I give Leo full credit at least he has science training and understands these topics. I also heard that I'm apparently Pogo (Aus) and Zelda - I remember when I was running that site that these two individuals had australian IP addresses. I'd love to see any evidence that he has because it is a mystery to me. Dear old @JJ Flash bangs on about it but we all know he hasn't got that much of a clue about much.

Don't they record times at the Trials?

Savaglee marches on to Guineas www.racing.com Gun New Zealand three-year-old Savaglee got his first taste of Australian racing on home soil on Saturday when placing behind Aussie raiders Here To Shock and Bosustow in the Gr.1 BCD Group Sprint (1400m) at Te Rapa, and his connections are now looking forward to testing his talents across the Tasman. Raced by The Oaks Stud, Savaglee has been an unstoppable force against his own age group this season, winning five of his six starts, including the Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m), before being tested at weight-for-age for the first time over the weekend. The Oaks Stud General Manager Rick Williams was satisfied with the performance of the Pam Gerard-trained colt and said he didn’t get all favours in the running. “We knew they (Here To Shock and Bosustow) were good horses and it is always hard for a three-year-old at weight-for-age. It was a hell of a race and I am very proud of the horse,” Williams said. “He went a little bit keenly once Babylon Berlin crossed him. He usually drops the bit and relaxes nowadays, but he was a little bit fierce and just got held up a for a while in the straight, which was probably the difference of running second. “He would never have beaten the winner, who was brilliantly ridden by Nash Rawiller and sat outside us, and older horses can lean on you a bit and dominate three-year-olds. “It was his first time against the older horses, so it was a good experience for him, and I am sure he will improve off it.” Williams is now looking forward to heading to Melbourne with his colt where he will take his place in the Gr.1 Australian Guineas (1600m) at Flemington on March 8. “I am certain now that he prefers a mile to 1400m and we are going on to the Australian Guineas, there is no reason not to go,” he said. “The form analysts are telling me we are right in the mix. I think he has dropped down to third favourite, but the bookmakers don’t worry me, I am quite sure he will go over there and he will be right in it.” With his $45,000 cheque from the weekend, Savaglee has now surpassed $1 million in earnings, and Williams said that is a credit to the enhanced prizemoney in New Zealand over the last 18 months. “Savaglee has gone past the million-dollar mark already just racing in New Zealand, so it gives you some idea of what the improvement in prizemoney means to owners throughout the country,” he said. “It always takes a while to filter through. The overall economy here and worldwide has got its problems, and there is not the disposable income around. The turnover figures are fantastic, it has gone against the trend, and all credit to Entain.” While Savaglee has been the flagbearer for The Oaks Stud’s racing team this season, Williams has high hopes for a couple of other three-year-olds. “We have got a really nice filly caller Cypher with Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott,” Williams said. “She won her last start and is running in a special conditions maiden at Matamata (on Saturday). I think she is a very progressive filly. “I think Alaskan is a chance in the Oaks (Gr.1, 2400m). She just got caught a bit flat-footed when they sprinted in the David and Karyn Ellis Fillies Classic (Gr.2, 2000m). Trentham will suit her and the mile-and-a-half will suit her better.” Williams is also tipping a big future for last start Gr.3 Colin 2YO Classic (1200m) runner-up Tajana. “She is a filly that will go forward from here and be a lovely three-year-old,” he said. Meanwhile, The Oaks Stud tasted stakes success as breeders over the weekend when evergreen gelding Harlech took out the Listed Hazlett Stakes (1400m) at Wingatui. Out of Group One performer Obsessive, Harlech is by former The Oaks Stud stallion Darci Brahma and is a half-brother to stakes performer Obsessive. He was purchased out of The Oaks Stud’s 2018 Book 1 Yearling Sale draft by bloodstock agent Paul Moroney for $100,000 and went on to join Ballymore Stables, run by his brother Mike. Harlech went on to become a top three-year-old in New Zealand when trained by Mike Moroney and Pam Gerard, winning two and placing in four of his seven starts, including victory in the Gr.2 James And Annie Sarten Memorial Stakes (1400m), and runner-up efforts in the Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m), Gr.1 Levin Classic (1600m) and Listed Uncle Remus Stakes (1400m). While he went on to place in the Gr.1 Livamol Classic (2040m) and last season’s Gr.3 Canterbury Gold Cup (2000m), Harlech hadn’t added to his single stakes success as a three-year-old until Saturday where he dominated his rivals to take out the Hazlett Stakes by 3-1/2 lengths. “He is such a great, old horse,” Williams said. “He ran second to Catalyst in the 2000 Guineas way back in 2019 and I have always loved the horse. It was nice that we bred the quinella (in the Guineas) and the one we kept the ownership of won the race. “He has been a wonderful horse for the owners, and he is still going strong. I didn’t think he could win from that outside barrier (11), but he got up for them, they are great owners the Fletcher family.” The Oaks Stud are still breeding from his dam, Obsession, and Williams said she has been an asset for the Cambridge farm. “Obsession has been a great mare. She was a Group Two winner and Group One placed,” he said. “She has been a terrific producer and it’s a great family. She has got a Proisir colt at foot and is in-foal to U S Navy Flag.” – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk

Jenni gets back to work www.racing.com The possible return from retirement of Pride Of Jenni has reached a crucial stage with the former Group 1 star back in work at trainer Ciaron Maher’s Cranbourne stables. Maher last week dropped the bombshell that Pride Of Jenni’s retirement – after a spring bleed in the Champions Mile – might be short-lived and he confirmed on Saturday that the seven-year-old mare is being prepared for another racing campaign. “She’s just come into the stables and while she’s obviously had her issues, she seems in good order,” Maher said. He insisted the commencement of trackwork did not necessarily mean Pride Of Jenni was certain to race again. “I want to see her come back and for her to show everything is in order,” he said. “You have to make sure every box is ticked before going back to the races. “But she does seem her old self. She does seem very straight-forward. “It’s good to see her happy, healthy and well and as I said, her demeanour is very similar to what it has always been. “First thing is to make sure she’s right. She does seem in a very similar headspace. “She put on weight, but she doesn’t look heavy and she’s moving quite well. “They (owners) looked after her really well. She’s had her time off and she’s done a bit of training.”

Good point. @Freda are the Botannical Gardens between his flat and the racecourse?

What is really interesting is that they put 30mm of irrigation on in the last two days. Also I'm not sure what they have done to the inside half of the track but has it been mown? Good work from some of these 2 yr olds to scoot round the bend that wide out.

"Where's the vase?"

Lo and behold it's fixed.

https://loveracing.nz/RaceInfo/54262/Meeting-Overview.aspx Ellerslie Trials 11-02-2025.pdf

30 Trials at Ellerslie today. About 180 horses going round. Ellerslie Trials 11-02-2025.pdf

Probably thought Gore was Bangalore.