Chief Stipe

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?

Parochalism ahead of rational thinking.

I've been incubating this subject for a few days. Even started drawing diagrams. The bend isn't tighter if the rail is put out evenly both on the bend and the straight. As the circumference of the bend increases it becomes easier. The extreme analogy is the planet we reside on - we think we are walking straight but in fact we are walking a curve. If the circumference decreases the bend is harder to negotiate. Compare Omoto to Ellerslie. However there is one difference - if a race involves two straights and the rail is put out then the first straight is shortened in length i.e. you get to the bend sooner because the distance travelled on a bigger curve(s) is greater. The finishing straight stays the same length. Arguably the wider the circumference the less camber you need and the less disadvantaged a horse is out wide.

I honestly don't get this. Did they make enough salary at ENTAIN to invest in Thoroughbred breeding? Or were they in on the Insider tradi g that occurred and have a chest of money? Good luck guys getting a return on investment from the big boys!!

Have you race 90 or is it 90 seconds?

Ok so there was a race after the last one on its profile at NZTR but it isn't listed because it didn't start. Sorry I'm with @Freda on this one.

Then that is his mistake again or his trainers.

Yes but that seems to be an administrative issue not a reflection on the horses behaviour. If you can point me to the official report online that says she was nailed for her barrier manners in her last start I'd be grateful.

Cambridge Stud’s Brendan and Jo Lindsay have announced that First Dance (NZ) will carry their silks in next week’s inaugural running of the $3.5 million NZB Kiwi (1500m). No images? Click here Cambridge Stud Filly Heading to the Big Dance Cambridge Stud’s Brendan and Jo Lindsay have announced that First Dance (NZ) will carry their silks in next week’s inaugural running of the $3.5 million NZB Kiwi (1500m) at Ellerslie on Barfoot & Thompson Champions Day. The couple secured the last remaining slot at last year’s auction with a view of having their own runner in the Southern Hemisphere’s richest three-year-old race, and they have done just that with Monday’s selection. A daughter of Zousain, First Dance was bred by Whakanui Stud and was offered through Haunui Farm’s 2023 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sales Series Book 1 draft, where she was purchased by Cambridge Stud for $280,000. Ellerslie has been a happy hunting ground for First Dance, winning her maiden on the track in October over 1200m for the Lindsay’s private trainer Lance Noble, and she was also runner-up over 1400m last month behind fellow NZB Kiwi contender and subsequent TAB Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m) and Listed Trevor Corallie Eagle Uncle Remus Stakes (1400m) placegetter Dealt With. “Henry Plumptre (Cambridge Stud Chief Executive) selected her, and she was a lovely type,” Noble said. “She has taken a little bit of time. In the spring, we earmarked her as a potential candidate (for the NZB Kiwi) and after her maiden win we put her aside to miss Christmas racing. “To get her there (NZB Kiwi), we couldn’t have kept racing her over summer, she would be tired by now. You have a plan and you work backwards from it, and it has worked out nicely. “She has been very consistent and her run against Dealt With gave us a good line, especially when he came out and ran so well in his next start in the TAB Karaka Millions 3YO over a mile.” Noble is looking forward to being a part of the inaugural running of the NZB Kiwi and is proud to be representing his employers in the Ellerslie showpiece. “We are really excited to have one of our horses from the farm make the race,” he said. “Being big breeders, they (Lindsays) don’t buy that many horses, but they have a few. I am really thrilled for the staff at the farm and the whole operation. It is great to have one (NZB Kiwi runner) in Brendan and Jo’s colours and from my stable. “It (NZB Kiwi) is a great concept and to be a part of something for the first time is fantastic. I think every trainer was trying to have a horse good enough to get in and to have a runner is great, so I am very excited.” Meanwhile, Noble is looking forward to heading to Barfoot & Thompson Champions Day with another strong chance, with About Time set to contest the Group 1 Barfoot & Thompson Auckland Cup (3200m). The four-year-old daughter of American Pharoah had won four consecutive races before finishing runner-up behind Blue Sky At Night in last Saturday’s Group 3 Eagle Technology Avondale Cup (2400m) at Ellerslie. Noble was pleased with the performance and is hoping they can turn the tables on their rival next week. “It was a top run and we were beaten by one better on the day,” he said. “All being well, and she seems fine, we will go back and have a rematch in the Auckland Cup.” – 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

Now that's an even worthy of an "Aftermath" discussion - not a competitive safely run horse race.

At least you are starting to see the light now.

I always said Monday's were professionals night...seems afternoons as well.

Geez you can't read a race can you? He was lucky the horse outside him faded as well as running out under pressure. The Driver then skilfully drove through the gap using a combination of whip and rein. Notice the whip use?

Sadly Ellerslie isn't an exemplar. They botched their chance and like the AWT white elephants the Industry is now pinned to their mast.

A really good horse that is tractable will buy you time. One thing I noticed and it bought back memories was watching the boots in the foot rest. There isn't a lot to grip is there and if you are a bit short it is even harder. Are the foot rests adjustable? The other thing I noticed with the foot rest is if the distance to it is too long then it is difficult to hold the reins properly as I was taught to do. That is further up than in the video. You have no control over a horse if your elbows are bent and your hands are on your chest.