Chief Stipe

That's not correct. There is one in two weeks at Riccarton on 25 January. Two Open Handicaps and a 2yr old race. https://loveracing.nz/RaceInfo/53290/Meeting-Overview.aspx

Uh? Why the cryptic comments?

Another Auckland summer in store for Orchestral loveracing.nz A series of outstanding performances at Ellerslie last summer underpinned an award-winning three-year-old season for Orchestral, and trainers Roger James and Robert Wellwood hope Sunday’s Auckland Co-Op Taxis (1400m) will set her up for more of the same in 2025. The top-class daughter of Savabeel scored a stunning Ellerslie treble in last year’s $1.5 million Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m), Gr.2 Avondale Guineas (2100m) and Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m). She powered home from the back half of the field to win each of those features with ease, racking up a combined winning margin of more than 11 lengths. Orchestral carried on to Sydney and added the Gr.1 Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m), which James and Wellwood had also won the previous year with Prowess. Orchestral’s exceptional three-year-old season came to an end with a third placing in the Gr.1 Australian Oaks (2400m). James and Wellwood went into Orchestral’s four-year-old spring with high hopes, but she was unplaced in all of her three appearances. She resumed with an eighth over 1400m at Ellerslie in September, followed by a strong-finishing sixth in the Gr.1 Toorak Handicap (1600m) and a very disappointing 12th in the Gr.1 Empire Rose Stakes (1600m). “For whatever reason, she didn’t show her best form in that spring campaign,” James said. “She had a hard run first-up, and then to be fair to her, she was very unlucky in that second run. But her performance in that last race was a bit of a head-scratcher. “We gave her a break after that and I’m super happy with her in the lead-up to Ellerslie this weekend. She’s looking great. “The 1400m will absolutely be short of her best distance this weekend and there’s a fair bit of improvement left in her. We don’t need her to be peaking for this race.” James is looking forward to taking Orchestral back to Ellerslie’s Karaka Millions meeting again on January 25 in search of another million-dollar prize. “She’ll go to the Aotearoa Classic (1600m) next,” he said. “After that, she’ll probably continue to race in New Zealand through until the autumn. We can race for such incredibly good money on home soil now, with the stakes and bonuses, that there’s no need to look further afield.” The TAB rates Orchestral a $3 favourite for the Elsdon Park Aotearoa Classic. She is also prominent in the market for the Gr.1 Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m) at Te Rapa on February 8, where she sits on the second line of favouritism at $6 behind dominant $1.70 favourite Snazzytavi. Orchestral is at the same $6 quote for the Gr.1 Bonecrusher New Zealand Stakes (2000m), which is one of four Group One races run on Champions Day at Ellerslie on March 8. The Aotearoa Classic, Herbie Dyke Stakes and Bonecrusher New Zealand Stakes are all qualifying races for the Rich Hill Champion Middle Distance Series, which will award bonuses of $300,000, $150,000 and $50,000 for the three highest point-scorers at the conclusion of the 12-race series. Orchestral’s return headlines an exciting weekend for Kingsclere Stables, who will also be represented by last-start Stella Artois 1500 Championship Final (1500m) winner Hasstobeawinner in the NZB Karaka 2025 (1500m) at Ellerslie on Sunday. The form out of that Stella Artois 1500 victory on Boxing Day has already received a notable boost, with runner-up Bourbon Empress going on to win the Gr.2 Rich Hill Mile (1600m) on New Year’s Day. “He won that race very well and the form has stacked up,” James said. “That looks to me to be the most competitive race of the day on Sunday, there’s a lot of form in that line-up. It’s not a given that he can win again, but we have been very happy with the horse in between times.” On Friday at Tauranga, James and Wellwood will be represented by resuming runners Arabian Songbird in the MJ @ Ray White Greerton (1400m) and December in the Social Club Greerton (1200m). “I think Arabian Songbird’s last race at Pukekohe in November was a real ‘forget’ run,” James said. “She won both of her starts before than in very good style. She’s had a little freshen up and has pleased us with her work. She can run a bold race on Friday. “December is a pretty fair sprinter and is coming up really well. He’s still on the way up, so he’ll take some good improvement out of whatever he does on Friday.”

For example?

There's 6 horses running around in Perth on Saturday in a BM72 for $88k AU gold coins.

The way Orchestral came back initially this season she isn't a racecourse certainty.

I really don't understand what the problem is here. It happens on a regular basis at Metro tracks in Australia had often for a lot more dosh than $65k NZ Pesos! As for @Huey and his mythical Mafia who is the capomandamento aka The Boss aka The Godfather?

One up for those that supports the Horticultural Experts. https://www.evergreen.com.au/

From what I've read the Flemington Track Manager is one they should be following. Flemington seems to be the most consistent track in OZ.

Who is going to sign up for an 18 month job?

Based on the information at the time it was.

FFS all the industry’s funding comes from its main revenue source the TAB. Do you propose a levy/tax on all stakeholders to fund it instead?

Wasn't deleted just hidden. Thank you for your understanding.

What did you expect Elliot to say? I'm sure McNab would have disagreed. Yeah Na! Nothing in it like kissing the sister.

To those who wish to debate the recent RIB Judgement on the GRNZ Track Manager feel free to satisfy your needs on other Social Media and not BOAY. This Topic crosses the line with regard to BOAY's policy and because of the subject matter is likely to encourage further posts that do. But most importantly the issue has been dealt to and as it involves innocent parties and victims it will NOT be debated on BOAY. As I said feel free to gossip and eviscerate Greyhound Racing elsewhere.

WILL POWER LAD (D Cooper) - Dipped passing the 1100 metres. Shifted outwards when being steadied off the heels of TAP ‘N’ GO making contact with ZOULANDER near the 700 metres hampering that runner which was forced wider. D Cooper was shown a replay of this incident in the presence of the Apprentice Riding Mentor and advised he must make a better effort to restrain his mounts and not put his troubles onto other runners.

Unfortunately a race meeting would have to be abandoned after one race. Too much surface water. Unless King Canute did a deal with Moses.

I think you'll find the Rapahoe Beach is a bit stony. Although better elevated viewing facilities for the General Public than Riccarton or Trentham.

Evaporate scores Kiwi slot | RACING.COM www.racing.com Lindsay Park's Evaporate has been revealed as the fourth confirmed runner for the inaugural NZ Bloodstock Kiwi, taking Entain's slot in the Southern Hemisphere's richest three-year-old race. Bred at Little Avondale Stud, the son of Per Incanto is eligible for the race (worth $4.5 million including stakes and bonuses) through his New Zealand breeding and has earned his selection after a stunning second campaign. Evaporate won four races on end from early August through late September, including the Group 2 Stutt Stakes, before concluding his prep with a third in the G1 Caulfield Guineas and a luckless Cox Plate run. "We've searched through the history books and to have a placegetter in the Caulfield Guineas - a race that is one of the best three-year-old races on the Australian calendar and famous for launching stallion careers - head across the Tasman is a fantastic coup for the inaugural running of The NZB Kiwi," Entain Managing Director - New Zealand, Cameron Rodger said. "Evaporate is a shining example of the New Zealand thoroughbred being bred and foaled at the famous Little Avondale Stud on the outskirts of Masterton. He's already proven himself on the Australian stage and we're thrilled to have him back for such a massive day in New Zealand racing history. "With a strong following across the ditch, Evaporate's presence in The NZB Kiwi will ensure the Australasian focus on 8 March will be squarely set on Champions Day at Ellerslie." JD Hayes said he is thrilled to be flying the Australian flag for The Kiwi's inaugural edition and believes Evaporate has what it takes to be in the finish. "It’s an honour to be part of the first-ever running of The NZB Kiwi and we think we've got a very talented three-year-old to give this race a shake," Hayes said. "He was tremendous during the spring and has all the credentials to be a major player over the 1500m, which is in the same distance range as the Caulfield Guineas. "While he certainly is Kiwi-bred, we're proud to be adding some trans-Tasman flavour to this brand-new race." Evaporate is likely to trial later this month and run first-up in Victoria in February, before travelling to New Zealand for The Kiwi. He joins Damask Rose (Te Akau Racing), Domain Ace (Canterbury Jockey Club) and Sought After (Waikato Stud) as the race's confirmed runners to date. Trainer B. & W. & JD.Hayes Age 3YO Sex Gelding Colour Bay Prize Money $740,625 Last 5 11139 Career 10-4-2-1 9 – 9 M V 26 OCT 2024 2040m $21.00 3 – 11 CAUL 12 OCT 2024 1600m $17.00 1 – 8 M V 27 SEP 2024 1600m $3.80 1 – 8 M V 7 SEP 2024 1600m $2.90 1 – 9 M V 24 AUG 2024 1523m $6.50

Uh? Are you suggesting tbe 100's that do are just investors?

Sargent splurges on Secret sister www.racing.com John Sargent will train In Secret's sister, who set a new benchmark on the second day of the 2025 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. The filly, by I Am Invincible out of Eloping, was knocked down to the veteran trainer, whose winning bid of $2.3 million was fuelled by a partnership with Laguna Partnership's Ian Moses. Sargent explained that Moses is keen to establish a quality broodmare band and this filly will one day become one of its centrepieces. The $2.3m figure represents the most the Group 1-winning trainer has ever paid for a horse and is the highest-priced yearling at the halfway mark of the sale. "That's what you've got to pay for quality these days," Sargent said. "That's Aussie dollars too, not Kiwi dollars. "I bought her for a friend of mine in New Zealand that has started investing in some well-bred fillies to start a broodmare band. "She's the first one off the list and hopefully there will be more to come. "She's probably got a bit more scope than In Secret, this filly, and being a full to a Coolmore winner, it's great to get her in the stable." In Secret was retired by Godolphin in 2024 after a glittering 15-start career that yielded more than $5.5m in prizemoney courtesy of wins in the G1 Coolmore Stud Stakes and G1 Newmarket Handicap. WATCH: Sargent chats about his I Am Invincible x Eloping filly https://www.racing.com/news/2025-01-08/news-sales-sargent-splurges-on-secret-sister

It kind of reeks of the Bayliss era where NZ was going to be a Global Leader in Thoroughbred Racing.

You're starting to disappoint me @Huey I thought you were actually a racing follower. https://coolmore.com/stallions/kings-legacy

Come on @Huey you and @nomates would have to be in on this one at $30k? https://catalogue.magicmillions.com.au/lot/25GPR/265 Hell 10% is what you spend at the RSA each week!

If I'd seen Without A Fight walking before I put my bet on at odds to win the Caulfield Cup I would never have backed it. Backed up on the Melbourne Cup too.