Chief Stipe

It isn't actually the most exciting ive been to but it is up there. Certainly as good entertainment as anything else on offer. You should get out of your greasy armchair and put some pants on and a clean singlet and attend at least once.

Pure BS on your part. But in the remotest chance that you have come across from the dark side well done. I can recommend a couple of Te Akau yearlings that were purchased at the Magic Millions.

Karaka Millions: Te Akau takes out mega money double at Ellerslie www.nzherald.co.nz It targets the Millions every year and has its 2-year-old and 3-year-old machines so well-oiled the tangerine colours strike fear into rival trainers. That hadn’t been the case so much at the new Ellerslie with its StrathAyr track but trainers Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson righted that ledger last night. They were aided by two Australian supermen of the saddle, Craig Williams not panicking when copping pressure on La Dorada and then Blake Shinn being patient from the wide gate on Damask Rose. La Dorada set up the double domination by leading, being slightly pressured but kicking clear in just her third start. The neat daughter of Waikato Stud stallion Super Seth, she cost Te Akau boss David Ellis $190,000 at the sales last year. “We trained her dam [Gold Fever] too and she was a very good filly so a family we know well,” said Ellis. “This is a race and a night that means so much to us. To continue to win it for our owners means the world to us, especially on sales’ eve. “Then to come out and have Damask Rose win like that, well that makes me feel very proud. “We put a lot of effort into buying these horses but that is only the start. “The staff at the stables work so hard and a lot of people in our syndicates get a lot of joy out of what that work produces.” The wins set Te Akau up for a shot at a richer double at the biggest meeting held in New Zealand, the new Champions Day being held at Ellerslie on March 8. Damask Rose is already in Te Akau’s slot for the new $3.5m NZB Kiwi slot race, and is now eligible for a huge money bonus after winning tonight’s race. That same day La Dorada will chase a Group 1 in the Sistema Stakes, the ultimate goal for any sprinting juvenile filly, being worth far more than a winning stakes. As dominant as the Te Akau fillies were there was plenty to admire in the beaten brigade in both races. Runner-up Vega For Luck was excellent in the juvenile while Miss Ziggy gave the South Island a rare Karaka Millions placing, and favourite To Bravery Born was fourth without a lot going right. In the 3-Year-Old event, runner-up Tuxedo was excellent while Dealt With was brave in just his third start after leading and confirming he will be a player in the NZB Kiwi, which he secured a slot in on Saturday morning, while Bourbon Proof ran on well.

Are you and Colin Wightman aka @Transparency blood brothers?

Why torture yourself? You obviously only watched so you could bitch about it.

You're a plonker @Huey. Did DCE out smart you over a horse sale or in your case he probably out traded you on a truck of steers? Over the years I've come across a number of negative types like you. Eventually it comes out that at some time in the past they formed an irrational grievance over some slight or something minor. What is your grievance?

Cynic. What's your problem? Instead of taking smart arse pot shots at Racing tell us all what you have achieved that gives you any credence on the subject? Quite frankly you'd be better to invest yiur negativity in the SPCA or PETA or SAFE. They'd love your investment.

Your obsessions are causing you to lose the plot. What does this post actually mean? The Training Partnership's at Te Akau are very much involved in selecting and buying the yearlings. Walker, Bergerson, Gleeson and Durant. Do you want them to thank themselves?

No matter how much you promote it @TAB For Ever the BGP model of promotion has a limited life. Cracks are starting to show. I know an increasing number of BGP members who no longer bother with the BGP betting pool but maintain a connection so they join the public stand area that it partitioned off for them. How is the BGP pool a positive marketing promotion for the TAB? Sure the TAB makes a net revenue from it even though the margin after marketing is significantly less than any other product they have. Explain why is it good marketing for the TAB to promote a product that so glaringly highlights, to quote you, that 95% of punters lose? As a group of BGP members said to me it isn't a good look that the BGP has all the resources, inside information and favourable odds a available to it as still loses big? As they said they'd rather have direct control over how they lose their money.

Is that all you have left cynicism and sarcasm? Why don't you start a thread availing us of your past massive contribution to and participation in racing?

So why do you bother? You are so bitter and twisted about the sport probably because of some grievance from the past why bother at all? I'm guessing you are one of these people who talked big but was never very successful in horse racing and is now a perpetual cynic who contributes nothing to anything.

I think they are all interesting. There'll be a riot if La Dorada wins. Must be 50 people in the syndicate at least many with BGP connections. Many first time owners.

Well the fields today at Ellerslie are pretty good.

Yes TABNZ rules say they can but it wouldn't surprise me if the World Pool operator the HKJC has contractual restrictions.

Will TABNZ be allowed to lay off Fixed Odds bets on the World Pool? If they are then wouldn't you see smaller late fluctuations in price? Will be interesting to compare the first 3 races with the last 3 which are the only World Pool ones.

Isn't that one of the reasons Tony Lee was let go? He refused to do selections in the way you described.

Spratt doesn't do what you describe. Prove it.

What about the Jockeys that put the whip forward towards the face but don't touch the horse? It is sort of like when you lead a horse and when they don't go where you want them to go you put your hand up and they go straight. I'm not sure I like the whip forward. Now one thing with regard to the whip that I'd like to see really enforced is where a Jockey goes to whip their horse but clips the face of the horse improving beside them.

Agree wholeheartedly. However I've only introduced one person to racing in the last year.

When that happens it will be the end of my involvement in NZ Racing.

Don't tell @Thomass that's who Sam Sprat learned the technique off.

He only whips @curious's horses.

Might have been compacted. Anyway it's hard to tell what it was like just looking a race video. The Jockeys were keen to continue. What I've seen closeup of some of these slips is that often they are isolated and relate to one horse rather than a wide ranging problem involving a number of horses. If the horse had not become unbalanced it probably wouldn't have slipped. Why didn't the Jockey keep pushing down the outside? Or did the horse duck in? If it hadn't of slipped then the races would have continued. Odds are there wouldn't have been another slip. Again just speculation. If the riders were all in agreement that they could ride a safe AND competitive manner then surely they'd have a better idea than the Stipe? Given the wide variance in skill level and competitiveness where do you set the line? If you set the line too low then you'd never have another meeting on those tight West Coast circuits.

So what's your point? Hardly third tier more like 2nd. The elite are aiming for the Group races leading up to and around the Slipper.

Horses hate strong winds especially at the barriers. Instinct rules over training.