Chief Stipe

By whom? I see there was only 6 starters in the Reefton Cup. Arguably only four went round.

Then why did 3 trial? Isn't it an issue for the South Island Trainers to sort out? How many do you expect to line up on 25 January?

I take it you can read @Freda 's mind? How is the process different?

Probably trying to see if it was up to KM level. Currently 13th in order of entry with most of it winnings won at Riccarton. Although it did pick up over $3k for running last in the Eclipse.

Assuming you mean this weekend. One of those horses is chasing Black Type at Trentham. I guessing another is trying to sling shot into the KM and is being tested at Ellerslie for that way round and on the Strathayr. Not sure who the third is.

The last SI trials were 27 November 2024 and not one 2yr old went round! So what do you expect? Prior to that only 3 went round at the trials on 7 November 2024.

You didn't mention the START of the GAP!

Only counting the horses not balloted - an average rating of 81. Barely an Open Handicap. Sure Tauranga isn't much better.

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.