Chief Stipe

Really Lane? You posed a nonsense question. The same nonsense question you frequently post. If you had bothered to read the discussion about the Riccarton Track that has been happening for at least 10 years you'd fully understand what the problem is. The introduction of the AWT has exacerbated the problems as now the available resources are stretched even thinner. Quite frankly you appear to have little understanding of any of the issues facing those that provide the product.

That's a shame. GRNZ have lost a very good employee and advocate for the sport. Good luck for your future endeavours Liz Whelan.

Isn't that your answer for everything Lane? That there is "some sort of agenda"? Yes there is a an agenda and that is to draw attention to the state of the race track surfaces at Riccarton. There are many issues. One is the inconsistency and variability across both tracks. Another is the accurate reporting of the turf track firmness. I have real doubts that Riccarton was only a Good 4 raceday morning.

It was dark blue. I see someone has a beige one today. Nice change.

It was on her head.

It would be great to seem some transparency around how much that subsidisation is.

That went through to the keeper for me. In the good old days you could talk to the right people, get a start and the draw you wanted!

They don't actually @Gammalite. There was a notable example last year where the best sprinter in Australia was offered a slot by a Slot Owner but on the condition that the horse was SOLD to the Slot Owner. I'm not sure what the prize money share offered was but it certainly wasn't the full purse. Now there are numerous variations of how a horse gets into The Everest. Generally Waller, Godolphin and Coolmore have a horse good enough to start - they probably have 2 or some years more that would rank in the top 14 sprinters in Australia. They could do a deal with another Slot Owner to get another of their horses into the race. At the end of the day getting into The Everest is dictated by the big stables and big owners. The neogtiations that go on and the final deals are numerous and varied. As are the amounts that are "shared". Theorectically now that The Everest is a Grp 1 a Slot Owner could offer the owner of a mare that was the best ranked sprinter a start just for the glory of getting The Everest Grp 1 in their pedigress i.e. share NONE of the prize money.

Which from my Lincoln College AG-ECON101 days was called a non-tariff trade barrier!!

But it isn't in The Everest when a ridiculous amount of money is up for grabs. Unless Joe Blog owner wants to sell their horse to a slot holder at a discount they can't get a start!!!

Do you think the Sweepstake, Slot or Novelty races with restrictions are going to help those races you mention? They only serve to screw the pattern and the best that meet the criteria for the big money chase that money and the expense of those races that have no novelty restrictions.

The Everest, All Star Mile get Group 1 status www.racenet.com.au THE $20 million TAB Everest has been given Group 1 status in time for next week's running of the world's richest turf race. After years of lobbying by Racing NSW, The Everest has finally been given due recognition for the significance and the impact it has had on Australian and world racing. Racing Australia chief executive Paul Eriksson confirmed The Everest's elevation to Group 1 status was with immediate effect, ahead of the race being run at Royal Randwick on October 19. Eriksson said a review of Australian Black Type guidelines for feature races is underway but, as a priority, The Everest and Victoria's autumn carnival feature, the All Star Mile, have been upgraded to Group 1 and ratified internationally. The Everest, which was introduced in 2017, has established itself as the world's premier sprint race even though it did not hold Group 1 status, the classification given to the highest level of thoroughbred races. Peter V'landys has been the driving force behind The Everest Picture: Jonathan Ng Racing Victoria had previously vetoed attempts to elevate The Everest to Group 1 status despite the Royal Randwick sprint consistently rating among the nation's highest races. But there is a new era of co-operation between the racing administrators in Victoria and NSW that has seemingly ended the sport's "Cold War" and led to The Everest upgrade. Racing NSW chief executive Peter V'landys was the driving force behind The Everest's introduction which was designed to be a focal point of a new and expanded Sydney spring carnival. The Everest's slot race concept has investors buying a starting position, valued this year at $700,000, and then looking to find a suitable sprinter to contest the lucrative Randwick sprint. When The Everest was first run, it had $10 million prizemoney but that has since doubled as the race each year has attracted bumper crowds to Randwick, attracted worldwide interest in Sydney racing, and huge increases in wagering turnover. Godolphin trainer James Cummings is aiming for his first The Everest win with crack colt Traffic Warden next week and welcomed the race's elevation to Group 1 status. Trainer Adrian Bott said The Everest is the nation's premier sprint event and deserves group 1 status Picture: Jeremy Ng/Getty Images "This will give The Everest the recognition it deserves,'' Cummings said. "We have been approaching the race with all the respect of a Group 1 and now it is official.'' Trainer Adrian Bott, who is preparing Lady Of Camelot and possibly Storm Boy for next week's race, said The Everest is regarded as the nation's premier sprint. "The depth and quality of The Everest fields since the race's inception has been of Group 1 quality and it is important the race is recognized as a Group 1,'' Bott said. "We hope to have two runners in the race including Lady Of Camelot, the Golden Slipper winner who will be ridden by Rachel King. "Coolmore (slot-holder and owner) is weighing what the best options are for Storm Boy and Brenton Avdulla is on standby for the ride.'' Coolmore's Tom Magnier, who is yet to decide if Storm Boy runs in next week's big race, said The Everest's elevation to Group 1 status is a "fantastic endorsement of the race". "Australia produces the best sprinters in the world as seen at Royal Ascot and here,'' Magnier said. "It's great for racing and I congratulate and thank everyone involved.'' Coolmore's Tom Magnier has spoken glowingly about The Everest being elevated to Group 1 standing Picture: Justin Lloyd Bjorn Baker, trainer of The Everest hopeful Stefi Magnetica, said "The Everest is a such a prestigious race now and it had been a Group 1 race in everything but name only.'' "This announcement has been long overdue because The Everest always rates extremely well and it is such a special race, it already stands alone,'' Baker said. "Stefi Magnetica is going really well and it is so exciting to be a part of The Everest next week but I know one thing, it will be harder to win than most Group 1 races, that's for sure.'' The Everest is also expected to sit comfortably among the world's top 100 Group 1 races next year which means it will be included in the World (Betting) Pool, administered by the Hong Kong Jockey Club. The World Pool gives punters around the world the opportunity to bet into a single, multi-million dollar wagering pool, returning substantial fees to the Australian Turf Club as host of The Everest meeting.

I'm surprised you and @Freda can't see the difference between The Everest and a Grp 1 that is one to the best of the best without any constraints. Many of the best sprinters are sitting on the seats at the side of the hall waiting to be INVITED to dance. They can't enter and then be selected on merit and performance relative to their peers. Waller or Godolphin may have 2 or even 3 horses better than the rest of the field but can only nominate 1 per the slot they own. @curious based on your criteria the KM races should be Group 1's. In my opinion these restricted races that restrict entry in a variety of ways are detrimental to the breed. Inevitably some very good horses miss out not because their owners choose not to start but because they are ineligible based on something other than their ability.

Of course they are restricted. For example the only way the best sprinter in OZ was going to race last year in The Everest was if she was sold to the slot holder!!! Ironically she was anyway but for a lot more than was being offered.

So the field is selected on merit?

So much for the best of the best. A fast track towards diminishing the breed.

All-Star Mile gets G1 status www.racing.com The All-Star Mile will be run as a Group 1 in 2025. Racing Australia confirmed the race's elevation to a G1 on Wednesday afternoon, while also announcing The Everest had also gained G1 status ahead of its running next Saturday. "Following the recent agreement and adoption of the Australian Black Type Guidelines by the Racing Australia Board, a review of races under those guidelines is being conducted. As a priority, the following races have been determined to have achieved the criteria and will be recognised as a Group 1: The Everest (and) The All-Star Mile," a Racing Australia media release read. "The All Star Mile and The Everest race upgrades have been ratified internationally. Whilst these upgrades will take immediate effect, further analysis and review of all black type races is being undertaken with the expectation that further announcements will be made in the near future." The All-Star Mile has rated 118.30 (2023/2024), 117.30 (2022/2023), and 117.50 (2021/2022) in its past three runnings, while The Everest has rated 120.50 (2023/2024), 120.80 (2022/2023), 120.50 (2021/2022). Racing Victoria later released a statement in response to the announcement: "We note and welcome Racing Australia's announcement that The All-Star Mile has been upgraded to Group 1 status, a decision ratified by the Asian Racing Federation. "The All-Star Mile has surpassed the Group 1 rating benchmark of 115 in each of its six editions and thus is worthy of carrying this elite status. "This year's All-Star Mile winner Pride Of Jenni was crowned Australian Racehorse of the Year last night and superstars in Mr Brightside and Zaaki precede her on the honour roll. "With The All-Star Mile finding a new home at Flemington on Super Saturday 2025 (8 March), the race is now firmly entrenched as Victoria's premier mile race of the autumn and a key feature on the Australian racing calendar."

2024 Slot Holders For The Everest Slot Holder Runner Trackside Media I Wish I Win Newgate & GPI Racing Stefi Magnetica Chris Waller Racing Joliestar Australian Turf Club Giga Kick Coolmore Storm Boy Fairway Thoroughbreds Sunshine In Paris Sir Owen Glenn Lady Of Camelot Max Whitby, Col Madden and Neil Werret Private Eye TAB Bella Nipotina The Star & Arrowfield I Am Me Yulong Investments Growing Empire Godolphin Traffic Warden

I can.

Riordan answers Te Akau’s call By LOVERACING.NZ News Desk - Joshua Smith - October 8, 2024 Share Australian jockey Liam Riordan will cross the Tasman to ride at Ashburton on Saturday. Photo: Jay Town (Racing Photos) Liam Riordan will add to the growing list of Australian jockeys crossing the Tasman to ride in New Zealand when he heads to Ashburton on Saturday. The 27-year-old Victorian has formed an association with Te Akau Racing through their Cranbourne barn, and he has accepted the invitation of trainer Mark Walker to ride for the stable in New Zealand this weekend. “I have ridden for Te Akau a few times in Melbourne and I am good friends with Ben Gleeson (Cranbourne assistant trainer),” Riordan said. “I pondered with the idea that if the opportunity arose I would go over there (New Zealand) and ride a meeting. “I just happened to run into Mark at the beach and I was talking with him and he asked me to ride five for him this week (at Ashburton). “I have never ridden overseas and I am looking forward to it. I am flying in on Friday and I fly out on Sunday.” Riordan became good friends with Gleeson while he was assistant trainer to Danny O’Brien, who Riordan has enjoyed riding for over the last few seasons. “I am the stable rider for Danny O’Brien here in Melbourne and I have been doing that for the last couple of years, I rode 20 or so winners for him last season so it has been going well,” Riordan said. Riordan is set to partner Group Two performer Dream Of The Moon (All Too Hard) in the Gr.3 Barneswood Farm Stakes (1400m) on Saturday, and the filly heads into the weekend in good form, having finished runner-up first-up in the Listed Canterbury Belle Stakes (1200m) at Riccarton last month. While Saturday’s meeting is currently a one-off for Riordan, he is hopeful of returning for New Zealand Cup Week next month. “I am hopeful of coming over a bit more often for Te Akau, maybe during the carnival,” he said. “I am able to ride light so that is probably a big asset as well. I will just see how Saturday goes, but hopefully it creates a few opportunities.” Former jockey Michael Coleman will be acting as Riordan’s riding agent while in New Zealand. “Reece (Trumper, Te Akau racing manager) put me onto Michael Coleman and he has been looking after my rides,” Riordan said.

I always thought The Firey Ginga was made to do too much too soon for too long.

Jamie Kah would be perfect on a horse I know very well.

Yesterday's measurements. Inside too low. 130-140.

No puns intended...but... The HMNZ Navy can't work out the difference between woke, wake and awake.