Chief Stipe

The New Zealand Pattern Committee have recently released a report outlining their review of the 2023/24 racing season. The committee, chaired by former New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing chairman Matthew Goodson, plays an important role in keeping New Zealand’s Group and Listed races to an international standard. “The committee is a group of representatives, half are New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing appointed (Bruce Sherwin, Mark Freeman and Gus Wigley) and half are New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association appointed (Michelle Saba, Scott Calder and Nick Hewson), and one New Zealand Bloodstock nominee (Kane Jones),” Goodson said. “It is our role to grade the best races in New Zealand in the year just gone according to global norms, using the handicapping ratings put together by the New Zealand handicapper, which in turn are moderated by the Asian handicapping group. “All of our Listed races are assessed according to that. We then make decisions as to whether those races should still be Listed, and if so in what category, with the idea being that a Group One in New Zealand should be comparable to one in Australia, Japan, South Africa, UK etc. And likewise down to Listed level. “It has considerable implications for the bloodstock industry in terms of pedigrees.” The committee’s recent report has outlined a number of changes to the status of stakes races in the upcoming racing calendar, with the biggest announcement being the downgrade of the Levin Classic (1600m) from a Group One to a Group Two. “The race has been struggling for quite some time,” Goodson said. “It had been moved back to mid-March. It was at risk of being downgraded last year, but the Asian Pattern Committee, to which our decisions are subject to moderation, decided to give it one last chance along with the move back to January. “The race failed by a wee way to meet the required benchmark in terms of the best performance of the season by the top four starters and top four placegetters, so it has been downgraded to a Group Two. “I think the Karaka Million three-year-old race has inevitably had some impact on it. It is an amazing event for the industry, but given the restricted entry, the race can only be a Restricted Listed race.” The Avondale Cup (2400m) has also been downgraded from a Group Two to a Group Three, while the Mufhasa Stakes’ (1500m) status has changed from a Group Three to a Restricted Listed, given it will now be known as the NZB Kiwi (1500m) slot race. “The Avondale Cup has been teetering for quite some time,” Goodson said. “The ratings were clearly below the required levels, so that has been moved down to a Group Three.” Goodson said the downward ratings trend of staying races is particularly concerning, not only in New Zealand, but around the world. “It has been gradual but possibly reflects the evolution of the breed,” he said. While there have been a couple of downgrades to stakes races on the New Zealand racing calendar, there have been a couple of additions as well, with both the Aotearoa Classic (1600m) and Lisa Chittick Champagne Stakes (1400m) given Listed status. “The Aotearoa Classic was one of the highest rating races of the season,” Goodson said. “It would be our expectation that it will go from strength-to-strength in the coming years. It is a $1 million four-year-old race that is well placed in the calendar, so you would think it would have further upside in the years ahead. “The Lisa Chittick Champagne Stakes has clearly well exceeded the required minimum benchmarks for elevation. It has been close in the past and we think its place in the calendar should ensure it gets a good, solid field in the years ahead. We think it should easily be able to hold its new status.” The committee has also placed warnings and alerts on several races, with seven Group One races having been placed under warning in the recent review. “As soon as a race missed the required ratings, we put an alert on them, and if they miss it a couple of times we put a warning on them,” Goodson said. “After that, if it misses again then it may be downgraded, but we consider a whole range of circumstances about whether it is appropriate.” The Gr.1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m) is one of the elite-level races that has been placed under warning, however, the committee believes additional prizemoney in this season’s race will incentivise a high quality line-up. “The main concern looking forward is the fact we do have several Group One races under warning at the moment. I think most of them will stay up, but there is a risk to at least a couple of those in the next few years,” Goodson said. “The New Zealand Oaks (Gr.1, 2400m) is of particular concern as a number of horses have elected to either target the (New Zealand) Derby (Gr.1, 2400m) or target the Sydney autumn races in preference to Trentham. “We discussed a whole range of potential things that might be done and NZTR has pleasingly chosen to move some of the prizemoney that was attached to the Levin Classic to the Oaks and give it a $1 million stake. “We would be very hopeful we will see a better outcome this season. It has really only been the last couple of years that it has deteriorated, so we are hoping that changes, particularly with the high stake.” The Gr.1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) is also under warning, with the Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) placed on alert. “The 1000 Guineas was a strange one in that it was an 18-horse field (last season) and every horse was a winner. Normally their (horses) ratings improve through the season, but it was an unusual season in that they didn’t kick on, so the race failed again. “There is the perennial issue of travel to Christchurch, but I know a lot of thought has gone into travel arrangements so one would hope it can maintain its position. “The 2000 Guineas had a warning placed against it at one point before it made its grade again, so that was removed. It continues to be a bit of a worry.” Goodson said the committee has concerns about the conservative nature in the way three-year-olds are rated in New Zealand. “It wasn’t such an issue in the season just gone, but we have been a bit concerned at the ratings assigned to New Zealand three-year-olds, because they do tend to be conservative unless that horse performs very well subsequently in Australia, which can prove to be difficult at the end of a long campaign,” he said. “Often, we will see some of the three-year-olds go on as four-year-olds in Australia and Hong Kong with higher ratings. “I think those concerns are heard at the Asian Pattern Committee. It is certainly not something we can rest easily on in terms of out three-year-old races because we do feel our three-year-old racing generally matches up very well.” Maintaining a healthy ratio of stakes races to overall races on the calendar is also a juggling act for the committee. “We have had an issue with fewer races having been run in recent years, which means our percentage of (stakes) races has risen to well over six percent,” Goodson said. “We chopped a number of Listed races out of the programme last year and removed any tolerance for Listed races failing to meet their required benchmark. We think that will keep the percentage under control, but it is still in the mid to high fives, which is a bit too high. “It is going to be very difficult to add further races to the pattern, but we are encouraged that there will be slightly more races run this year. With the improving prizemoney we are hopeful that will continue to be the case in the future.” While seven Group One races are currently under warning, Goodson said New Zealand Group Ones overall need to improve to keep up with other racing jurisdictions. “In general, our Group One races are rating at the lower level of global norms,” he said. “Generally, our Group Two, Three and Listed races are fine, but is has always been a battle for our Group One races. “As a pattern committee, we have to be very conscious, so we want them to be viewed as genuine Group One races in a global context. It is a real balancing act, as when you lose a Group One, you are not going to get it back again, but at the same time you have to be very conscious of that global view of them.”

Didn't Wilcox say after the February 26 trials/jumpouts earlier this year the exact same thing he said to Guerin after the latest trials?

So they either: didn't test the mix in local conditions before seeding the main track; and/or the didn't manage the early growth to get the right phenotype response for the conditions. Surely it was evident fairly quickly from the sampling they took that the lea wasn't growing how it should? I guess their only option now is to constantly verti-drain and see if it comes right.

They didn't test or know that that variety had that phenotype? In the local conditions?

Yes but would that bring back the sheer/surface tension problem?

Or the Cambridge Synthetic?

You snapshot picture doesn't look too different to the ones I took at the beginning of the year. If you verti-drain close to raceday then sure horses hooves will dig in. Bit like grooming an AWT!

Don't get me started. The fertiliser looks good! Seems verti-draining is now going to be a regular activity less than a week out from a meeting? The track is like a hydroponic system or pure synthetic with grass grown on top of it. It isn't what I thought a Strathayr was. Does Moonee Valley look like this?

Certainly not a Soft 5. Or are tracks not calibrated nationally but locally!

Eh? Now they are using a moisture meter as well. But a moisture content of 23% would on most tracks be a Good 3. What do you think @curious ?

Meeting News ATR @ Ellerslie | Saturday 21 September Nomination Morning Weather: Showery Track: Soft 5 Moisture Meter: 23.1% Rail: True Rainfall: 9mm Rain Last 24hrs Irrigation: Nil Weather and Track updated at 8.40am Tuesday 17 September

How do they work that out when they don't use a penetrometer? Perhaps they could have borrowed a "Going Stick" from their OZZIE consulants? One of @Thomass 's chestnuts.

Might be easier and cheaper for a trainer to get to Melbourne than Trentham not so for a horse. Time wise a different story. Often quicker to fly a horse to Melbourne than to float it to Ellerslie.

https://www.facebook.com/share/GnKs5Dsb4sU5zXVS/?mibextid=A7sQZp

You are speculating. Even if what you infer was true then surely that is the type of people they should be seeking the views of. That is those that have bet in the past and no longer bet as much. Perhaps they might learn something as opposed to asking the pathological punter such as yourself.

As I posted previously the even description could cover any number of possibilities from very minor to major. Isn't that standard practice now? Make your mind up - on the one hand you argue that GRNZ Vets aren't doing enough for dog welfare and now you are criticising them when they do something for dog welfare. The inference you made in starting this Topic is that something underhand was happening. There is no evidence to hand to show that so in that regard in my words there IS NOTHING HAPPENING HERE. If you have evidence other than your weird conspiracies and speculations then post it. That is put up or shut up. They are not "VERY rare anomalies" - that's entirely your spin. The blood tests returned clear results. NOTHING TO SEE THERE!!!

Who exactly in the Waikato? I'd argue that it isn't suiting the Waikato Trainers at all. Especially those that try to look after their horses. So who does it favour? And why?

No Alan it would appear only unsuccessful punters. So @Brodie won't be invited.

The Givealittle page is now closed. Good luck Lauren.

No but you were motivated to post something irrelevant.

MEETING NEWS Taranaki Race Time Changes Due to an issue with starting gates transportation the race times today at New Plymouth have changed, going back 1 race. The race times are now: Race 1 - 1.09pm Race 2 - 1.43pm Race 3 - 2.17pm Race 4 - 2.51pm Race 5 - 3.29pm Race 6 - 4.04pm Race 7 - 4.42pm Race 8 - 5.19pm

Or you could try this today. TAB REMINDER: Place your next Fixed Win Single bet on ANY RACE at Rosehill today & we'll match it up to $50 in Bonus Cash to use however you like! R18+ Bet Responsibly.

You can always play the BB Cash if your win bet finishes 2nd, 3rd or 4th. Then there is the Bet Surge offers on selected win bets.

The industry Flash Harry's are no doubt grateful that you have contributed to their salaries over the years. Assuming of course that your lifetime account has run at a loss to you. The horse owners are also grateful that you have contributed to the meagre stake returns. Assuming your lifetime account has run at a net loss to you. However what I don't get is why you expect "free" credit bets when your account is low or at zero.