Chief Stipe

Report from Tony Pike: “We’ve got through the day well, the jockeys have been happy with the track and there’s definitely more indentation in the track then there probably was previously,” Pike said. “Obviously getting later in the afternoon now, it is starting to firm up a touch, but I think everyone has been pleased with the surface.” Pike collected his first stakes success of the season with Poetic Champion in the Listed El Roca – Sir Colin Meads Trophy (1200m) with Matt Cartwright on board, who was also able to provide a fresh perspective on Ellerslie after moving from Victoria, where the StrathAyr is utilised at the likes of Moonee Valley. “One of the comments from Matt Cartwright, who has ridden on StrathAyr tracks a number of times in Melbourne, was that a bit more grass cover would be ideal, and talking to Paul (Wilcox, Auckland Thoroughbred Racing chief executive), they have fertilised the track and will be getting more grass cover ahead of the upcoming race meetings,” Pike said. “I think it’s been positive all round and we’re looking forward to getting back to headquarters on race day.”

No money to fix it? No insurance?

MEETING NEWS October 9 meeting to Tauranga The meeting scheduled for Wednesday 9 October at Avondale will now be held by Racing Tauranga at Tauranga. This is due to on-going power supply issues at Avondale. The programme remains as advertised

Surely Ellerslie is recording something in order to manage the track. Or is it just how far a finger goes into the ground?

Yet for the StrathAyr at Moonee Valley the following information is provided: Meeting Type: Metro (TAB MEETING) Print Friendly Rail Position: True Entire Circuit Dual Track Meeting: N Track Type: Turf Track Condition: Good 4 Weather: Fine Penetrometer: Track Information: Inspection 6AM 7/9; Going stick 9.2, Shear 11.2, Penetrate 8.2. Moisture 22.5%. Track was mowed Tuesday at 4" Scratchings Last Published: Sat 07-Sep-24 7:48AM AEST

Auckland Thoroughbred Racing (ATR) wishes to advise that throughout the StrathAyr track testing process at Ellerslie which included gallops, jumpouts and trials, ATR found that the penetrometer readings taken on each occasion did not provide an accurate guide as to how the track was performing. In collating feedback from stakeholders, it is apparent that the readings are stating the track is much firmer than how it rides. After discussing the matter with the team from StrathAyr, Chris Hay, Track Manager at Elwick Racecourse in Tasmania (a racecourse also in possession of a StrathAyr track) and New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing, it has been agreed that using penetrometer readings to determine the level of firmness of the Ellerslie track is a flawed process. Therefore, for the foreseeable future, the Ellerslie track will be declared a Good 4 irrespective of rainfall. This track rating will be a more accurate guide for stakeholders including the wagering public. ATR has every intention of continuing to publicise the Ellerslie track penetrometer readings once they are more reflective of how the track will perform.

Moonee Valley is StrathAyr is it not? This is their track report for last Saturday: Please note that no further Track Condition Reports outside of the four Racing Victoria submission timeframes and deadlines outlined below are required to be submitted unless there is a change in Track Rating. If there is a change in Track Rating at any stage an additional report will be entered by the Victorian Club Track Managers. For further information please contact the relevant racing club. Item Inspection Timeframe Inspection Deadline for Track Rating to be Submitted Non Submission Follow Up 1 Day of nominations close [after nominations close] Following Noms Close & Prior to 2:50pm By Racing Victoria Post 3pm and prior to 4pm 2 Day before acceptances close [after nominations close] Prior to 2:50pm By Racing Victoria Post 3pm and prior to 4pm 3 Day of acceptances close [before acceptances close] Prior to 6:50am [where there has been significant weather conditions overnight resulting in a change in Track Rating since the prior day's report] 4 Day before Race Day [after acceptances close] Prior to 2:50pm By Racing Victoria Post 3pm and prior to 4pm 5 Race Day [after acceptances close] Prior to 6:50am By Racing Australia Post 6:50am Meeting Type: Metro (TAB MEETING) Print Friendly Rail Position: True Entire Circuit Dual Track Meeting: N Track Type: Turf Track Condition: Good 4 Weather: Fine Penetrometer: Track Information: Inspection 6AM 7/9; Going stick 9.2, Shear 11.2, Penetrate 8.2. Moisture 22.5%. Track was mowed Tuesday at 4" Scratchings Last Published: Sat 07-Sep-24 7:48AM AEST

What about the NZTR Roadshow?

Uh? A G4 irrespective of rainfall? What about moisture content readings? Do we have 4 AWT's in NZ now?

Well the stand like most of that era faces away from the sun. Then again @curious you don't appear to have ever carried much insulating condition.

Yes the on course sound system is worse than crap. The facilities are OK though.

Then how do they determine if it's a G4 without a penetrometer OR a moisture meter. Will it never be soft?

Meeting News 2YO 800m Trial Riccarton Park 14 September 2024 Please see attached for information about a 2YO 800m trial prior to Race 1 at Riccarton Park on Saturday 14th September.

I note there was no moisture meter reading. Surely that would be part of the comeback process? How do they calibrate for the future? Was a penetrometer used? Actually have any of the "test" gallops had these metrics recorded? Surely the track manager would be taking these readings daily to assist with calibrating the water budget? ATR @ Ellerslie Trials | Tuesday 10 September TRIAL DAY Trial Morning Weather: Cloudy Track: Good 4 Moisture Meter: N/A Rail: Out 12.5m Irrigation: 10mm Applied Last 24 Hours Weather and Track updated at 6.50am Tuesday 10 September

Have you had rain since? The 39% moisture reading would indicate it was quite firm.

Nomination Morning Weather: Fine Track: Soft 5 Moisture Meter: 39.1% Rail: Out 8m Rainfall: 2mm Rain Last 7 Days | No Rain Last 24hrs Irrigation: Nil Weather and Track updated at 8.59 am Tuesday 10 September Mmmm a moisture reading of 39.1% but only a Soft 5. Compared to a 43.3% Soft 5 the previous racedah. Unfortunately a Southerly dump of rain forecast for Saturday. Race Day Weather: Fine Track: Soft 5 Moisture Meter: 43.3% Rail: Out 9m to 1000m then 11m to winning post. Rainfall: No Rain Last 24 Hours Irrigation: N/A Weather and Track updated at 6.56am Saturday 31 August

The comeback trail for racing at Ellerslie starts AGAIN. 140 horses over 22 trials. https://loveracing.nz/raceinfo/53533/meeting-overview.aspx NZ's leading stable has no entries. Rail out 12.5m. I thought the problems were inside I.e. nearer to true? So they are essentially testing a portion of the track that hasn't been raced on. A Good 4 after 10mm of irrigation in the last 24 hours. By comparison that amount of water applied to Hastings in dribs and drabs produced a Soft 5. Will they have set some measures/metrics for determining if the track is up to scratch? Or will they rely on the random questioning of a handful of Senior Jockeys? Will they send a structured questionnaire to Trainers post the trial meeting asking how their horses came through the trials?

They only photographed those paying the bills.

Just emailing re: the following from Curious: Another minor issue here is he has cut and pasted Mary Burgess' figures. She says "If you applied the average per horse turnover figure from the 2022-23 NZTR Annual Report (the 2023-24 one not yet being available online) then that's around $17.7m they contribute to the total NZ Turnover." However, the actual figure in the consultation document was $5.6m for FY23. He either can't read or was too lazy to check before parroting her erroneous calculation. Yes, the numbers do differ from the consultation document, because the consultation document was based on JUMPS starts, my figures looked at every start the jumpers had last season, both over fences and on the flat. Probably best to read things properly before accusing people of publishing erroneous figures. I look forward to a gracious apology from Curious, whoever they might be! Mary Burgess

The Mapperly Stud stallion Contributer has passed away. HIGH CHAPARRAL - SERISIA 16.1 HH | BAY | 2010 Sire of Gr.1 Randwick Guineas winner Lion's Roar, Gr.1 Zabeel Classic winner Campionessa, Gr.2 Autumn Stakes winner Snow Patrol, Gr.2 Lowland Stakes winner Llanacord, and a total of 9 individual stakes winners Champion 2nd season sire by winners, total wins, and total earnings 6.5% Stakes winners to runners / 16% stakes performers to runners 2 individual Gr.1 winners from his first crop Offspring have sold up to $500,000 Champion Australian Middle Distance Horse of the Year Brilliant winner of the Gr.1 Chipping Norton (1600m), Gr.1 Ranvet (2000m), Gr.2 Apollo (1400m) and Gr.3 David Jones Cup By champion sire High Chaparral - sire of 23 individual Gr.1 winners and a proven sire of sires The Best-performed son of High Chaparral standing at stud in NZ, a perfect outcross for all O'Reilly, Danehill & Zabeel mares

Peters Speech at HOTYS 2024.m4a

But what's it got to do with anything? The example you use as an exemplar has by comparison to NZ appalling Greyhound industry statistics. Are you saying NZ should compromise dog safety by spending money on technology to provide data that no one really uses? Chazza you really are getting desperate in your obsessive crusade.

WTF are you on about?

No just your ramblings based on embellishment and misinformation get repetitive and boring.