Chief Stipe

So are you suggesting not to ever water a track?

How else do you test it? As for the track ratings I no longer have any confidence that what I read is the track rating is in fact the track rating. About time they starting doing what they do at the Metro tracks in Victoria.

Did anyone see the ride on Antino? A case of Blake Shinn showing some initiative.

It isn't "normal practice". It is a requirement.

Yes but not 20 surely.

I reckon it was one of Macdonalds poor rides in the Guineas and he has them from time to time. The lack of pace in the race didn't help and no Jockey was prepared to to step up. I think the bias argument is over rated.

Are you suggesting that they shouldn't have galloped on the track one day prior?

This statistic is pointless unless you analyse the sectionals and other variables.

Caulfield track pattern review | RACING.COM www.racing.com The Melbourne Racing Club will review its track preparations after Saturday’s meeting at Caulfield where there were accusations of track bias. MRC chairman John Kanga and Caulfield track manager Sam Bennetts said an in-depth review would be conducted in the aftermath of the race meeting. “Our team will review and evaluate the track performance tomorrow, taking into account sectional timings and tempo, as well as other factors such as wind,” Kanga said. “Our aim is always to present a track that is fair for all runners, but track preparation is an imprecise science.” Bennetts, who was appointed to the position in May, said he had spent a lot of time thinking about what could have been done differently in the past 24 hours. “These days happen, but we don’t want them to happen on these big meetings. We will have an in-depth review of the full year, see what we can nail down and improve.” “We were happy with it at the start, but after race four things changed. There’s room for vast improvement on a feature day like this and the industry deserves better on these feature days.” Bennetts said the track raced on the drier side of what he anticipated which was demonstrated with the track upgrade after the fourth race. “We will look at the soil moisture component,” he said. Bennetts said they would examine the rail placements in the lead-up to the race meeting, which would include the winter months. Bennetts said the rail would be out 12 metres for Wednesday’s meeting, which is where it was last year. They were already putting water on the track. He said for the Caulfield Cup meeting the rail would most likely be at the 3m mark. Kanga said while a number of races were won by horses on the pace, Jimmystar and Bellatrix Star won from midfield positions and Antino from the rear. While some jockeys and trainers lambasted the track for playing to on-pacers, others such as Danny O’Brien gave it his support. O’Brien posted on X that it was the best track for the spring and Caulfield had rewarded on-speed tactical horses for 100 years.

Is there anything Chazza that you are not bitter and twisted about? Another post of fiction by you.

What do you expect? You ask the same dumb question on multiple sites with the inference that Colin Wightman has some nefarious agenda. The fact is he is concerned about the state of the two racing tracks at Riccarton on which his sizeable investment in bloodstock will race. It's a shame that many trainers and owners also affected feel too intimidated to publicly agree with him.

Yes in my opinion and from what I've heard the track ratings were well off. Yes you would expect a kinder track for jump-outs.

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.