Chief Stipe

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.

Who actually is "they"? Perhaps "they" should be told that rocking the boat might save it from grounding on a reef.

Not for a kick arse CEO. Could only make things better and lots of dosh sloshing around to do it.

If that's the case why the need for Sharrock to stay on as a "Consultant" for 3 plus months?

Zac Lloyd (Molly Bloom): “A bit disappointed with her. She travelled really well. Lovely smooth run for he on the back of Kovalica and when they quickened, she lacked that turn of foot at the 400m leaving her flat footed.” Josh Parr (Rediener): “I butchered him.”

Guy Heveldt, Emily Bosson and Jayne Ivil are joined by Robbie Patterson to chat Breeders Stakes and Arrowfield wins. Britt Taylor talks Aussie racing and Russell Warwick is in studio to discuss the appointment of a new CEO at NZTR.

Plenty of examples through racing history where it hasn't. You'd know that!

Well we don't know how well ENTAIN are performing at the moment. So the rest of the Messara report about track consolidation and everything else we should have ignored? I don't disagree. The point I was making is that because of all the other things that are poorly managed (which I thought were mentioned in the Messara report) is that OZZIES now have an incentive to target NZ Stakes probably with horses below the elite level. NZTR or NZB or whoever it is has made it harder for the NZ horse to actually pick up the big plums. The way things are heading it would be easier to train your horse in OZ and target the prize plums or cherry pick in NZ. For most owners it is cheaper to fly to Melbourne, Sydney or Brisbane than get to Hastings!! In that regard it is easier to get to Auckland than it is to get to Hastings!

I don't think she is up to the OZZIE level. She also highlights the irrelevance of the NZ Bloodstock Filly of the Year award. The best 3 yr old filly in NZ last year was Orchestral yet she didn't win Filly of the Year. I can't work out why NZ Bloodstock don't get how their fixation on KM and other sweepstake races is actually doing the opposite of what their objective is. To promote the NZ breed. When was the last time the reviewed the criteria for NZB Filly of the Year?

Surely they just provide the revenue. Doesn't NZTR manage: Programming; The pattern; Handicapping; and Track maintenance (so we are led to believe).

In a way you are agreeing. What about all the NZ horses that have had their preparations inconvenienced? However the Hastings debacle is only one of a number of issues. Even though the Aussie rep didn't get a chance that time it still had what most NZ horses are struggling to get - opportunities on good tracks with far better stakes than here. I think quite a few OZZIES will be bothered to target all that money at Ellerslie in the summer. Especially when their NZ competition is still going to be beset by a lack of pattern leading into the races and no doubt more track issues.

What does ENTAIN have to do with it?

Looking at the tracks and opportunities in OZ recently alongside the issues NZ has been having. With the disrupted pattern and limited lead up races (and horses) for many of our feature races would it be easier to prepare your horse in Australia and ship them here to pick off the features? At least in OZ you would be guaranteed high quality training facilites, trials and high stake value lead up races on high quality tracks AND more options if Plan A comes unstuck. Of course now with the increase in stakes should we be surprised if OZZIE raiders head this way? Perhaps that was the real Messara plan.