Chief Stipe

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.

Do I detect some sarcasm? The facts are he hasn't been raced that hard compared to many past and present. He has had significant periods of spelling. At least 2 x 6 months. 21 starts overall. Sure half of those were as a 3 yr old. But that isn't uncommon. In that year he had a couple of spells including one of 13 weeks. He was tracking OK then got a bacterial infection. 6 months off.

Not even a smidgeon? Or are you saying he hasn't been involved at all? I guess he is going onto things more in the sporting field? Or is he lined up for the CEO role at the CJC? Either way contrary to the mandatory accolades that are bestowed in theses cases what actually has he achieved?

Sharp 'N' Smart winning the 2022 Spring Champion Stakes. Differences to yesterdays run: 1. got some cover when 3 wide versus being 4 and 5 wide without. 2. Biwman didn't panic and rode hin quiet as opposed to making a move forward nidrace to get in. 3. Got a drag up to the leaders and was able to have the last crack at them. Yesterday no such luck. 4. Is he better the right hand way round? 5. A better field yesterday and all ages versus his own age group and most horses that didn't go on. https://racing.racingnsw.com.au/InteractiveForm/Meeting.aspx?meetcode=ODY4NzkwNjY0MA==#Race8

Hardly comparable. Finished 4th, 1200m on a G4. Versus 2000m on a Soft 6.

Especially without cover. You can get away with it if you do. Just look at who he dragged into the race! Luke Currie (Sharp 'N' Smart): “He had a torrid run. He was four and five wide early and then pressed on to be three-wide. So, he couldn't do anything out there.

Well neither Sharp 'N' Smart nor Molly Bloom performed up to expectations today. Sharp 'N' Smart will probably be given another chance. Terrible run. Caught very wide from the get go and had to go forward looking for cover just before mid-race. Managed to get in from very wide to 3 wide without much cover. Could be excused for feeling the pinch turning for home. Has got excuses. Molly Bloom a soft run close to the rail for most of the race. Presented to improve and seems to be not up to the Aussie class. That's two quite poor runs this time back in on the back of two very average trials. Might be better back in NZ or at least spelled for the autumn and/or aimed at a lower level of racing. Another horse suffering from the Aussie Kheir touch?

Yep. It's best OZZIE race performance was the 2023 Doncaster.

I don't think @the galah is being negative. It's just an opinion. I think we are too precious in NZ and robust opinions be they negative or positive should be embraced more. That's where the OZZIE's are so much better than us. But on the topic of horse training and longevity I Bart Cummings said: "Patience is the cheapest thing in racing but most people don't use it. "I worked out early that you have to aim for the top and then work down. I've tried to eliminate the speculative side of racing by trying to choose Group One winners as yearlings. If they don't make the grade there are plenty of other races around." "They think, they are honest, they are genuine, they are very intelligent and they do not forget. You get a few non-conformists occasionally but if you are good tempered and good natured, horses will respond in a similar manner."

I'm sure you looked great in them!

Yep I'm pretty sure that they now use the term Epistaxis instead of EIPH.

I think Jayne Ivil has got it wrong. The term Epistaxis is now being used to cover ALL bleeds from the nose which have can have differing underlying causes one of which is EIPH (Exercise-Induce Pulmonary Hemorrhage). EIPH is the most likely event from racing. But it could be just nose bleed. Will no doubt be scoped ASAP. BTW I didn't google that. I heard it somewhere this week. Might have been on Trackside or one of the OZZIE programmes.

Just confirmed Mustang Valley did bleed. Obviously out of the Livamol. Probably straight to the breeding paddock.

That said I hope Mustang Valley is OK. A nice horse. It was hanging a bit in the straight though.

Yeah. Probably trying to work out how to change the time. Will require a DBA to do it.

Yeah if you get bored or pissed off with someone you can always have another jug and watch the talent.

@nomates or is it Bobbie? I'm far from infatuated with the site that you have drifted towards. Myself and a few others find it amusing that the Comic Dog and his many socks copy posts from here. We actually time how long it takes. Comic Dog - I suggest if you are going to copy posts why don't you and your socks change the time you posted to BEFORE the time it is posted here? Or can't you read the time stamps?

Well that is another long story. There were three complicit in a very prominent Racing Integrity case.

Do you want to copy the photo as well Scooby? Or is it Ravioli?