Chief Stipe

The Cambridge AWT fields weren't exactly big either.

NZD$7.1 million. You're not funny.

Then let's do this step by step. How many clear reasons were given in the Judgement? What is the first clear reason mentioned? Don't refer to the judgement just copy and paste the text. Good luck!!

Imperatriz sells for record $6.6m www.racing.com The world's highest-rated sprinting mare Imperatriz is now also Australasia's most-expensive broodmare ever after she was purchased on Tuesday for $6.6 million. The 10-time Group 1 winner was purchased by Yulong after an opening bid of $4m progressed by $250,000 increments to $6.5m until the final bid was lodged. Imperatriz is the premier sprinting mare in the world so far this year with a 119 mark from her Newmarket Handicap defeat at Flemington in March. Imperatriz, who cost Te Akau principal David Ellis $360,000 as a Magic Millions yearling, has accrued $7m in stakes earnings from her 19 career wins. Her dam Berimbau (by Shamardal) fetched $1.8m at sale in 2023. Previously, Milanova held the Australian record when sold for $5m in 2008, with Sunlight going for $4.2m in 2020 and the following year another Te Akau mare, Avantage, became the world's most-expensive online purchase when Coolmore bought her for $4.1m. Tuesday's broodmare record comes just six weeks after Debbie Kepitis paid a world record $10m at the Sydney Easter sales to retain the first foal of former superstar Winx. Yulong’s General Manager Vin Cox said no plans have been made about which stallion Imperatriz will be mated with this spring. “They’re absolutely rare commodities, a 10-time Group 1 winner,” Cox said. “We knew we had to dig deep coming here and I think she made well and truly enough money. “Congratulations to Te Akau Racing – David and Karyn bought her here on the Gold Coast, raced her and campaigned her initially in New Zealand and then proved her here in Australia. “We went over and had a look at her (in New Zealand) last week, had dinner with David and Karyn and we liked her obviously. “You never write your speech before the race so we certainly weren’t making any plans (about a stallion) or having any ambitions until we owned her.”

Interesting how both Yulong and Imperatriz weren't at the sales venue. Didn't stop Yulong spending in excess of $10m. I can understand Imperatriz not being there. Flights are risky and when you don't know where she is ultimately going why take the risk. Also she is being let down to be a broodmare spelling at Te Akau Stud which is one of the better places to agist.

The judgement is as clear as mud. It says "for the reasons anove". List the reasons as direct quotes! You are reading stuff that isn't there. You do it constantly!!! Your posts are long enough at the best of times it should be a breeze to quote succinctly what the exact reasons are.

Your post is as unclear about the reasons as the judgement is. You make suppositions and inferences based on your interpretation. A good judgement makes the reasons clear and beyond equivocation.

One things for sure they won't attempt to race her.

Australasian record. Was the predicted price. Any odds on them lasting?

$6.6m Yulong

The rule and guidelines are not clear regardless of the inaction of HRNZ or the actions of McGrath's counsel. Impossible if the rule is unclear. If anything they have shown that it isn't worth trying to get a penalty cancelled under the current rule. However for arguments sake if this occurred in a Court the counsel would argue that the intent of the rule is based on what the original formulators wanted I.e. they would refer to Parliamentary debate and what the debate intended the law to be. Obviously the rule had an intent but this judgement doesn't make it any more clearer.

But that's where the judgement is not very clear. If they couldn't revisit the original decision then why refer to it length? They were being asked to cancel it. You tell me from the Judgement what were the reasons for not cancelling it?

Like Michael House? Where are you going to find anyone with no conflict of interest? Wouldn't a better solution be for HRNZ to get off their arse and work with the industry associations and groups and rewrite the rules and guidelines so that they are workable and above all back and white? The rules are based on this puritanical concept that racing needs to be held to a higher standard than the rest of society in order to maintain its "social licence". A term I might add that hasn't be around very long in the history of racing. That's where the industry shoots itself in the foot. It tries to achieve a standard that the rest of society isn't accountable to with normal everyday people. So it will fail time and time again especially when there are those involved that can't achieve in the lower standards enforced elsewhere. In the real world rather than in this artificial construct McGrath would have had to have committed a far more heinous crime than he did for 8 years and would have been paroled in 4.

It wasn't clearly rejected. Arguably the final judgement is somewhat poorly constructed on the reasons for the decision. It really is a good example of tautology and semantics. McGrath essentially was asking for the cancellation of his disqualification after having completed 4 years of his 8 year sentence. If the Tribunal had agreed to do that then effectively it would have been the same as an appeal producing a sentence reduction. What is clear to me is that the rules under which the application was made are unclear as are the grounds under which a decision can be made. If the rule(s) intent is to provide relief after rehabilitation akin to parole then they fail to meet that intent. Subsequently I can't see how anything will change for the Tribunal adjudicators in another years time. Where HRNZ has erred majorily is in not defending their actions or challenging their rights with the RIB. Not to mention of course that they have yet to rewrite their rules to remove ambiguity amongst other failings. Once McGrath's finished his sentence then it is HRNZ's decision to issue a license NOT the RIB's. The RIB may lodge an objection but I'm not sure if the rules allow that. Common justice would support McGrath being relicensed afterall his sentence was 8 years NOT life. Wouldn't a better option be for the industry to grant a supervised parole period before the 8 years is up?

That may well be the case with regard to the adjudicators however I've seen it in many cases before where racing defendants have not legalled up soon enough and have not challenged. Often when they do they go in to the fight with a barrister or KC that doesnt understand racing. Often due to an unwritten perceived plea bargain type deal I.e. if I plead guilty or don't fight I'll get a lesser sentence. Unfortunately McGrath panicked initially and made things worse. In some ways that is understandable because of the recent modus operandi of the Feds. He then gave up the fight and retrenched. Again that is not surprising when he would have been fully aware of the extraordinary costs incurred by those already fighting the RIB. If McGrath had been a union man perhaps the union would have helped because a sentencing precedent set can affect anyone else in the future. Note the Harness and Trainers Association were completely missing in action.

Hopefully they are too busy on more important things like tending to track conditions, phoning trainers for horse numbers and nominations, monitoring revenue returns on a daily basis, reviewing the handicapping system, drafting policy to bring the drug testing thresholds into the 21st Century...just little things like that.

Update from the Gold Coast Sale We have just arrived on the Gold Coast for the start of today's Magic Maillions' National Broodmare Sale, and we will also be attending the June Yearling Sale early next week. Today we will see our wonderful mare Imperatriz go through the auction ring 'virtually' - she will be offered for sale to dissolve her racing partnership - whilst being happily ensconced in her paddock at the farm! We have been asked by many people about how they can watch the sale - so if you are keen to follow the action, here is the link to the live sale coverage - Imperatriz is Lot 587 and is estimated to go under the hammer sometime between 6.00pm - 6.45pm NZ time - it is hard to be precise, as much depends on how the actual sale itself proceeds today. Berri (as we know Imperatriz) has brought such joy to so many, and as this chapter closes on this part of her life today, we have very mixed emotions - pride, sadness, excitement, anticipation, respect, and love. To reign supreme on the global stage, as she has done, is a remarkable achievement and we are so proud of all she has accomplished. Here is the link to her catalogue page: https://catalogue.magicmillions.com.au/lot/24GWM/587 Here is the link to the live action: https://www.magicmillions.com.au/youtube-live-broadcast/ From: Team Te Akau

Damn and here I was being so vain to think NZTR read BOAY. One week later:

Greyhound Racing NZ lashes out at SPCA over offer to rehome dogs if industry is closed www.newshub.co.nz The previous Labour Government put the industry on notice, saying it risked being closed down completely. Briefing documents provided to Minister Peters, obtained by Newshub under the Official Information Act, state Cabinet "must" decide if the sport has the social licence to continue, which will likely be a "value-based/political decision". But the industry is coming out swinging. In a press release on Monday, GRNZ says it "firmly believes there are no grounds for greyhound racing to be banned", arguing it does have the social license to operate. The release went on to highlight the "significant progress" it says it's made in the past few years in regard to animal welfare. It also committed to ongoing improvements and highlighted its $8 million annual spend on animal welfare. GRNZ then lashed out at the SPCA saying it was rejecting its offer to rehome dogs if the industry is closed. GRNZ said the SPCA's "values around rehoming do not align with ours". "Notwithstanding the fact that GRNZ believes that grounds for industry closure do not exist, GRNZ would not be comfortable aligning with the SPCA in the rehoming space, as their values around rehoming do not align with ours," GRNZ said. "GRNZ finds their 'commitment to assisting the industry' in this area ironic, given the SPCA is reputed to euthanise healthy animals which they are unable to rehome. The extent of this is unknown, as unlike its Australian counterpart (RSPCA) and many local authorities, the SPCA does not transparently report such statistical information. "Accordingly, GRNZ considers the SPCA’s offer of assistance to be purely political and disingenuous. We challenge the SPCA to make its euthanasia statistics publicly available - like the greyhound racing industry does." SPCA chief scientific officer Dr Arnja Dale said the organisation is thrilled to hear GRNZ has "committed to rehoming its beautiful dogs in the event of industry closure". "This means there is no perceived or real obstacle for this industry being shut down once and for all." Dr Dale said the industry is "on notice" and pointed to a survey from January which found 74 percent of New Zealanders agree the industry should end. "GRNZ’s aggressive attack on organisations dedicated to animal welfare is unsurprising, though it does appear somewhat ungracious to knock back the offer of help so soon after the deaths of two dogs on Thursday racing at Addington. "Mortality rate is a flawed metric as it does nothing to capture the injuries and suffering animals endure. "Sir Bruce Robertson cautioned in his review of greyhound racing in New Zealand that GRNZ must consider whether 'the reputation of the industry based on a single metric [euthanasia] is being prioritised over animal welfare standards'." Dr Dale added the offer by Dogwatch, HUHA, SAFE and SPCA to help rehome greyhounds still stands. New Zealand is among just seven countries where greyhound racing is still legal. Australia, the United Kingdom, and Ireland still allow greyhound racing. The sport is permitted in some states in the United States. Mexico has just one track, and in Vietnam, while legal, the country has no operating racing tracks at all. spca_greyhound_rehoming_open_letter_may2024.pdf

Here is the link to the original research in 2010: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2808334/

The only scientific research I can find was funded by those who patented it. Given recent events in the human world one would have to be a little cautious.

https://www.plusvital.com/products/speed-gene-test Speed Gene Test The Speed Gene Test has been used by trainers, owners and breeders across the world for over 10 years with many of the leading thoroughbred operations routinely testing all their horses. The test can be used to: Determine optimum race distance with over 90% accuracy Increase strike rates and earnings through optimised training and race decisions Understand precocity, potential sales impact and 2 year old performance Assist with breeding decisions to produce the preferred type of horse Product Description The names of the Speed Gene types – “C:C”, “C:T” and “T:T” – have become familiar across the industry due to the extent of their usage and the recognition of the predictive power of the test. The Speed Gene Test examines the Myostatin gene – a gene responsible for the regulation of muscle development. Multiple published studies by Plusvital researchers and others have shown race-distance aptitude is almost entirely determined by the genetic make-up of this gene. The Speed Gene test determines if your horse is one of 3 types: C:C Best suited to shorter distance races and tend to be more forward – performing better as 2-year-olds and at sales 😄 T Most versatile. Best suited to middle distance races as 3-year-old although can perform at shorter distances as 2 year olds. T: T Best suited to staying distances and are later maturing – often being less suited to 2-year-old racing This information can also be used for breeding as a mare or stallion will each pass on one of their letters to the foal. Therefore, knowing the Speed Gene Type of the mare and the stallion allows understanding of what type the resulting foal is likely to be e.g. mating a C:T mare with a C:C stallion will produce C:C foals 50% of the time and C:T foals the other 50% with no chance of producing a T:T foal. (This might be better as an image) Read more published studies How Can I Use The Speed Gene Test For Breeding? The results of the Speed Gene Test will help breeders to: Assist in the production of more early-maturing or classic types depending on your preference Increase strike rates for wins and earnings Increase sales prices and clearance rates by using objective, positive genetic information Use The Speed Gene Test information when matching mares and stallions to produce more of your desired type on a consistent basis. The mare and stallion each pass on one copy of their genetic marker (i.e. ‘C’ or ’T’) to the foal, with a C:T horse being equally likely to pass on a ‘C’ or ’T’. What’s Your Type? Each genetic type has equal potential to be an elite racehorse, but they get there in very different ways: C:Cs tend to be earlier maturing and are better suited to the shorter two-year-old distances with higher strike rates and earnings at this age. See how C:C Horses In Training perform by age across each region: Europe | Australia/New Zealand | USA C:Ts are the most versatile type; they can perform well over shorter distances as two-year-olds and then progress to run over middle distances as three-year-olds and beyond. Therefore, this type has the highest earning potential. See how C:T Horses In Training perform by age across each region: Europe | Australia/New Zealand | USA T:Ts tend to be later maturing and are less suited to two-year-old racing. However, they develop as three-year-olds and have equal lifetime earning potential to C:C types. See how T:T Horses In Training perform by age across each region: Europe | Australia/New Zealand | USA Request More Information Fields marked with an * are required How did you hear about Plusvital? * If "other" please tell us where. What the pros are saying “Having done a genetic test, its implications have opened my eyes into thinking about what the optimum distance of a horse could be and how it could contradict the normal assumptions that might be based on pedigree” “We do a DNA test on all our horses and he came up a T:T long, which is an extreme distance horse, so before we raced him we knew he was a horse with the genetic potential to run 3,200+ metres. That has always been at the back of our mind.” Danny O'Brien Melbourne Cup-winning trainer Danny O’Brien on genetically testing Vow and Declare with the Plusvital Racing Genepak, including the Speed Gene Test “Anyone breeding horses who doesn’t know the genetic make-up of his mares is throwing caution to the wind. To me, Plusvital’s Speed Gene Test is an absolute necessity.”

Interesting using a traditional dosage analysis Snow Patrol has a DI 0.82 and CD 0.1. Those figures indicate it should comfortably get a middle distance race. What does the DNA test use as a reference database? Does it determine the relative contribution of the sire and mare? I gather it tests for the Speed Gene but how accurate is it? I suspect it is a bit gimmicky. We all know of horses that could run 2000m and run 10.5. https://equinecode.com/en/product/kit-thoroughbred-best-race-distance

ng Tayla Melvin pictured after riding her first winner at Pukekohe on Saturday. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images) Melvin guides first winner at Pukekohe Jess de Lautour, LOVERACING.NZ News Desk 27 May 2024 Tayla Melvin had an afternoon to remember at Pukekohe Park on Saturday, riding her first winner in the saddle aboard the Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson-trained Devoted. The 21-year-old is apprenticed to the Te Akau Racing trainers and made her raceday debut aboard the stable’s mare Polly Plum in mid-April at Matamata, finishing third. With a further nine raceday rides under her belt, Melvin combined with the son of Contributer in the TAB NZ 2100, where he was rated a $16.30 chance after finishing strongly last-start for fourth under the young hoop at Rotorua. Devoted jumped fairly away from barrier seven and Melvin allowed the six-year-old to settle back at the tail of the 14-horse field, sitting three-wide in the heavy conditions. The gelding was travelling better than most turning for home, sweeping to the extreme outside and running down Charlbury to score by a neck at the post. Melvin was elated after the victory, which follows an extensive list of Te Akau apprentices to salute on raceday including Daniel Stackhouse, Vinnie Colgan, Opie Bosson and Troy Harris. “It’s good to finally get the monkey off my back this early in my career, it’s pretty good,” she said. “I probably rode him a bit further back than I had anticipated, but he’s the kind of horse that switches off and relaxes in behind midfield. “When he came into the home straight, he let down really nicely. “I did think it might be coming (the win), but I didn’t want to get too confident.” While Melvin didn’t initially have a career in horses in mind, she ended up working for Wingatui couple Terry and Debbie Kennedy, and a move to Matamata soon provided an opportunity to start an apprenticeship. “I said to myself when I left school that I didn’t want to pursue a career in horses, but here I am,” she said. “I’m originally from down south in Mosgiel, and I was based with Terry and Debbie Kennedy down there. “I started with Te Akau about a year ago, and Mark offered for me to stay and do my apprenticeship with him, so I haven’t looked back since.” Walker was full of praise for Melvin, while indicating a future over the fences is a possibility for her winning mount. “She’s an important part of the team, rides beautiful track work, and all the staff will be rapt for her,” he said. “She’s been getting better in every ride since starting off last month and her fitness is continuing to improve. I think she’s got a bright future. “And the horse, Devoted, he’s continuing to furnish and mature, although it has taken time, and he could develop into a really nice steeplechaser.” Devoted was purchased by Te Akau principal David Ellis at the 2019 Karaka Yearling Sales, out of co-breeder Mapperley Stud’s draft for $50,000. The gelding has won four races and $72,842 in stakes from 33 attempts for the Te Akau Cartography Syndicate.

Emily Woller after riding her first winner at Trentham on Saturday. Photo: Peter Rubery (Race Images Palmerston North) Woller enters winner’s circle at Trentham Jess de Lautour, LOVERACING.NZ News Desk 27 May 2024 After beginning her career in the amateurs, Emily Woller broke into the apprentice jockey ranks in style when riding her first winner aboard Quid at Trentham on Saturday. Waikato-based Woller had her first raceday ride as an amateur twelve months ago, and with another year of experience under her belt, took her first ride as a licensed apprentice for her mentor Clinton Isdale at Ellerslie last month. “It didn’t feel like as much of a step-up for me which was quite good, I got to have the basics of race riding in the amateurs,” Woller said. “It is a bit more competitive now with the whip use.” She picked up a second placing on another of Isdale’s contingent Pontardawe during April but headed to Trentham in pursuit of an elusive win partnering Kevin Myers’ five-year old, who was on debut and the outsider at $54. The early part of the race didn’t go as she had planned with Quid travelling wide near the tail of the field into the first bend, but he travelled kindly along the back straight as stablemate Winewomenandsong controlled the pace up-front. Quid tracked the widest again turning for home as the field fanned across the track, the long Trentham straight playing in his favour as the gelding wound up strongly down the outer and chased down Paradis, taking the win by a long neck. Woller was thrilled to collect her first success and expressed her gratitude to Myers post-race. “It was lovely, he just travelled up really nicely and I’m very grateful to Kevin for putting me on. He’s a nice horse,” she said. “I was a bit worried being wide, but I found some cover, and as soon as he straightened up he dug really deep.” The 17-year-old was born in Wanganui and returned to the River City recently to gain some experience under Myers, who rewarded her with the ride aboard the son of Rios. “I just thought I’d come down and get some more experience somewhere different, and I’m really loving it down here,” Woller said. “I grew up riding ponies all my life, and my sister was working as ground staff for Shelley Houston, so I went in one day to help out and I haven’t looked back since. “I went from Shelley’s to Clinton Isdale, and he mentioned about me getting my license, so we got onto that and here I am now.” Myers also spoke after Woller’s win, indicating Quid may commence his career over fences sooner rather than later, following in the footsteps of full-brother Lochwinnoch and half-brother Yardarm, the latter a former winner of the Hawke’s Bay Steeplechase (4800m) and Wellington Steeplechase (5500m). “It was good for her (Woller), she was lucky to be on this horse as she was a bit overweight but she’s done the work at home over the past week, so we’ve given her the chance,” Myers said. “The Wallace’s (owners) sit back and wait for their horses (to mature), but he’s gone well at the jumping trials. He’ll probably go over the jumps next weekend.”